University of Virginia Library

SCENE IX.

A view of the sea shore, with the ships belonging to Learchus; a plank laid from one of them to the shore. On one side appear the ruins of the temple of Venus; on the other the remains of an ancient port of Lemnos.
Jason, Hypsipyle, Rhodope, Argonauts. Learchus and Thoas appear on the deck of one of the ships, Thoas in chains, and Learchus with a dagger in his hand.
Jas.
Compose thyself, Hypsipyle; at length
We have reach'd the traitor: follow me, my friends,
To yonder ships: now rouze your souls to fury;
Be pity banish'd: let consuming flames
Devour the sails, and ocean's whelming waves
Engulph the vessels: spread the horrid slaughter,
That sated vengeance may behold the tide
Red with perfidious blood.

Lear.
Then be it so;
But first let Thoas bleed.

Hyp.
O hold!—

Rho.
Inhuman!

Jas.
What rage transports thee thus?

Hyp.
My father! husband!
O! hear, Learchus, hear me—pitying Heaven!—
I can no more—

Lear.
Why, why, Hypsipyle,
This unavailing grief? On thee depends
His life, or death: ascend this ship, consent
To be Learchus' wife; and if the daughter
Reward my faithful love, the father lives.

Hyp.
What do I hear! O Jason!

Jas.
Dar'st thou, wretch,
Pronounce the horrid compact? 'tis in vain
I strive to curb my righteous fury longer.

Hyp.
Have pity, Jason! if thou should'st assail him,
He lifts his impious hand against my father.

Jas.
Ten thousand furies struggle in my breast!

Lear.
See, Thoas, see—behold thy pious daughter;
With what a zeal she hastes to save thy life.
Thy blood shall answer her relentless scorn;
I have endur'd enough.

[about to stab Thoas.
Hyp.
O hold!—I come.

[goes towards the ship.
Tho.
What would'st thou do, my daughter! Canst thou thus
Forget what's owing to thyself and me?
I little thought that e'er Hypsipyle
Would prove her father's shame! Have I not bred thee
In virtues worthy of a prince's nuptials,
Not to partake an impious pirate's bed?
And would'st thou now become the wretched mother
Or robbers, not of heroes!

Hyp.
Teach me then
Some better means to save thee.

Tho.
Save me thus.
Assert the honour of my blood; reflect not
It cost thy father's life; or if the thought
Will rise, let it but strengthen thy resolve
To guard my fame unsullied: live, Hypsipyle,
Live with thy faithful lord, and reign for me,
And if the days I lose to thine are added,
I've liv'd, I've reign'd enough.

Rho.
O fortitude!

Jas.
O generous sentiments!

Hyp.
Does not such virtue
Soften thee yet Learchus!

Lear.
No: it rather
Incites my fury.

Hyp.
Must I then—

Lear.
No more;
Yield, or he dies.

Hyp.
O! let these tears prevail:
Thou art enough reveng'd for all my scorn:
Let this suffice, Learchus: will not this
Appease thy dreadful rage? Must thou behold me,
A wretched object kneeling at thy feet?
Then see me prostrate thus—

[kneels.
Lear.
My soul is fix'd;
Come, or thy father dies.

Hyp.
Barbarian! traitor!
[rises in a rage.
Yes, I will come; and Hell with me shall bring
Her blackest horrors: on the rites abhorr'd
Megæra shall attend, with dire Alecto:
But I will prove a fury worse than all.
Yes, I will come; but it shall be to tear
That treacherous heart from thy detested bosom:
Monster of cruelty, I come!

Lear.
Then haste,
Or now he falls beneath my vengeful hand.

[about to stab him.
Hyp.

[Hypsipyle weeping, walks slowly towards the ship, looking back tenderly on Jason.
Jas.
Wilt thou forsake me thus, Hypsipyle?
And would'st thou, impious savage!—I'm distracted!
Where shall I turn for counsel!—Barbarous Gods!