University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

A Prospect, with Woods at a distance.
Calypso, Proteus.
Cal.
Say didst thou meet his frighted Eyes,
In all thy various Shapes of Terror?
What Savage Form that breeds in Caves,
Or haunts the Hills and sandy Desart
Did Proteus wear? say, how didst thou deceive him?

Prot.
What Form so likely to deceive
As that of soft enchanting Beauty?
I caught him with the seeming Smiles
Of Eucharis—that false, yet charming Fair.

Cal.
Where are they now?
You said they met again.

Prot.
Yet Proteus still was near;
And folded in a Serpent's Train
I lay conceal'd, where weary with the Chase
She led him to a cheering Banquet.
Curse on the Sight!—I saw, I saw
The Nymphs officious wait around,
And fill in flowing Cups ambrosial Juice
To make the flatter'd Boy Immortal.

Cal.
Return, return,
Why did you leave 'em?

Prot.
To tell thee, Goddess,
He's now alone; the treacherous Nymph
To hide her Passion comes t'attend on thee.

Cal.
[Aside.

[Ex. Cal. Prot.

SCENE II.

A Canopy in the Wood.
Telemachus sleeping.
Mentor.
He smiles—he dreams—Gay Visions fill his Soul
Of golden Scenes and bright Elysian Pleasure.
O fond deluded Youth!—Telemachus,
When, when wilt thou awake
To Virtue, and to Fame?
He knows not Mentor yet—Sleep on.
Another Mentor shall deceive thy Eyes,
E'er yet the destin'd Hour is come to save thee.
[Exit Mentor.

SCENE III.

Telemachus still sleeping.
Calypso.
This is the Place—Alas!
What awes me entring here?
Sure something sacred hovers near him.
See!—rosy Bloom, and brighter Youth
Shine in his Face!—Has Eucharis
Improv'd those Charms?—He smiles,
As if he heard that pleasing Name;
And even in Sleep he seems to scorn Calypso.
Fond Love be gone—Revenge, Revenge!
This Spear shall right my injur'd Beauty.
[Snatching his Hunting Spear.
But see—He smiles again!
Perhaps he dreams that Eucharis
Has made him now Immortal.
This to convince thee—No—
[Going to strike, she stops.
E'er yet I strike the fatal Blow,
I'll tell him how he wrongs me.
He wakes—my fainting Anger dies.
[Throws away the Spear.
O Tyrant Love! O weak Calypso!

Tel.
waking.]
Where is my Eucharis, my Fair?
Alas!—Calypso!—

[Starting.
Cal.
What! dost thou start to view me here?
Ungrateful!—does thy Guilt affright thee?
Or dost thou know Calypso comes
To take Revenge for all her slighted Bounty.

Tel.
Revenge!

Cal.
Where is my Eucharis, my Fair?—
Did not that Name recall thy Doom,
Returning Pity wou'd have spar'd thee.

Tel.
My Doom?—what Cause—will great Calypso—

Cal.
I'll hear no more.
Fly from my Isle, Invader, fly!
Yet shall my Rage
Like Lightning blast thee in thy Flight.
Fly to thy Nymph, thy Eucharis,
And see if she can save thee.
[Exit Calypso.

SCENE IV.

Telemachus.

[Ex.

SCENE V.

Proteus
following Telemachus.
[Going he turns back.

[Ex.

SCENE VI.

Eucharis.

Exit.

SCENE VII.

The Sea Shore and the Cave of Proteus.
Proteus enters in the likeness of Mentor, follow'd by Telemachus.
Tel.
Gods! can it be?
Does Mentor then approve my Passion?
How shall I speak
My grateful Soul, and my o'erflowing Joy?
Yet—Whither dost thou lead me?

Proteus enters the Cave, and returns immediately in his own Shape.
Prot.
Behold that Mentor now!
Proteus, thy Rival!

Tel.
Assist me mighty Jove.

Prot.
In Mentor's Shape I had no Pow'r to harm thee;
But now thy Life is mine.

[Telemachus drawing his Sword is seiz'd by Proteus. Mentor enters, and Proteus loosing his hold, runs into the Cave, and sinks with it into the Sea.]

SCENE VIII.

Telemachus, Mentor.
Tel.
What Hand Divine?—
My Friend!—'tis he, the real Godlike Mentor!
Yet how can I with guilty Eyes behold him?

Ment.
Return, return to Friendship and to Glory!

Tel.
O no—I'm lost in Shame.
Why did you save me?—let me dye—
Yet let me dye within those generous Arms!
I cannot live—
And think how I have wrong'd thy wondrous Bounty.

Ment.
This glowing Virtue on thy Cheek
Restores thee to thy self and me.
Yet fly—Telemachus!
Fly from this enchanted Ground
That sinks away beneath thee; Snares and Ruin
Are spread thro' all the treacherous Soil.

Tel.
Lead me, my Guardian Spirit, save me!
But oh!—

Ment.
What is that breathing Sorrow?

Tel.
O Eucharis!
Alas! forgive my Soul's returning Softness.

Ment.
Awake from that illusive Dream!
She's gone, the fleeting Shadow's gone;
Calypso gives her to the changeful God,
The Price of vow'd Revenge on thee.

Tel.
O let me once behold the mourning Fair!

Ment.
Still she deludes thee,
Th'alluring Cup she lately gave
Was fill'd with noxious Juice
T'inslave thy Reason's nobler Pow'rs.

Tel.
'Tis done—O false ensnaring Beauty!
In this last Sigh—Farewel.

[Aside.
[Here a Machine of Clouds descending fills the Stage, separating Mentor from Telemachus.]
Tel.

[The Clouds opening on a sudden, the Stage is illuminated, and in the midst of the Machine Mentor now appears as Minerva.]

SCENE IX.

Minerva, Telemachus.
Min.
Telemachus! despair no more.

Tel.
O all ye Pow'rs!
What Sound familiar strikes my Ear!
What Glories open to my Sight!
Minerva's Form!—the Voice of Mentor!

Min.
Minerva now behold,
Who long conceal'd in Mentor's Form
Attended thee thro' ev'ry Danger,
To guide thy wandring Youth, and in thy Soul
To raise and finish all the growing Hero.
Fly false Delights!—Ulysses lives.
Calypso wrong'd thy fond belief;
Ulysses lives, and thou again shalt see him.

Tel.
kneeling.]
Daughter of Jove! Celestial Maid!
O let me ever thus adore thee.

Min.

[Telemachus goes into the Machine with Minerva. As it is ascending, Calypso, Proteus and Eucharis enter.]

SCENE X.

Calypso, Proteus, Eucharis, and Nymphs.
Prot.
Calypso, see where he ascends!
Behold the Pow'r Divine that guards him,
Mentor no more, but great Minerva!

Cal.
aside.]
O hated sight!—

Euch.
O Proteus! what have I endur'd
For scorn of thee?

Prot.
Complain no more; but smile, and make me happy.

Cal.