University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

[To them] Enter CADMUS attended.
CADMUS.
Ah wretched Prince, doom'd to disastrous Love!
Ah me, of Parents most forlorn!
Prepare, O Athamas, to prove
The sharpest Pangs that e'er were born:
Prepare with me our common Loss to mourn.

ATHAMAS.
Can Fate, or Semele, invent
Another, yet another Punishment?

CADMUS.
Wing'd with our Fears, and pious Haste,
From Juno's Fane we fled;
Scarce we the brazen Gates had pass'd,
When Semele around her Head
With azure Flames was grac'd,
Whose Lambent Glories in her Tresses play'd.
While this we saw with dread Surprize,
Swifter than Lightning downwards tending,
An Eagle stoopt, of mighty Size,
On Purple Wings descending;
Like Gold his Beak, like Stars shone forth his Eyes,
His Silver plumy Breast with Snow contending:
Sudden he snatch'd the trembling Maid,
And soaring from our Sight convey'd;
Diffusing ever as he lessening flew
Celestial Odour, and Ambrosial Dew.

ATHAMAS.
O Prodigy, to me of dire Portent!

INO.
To me, I hope, of fortunate Event.