 | Demophoon |  |
SCENE XV.
Dirce, Timanthes, Guards.Dir.
My lord!
Timan.
My wife!
Dir.
For me must thou be lost!
Timan.
And must thou die for me!
Dir.
Ah! who henceforth
Will guard our child Olinthus!
Timan.
Cruel moment!
Dir.
Ah! then—but what avails it, prince, to sink
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Be worthy of us; one short effort cuts
This cruel knot; then let us part with firmness,
Without complaining.
Timan.
Yes, bright excellence!
I praise the generous thought: let not a sigh
Escape us more.
Dir.
Now I am prepar'd—
Timan.
And I
Have steel'd my bosom.
Dir.
O! be strong my heart!
Timan.
Farewell, my Dirce!
[they part with resolution, but at the entrance of the scene turn again to look at each other.
Dir.
Prince, farewell!
Timan.
My wife!
Dir.
Timanthes!
Both.
O ye powers!
Dir.
Why go'st thou not?
Timan.
Why dost thou turn again to gaze upon me?
Dir.
Fain would I see how thou canst bear thy pains.
Timan.
But yet thou weep'st—
Dir.
And thou too sigh'st, Timanthes.
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O Heaven! how easy do we form resolves
Before the trial comes!
Dir.
Alas! how well
I thought my resolution fix'd: yet let me
At least conceal my weakness from thy sight.
Timan.
Ah! stay, my life! hear me.
Dir.
What would'st thou say?
Timan.
Thou dearst object of my care,
Instruct me how these woes to bear:
Ah! reach thy hand at least to prove
The last dear pledge of truth and love!
Dir.
This hand when fondly join'd to thine,
Was once of happiness the sign:
But now, those fleeting moments o'er,
The sign of happiness no more!
Both.
Farewell thou treasure of my heart!
Relentless fate, that bids us part,
That dooms us ne'er to meet again!
Can e'er malignant planets shed
Worse evils on the guilty head,
Than faithful love must now sustain?
[Exeunt separately.
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