University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Enter Amyntas.
Amyn.
Where shall Amyntas fly? Ill-fated day!
O Lycidas!

Arg.
Is then the traitor dead!

Amyn.
No, but he soon must die.

Arg.
Believe it not,
Amyntas: many with the wicked join,
And hence they never fail of help at need.

Amyn.
Thou art deceiv'd: there is no more to hope.
The laws pronounce his death; the people murmur;
The priests exclaim: offended majesty
Demands his blood: the criminal is nam'd
A victim to complete the sacrifice
He had profan'd: the public have already
Confirm'd his sentence: he must be slain
On Jove's high altar; there the offended king
Will to the priest present the sacred axe.

Arg.
Can nought reverse his doom?

Amyn.
What can reverse it?
The youth already is enrob'd with white:
I saw him crown'd with flowers—O Heaven!—I saw him
Move to the temple: now, perhaps even now,
He is arriv'd, and now, O Argene,
The consecrated steel may drink his blood!

Arg.
Alas! unhappy prince!

[weeps.
Amyn.
Why shouldst thou weep
When tears are vain?

Arg.
And comes not Aristea?

Amyn.
She comes, but nothing has obtain'd; the king
Or will not hear, or cannot grant her suit.

Arg.
And what of Megacles?

Amyn.
Hapless he's fallen
Upon the guards that sought his track: but now
I heard him midst his chains demand to die
To save his friend; and were himself not guilty
He had obtain'd his wish; but never here
One criminal can for another bleed.

Arg.

[Exit.