 | Demophoon |  |
SCENE XV.
Enter Demophoon attended.Demo.
Thou art not deceiv'd, Timanthes; all is true.
Timan.
O to betray me now were cruelty!
Demo.
Yet be compos'd; for know thou art not my son.
Thou, when an infant, wert exchang'd for Dirce:
I am her father, and Mathusius thine.
My consort begg'd thee of Mathusius' wife;
For then she deem'd the public weal concern'd
In this exchange: but when Cherinthus next
Was born, too late she saw the rash design
Had of succession robb'd her rightful son.
To me she durst not tell the mighty secret,
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On my affection: but at length, reduc'd
To life's extremest verge, she left the story
Reveal'd in two mysterious papers; one
She gave her friend, and that Mathusius shew'd thee;
The other she conceal'd, and that thou here
Beholdest.
Timan.
Wherefore did she not in one
Disclose the mystery?
Demo.
Because she meant
The first should only prove the birth of Dirce.
It there suffic'd to swear she was her daughter.
The secret of thy fate was kept for me;
That I might act as best the time requir'd,
Or to divulge, or keep it still unknown.
For this the second paper she dispos'd,
Where I alone could ever have access.
Timan.
Such strange events still hold my mind in doubt.
Demo.
Too certain are the proofs: behold the writing
Where all I have declar'd is told at full.
Timan.
O Fortune! do not once again deceive me!
[takes the paper and reads.
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