University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Arsinoe enters softly. Ormondo sleeping.
Arsin.
Sleep, sleep, Ormondo, void of Fear,
In pleasing Dreams forget thy Care;
Fortune ready
Waits to Crown thee,
Love and I attending are:
Sleep, sleep, Ormondo, void of Fear.

Orm.
My Queen.

[He talks in his Sleep.
Arsin.
I am here, my Love.
He dreams.

Orm.
Did you command my Death?

Arsin.
I did;
Thou art disloyal and unkind.

Orm.
I am innocent.

Arsin.
Ah! how, I wish thee so!
Thy Letter shows no Guilt,
But 'twas perfidious to Assault my Life.

Orm.
You will lament me dead.

Arsin.
No, no, my Love,
I cannot live to see thee dead.
But see, a Letter in his Hand!
[She takes the Letter softly out of his Hand.
Directed to the King of Athens!
[Reads the Superscription.
Perhaps a new Conspiracy.
[She opens it.
[She reads the Title.

Father,

After a tedious Absence of Three Years,
Your wand'ring Son dies innocent;
Just at the Period of his Life
He sends you this, his last Farewel.

Pelops, your Son.

Arsin.
Pelops, Ormondo, Athens!
I stand amaz'd!
Ha! who comes here?
I'll hear her Business, and retire.

[She retires on one side to hearken.