 | Achilles In Scyros |  |
SCENE II.
Enter Achilles.Ach.
[entering.]
See the chief
Whom Greece has sent—But that my fair forbids it,
How gladly would I join in converse with him.
Yet, sure without offence to Deidamia,
In silence I may here indulge my eyes
To gaze with rapture on his godlike form.
Ulys.
[aside to Arc.]
What now, my Arcas, say?
Arc.
His looks on thee
Are bent with fix'd attention.
Ulys.
[examining the statues.]
In this palace
All speaks a kingly soul. This sculptur'd marble
Seems warm with life: behold Alcides there
Subdues the hydra: see in every feature
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Informs the stone with all a hero's fire.
[to Arcas.]
Mark if he hears.
Arc.
[to Ulys.]
He dwells upon your words.
Ulys.
[turning to the statues.]
Lo! where he lifts Antæus from the ground
To hurl him headlong down: the artist here
Excels himself. O! how the great example
Of godlike virtue, nobly thus express'd,
Should warm the generous breast! O! would to Heaven
That I could boast Alcides' mighty deeds!
Transcendent hero! yes, thy name shall last,
From age to age, to far-succeeding times!
Ach.
O! mighty Gods! what tongue shall thus foretel
Of lost, despis'd Achilles!
Ulys.
[to Arc.]
Arcas, speak:
How seems he now?
Arc.
He communes with himself,
As strongly agitated.
Ulys.
Mark him still.
[turning again to the statues.
What do I see? Behold the same Alcides,
The terror late of Erymanthus' woods,
Disguis'd in female weeds, and plac'd beside
His favourite Iole.—How much he err'd,
(Ill-judging sculptor!) to debase his art
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Alcides here, alas! excites our pity,
No more Alcides son of thundering Jove.
Ach.
'Tis true, 'tis true—O! my eternal shame!
Ulys.
[to Arc.]
What think'st thou, Arcas, now?
Arc.
He seems to rave
With conscious feelings.
Ulys.
Let us then accost him.
[advancing to Ach.
Arc.
[to Ulys. aside.]
The king's at hand, take heed, lest aught too soon
Reveal our chief design.
Ulys.
[to Arc.]
O ill-tim'd meeting!
The work was near complete.
| Achilles In Scyros | |