University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE the same Grove, at the end of it an Arbour, in it Althea, in a very melancholy posture; her Maids attending without. Music is heard, and Juno, and Hymen, with their Trains descend.
Cass.
Methinks Strange sounds fill all the Ambient Air.

Mer.
Of late too frequent have the Portents been,
Boding, I fear, some fatal Evil to us,
Which now alas! appears too imminent
In Phaeton's forsaking our poor Lady.

Cass.
Ah! Merope! that this inhumane Man
Had never landed on our Samian Coast.
That prosperous Winds, and Seas had born him safe
To Delos, Claros, or to any place
Far from unhappy Samos.—

Mer.
O! my Cassiope! that he h'd been sunk!
For ever sunk in the devouring Tempest!
Or that h'had perish'd too in the Samian Dungeons!
Then had our Princess never been thus wretched,
By a too fatal, and too tender Love
For an ingrateful, and a false deceiver.
Then had Althea never left her Country,
For the proud Piles of these Ægyptian Palaces;
Nor on precarious Favours here depended;
Nor on the fickle Passion of a faithless Youth.

Cass.
Surcharg'd with the too pondrous Weight of Evil,
Thus fixt she sits, her down-cast streaming Eyes
Dissolving in a constant Flood of Tears.
Sometimes, with sighs, she wrings her tender Hands,
Then casting up to Heav'n her watry Eyes,
In soft Laments, and most pathetic Murmurs,
Condemns her self for having left her Country,
Her Father, Friends, and Houshold Gods, for one,
For one, who thus inhumanely deserts her.
Deaf as the Rocks, or Winds, or raging Seas,
She'll hear no Counsel, and admit no Comfort.

Mer.
Alas! how will she bear the approaching Evil.

Cass.
Ha! What is't you say? more Evils yet?

Mer.
The Tyrant Merops, Father to her Rival,
Unsatisfy'd with all the brutal Orestes
Sent by his Messengers—new comes himself,
To drive her, and her Children out of Egypt.

Cass.
Will Phaeton, tho weary of his Wife,
Suffer his Children to be sent to Exile.

Mer.
This new Alliance, takes up all his Thoughts,
He has no Memory of his past Love,
Althea's Tenderness, or his broken Vows.

Cass.
O! hard condition of poor Womankind!
Made Slaves to Mans imperious changeful Will!

Mer.
O! cruel Custom! O! too partial Laws,
That give to Man an Arbitrary Pow'r,
To throw us from him, when his Fancy veers,
And points him to another!

Cass.
Hold—See she rises and comes forward.

(Althea rises and comes forward.
Alth.
Ah! me!—Alas!—Undone, undone! forsaken!—
Weep, weep fond Eyes! dissolve, dissolve in Tears!
You let the fatal Mischiefs in!—Oh! woe!
Oh! Misery! Oh! Ruin!

Cass.
Have Patience, Madam, my Lord still loves you.

Alth.
No, no, he's false!—he's chang'd!—he loves no more!
For when he lov'd he scarce wou'd e'r be from me;
Or if he left me, swift was his return,
And still preventing the appointed Minute.
But now how many tedious Hours are gone!
And yet he comes not—comes not, tho I've sent
To beg his Presence—Nay he does not send
To ease my Pain or contradict my Fears—
My Fears!—alas! my Ruin is too certain!
The common talk of every busy Courtier!
Am I not pointed at, and shunn'd by all?
Already twice commanded to be gone
From Egypt, and from him! Despair and Horror!—
Relentless Pow'rs, hurl, hurl your Thunder down
On my devoted Head! propitious fates
Cut off, cut off my thread of wretched Life!

(Walks up and down in a discompos'd and mournful manner.
Cass.
O! wond'rous Pow'r of Woe to make us wish
For Death, which is by Nature most abhorr'd!

Alt.
O! mighty Themis! O! holy Artemis.
(kneels.
Ye awful Pow'rs that Guardians are of Vows,
Do not my Husbands impious Deeds provoke you?
He breaks thro all your sacred Tyes of Oaths,
To the curs'd Joys of a new Bridal Bed
(Rises)
Sink, sink, destroy, tumble down the Tyrants Palace
On him, on her, on every guilty Cause
Of my unmerited, my dismal Ruin—
(pauses.
Oh! my Father! oh my poor widow'd Mother!
Oh! my dear lost Country all abandon'd!
All forsaken! for the false perjur'd Phaeton!

Mer.
Indulge not thus a passion, whose Violence,
If you give way, must bear down Life before it

Alth.
VVhat use of Life have I, that I shou'd spare it?
Robb'd of my peace by this enormous Evil?
That dear false Man, within whose faithless Bosom
Was all my Hoard of Joy, alas has left me!
Left me alone, forlorn, of Friends bereft,
Beset all round with Foes!—in a strange Land,
Naked of needful Helps, no Refuge near me!
No Country, Brother, Father, or Mother here;
To whom from th'impetuous Storm of Sorrows,
As to a welcom Harbour I might steer.
I'm lost! I perish! taste the Sow'rs of Death,
Ev'n while I live! Oh! let me taste its Sweets
In Death itself, and so forget my Woe!

Cass.
I beg you for your Childrens sake be calm.

Alth.
My Children! ha! my Children did you say?
The joyful product of our mutual Love?
They're part of him, and of his barbarous Sex—
Pauses and walks thoughtfully up and down, starting now and then.
—Avert—avert the thought ye Pow'rs Divine.
Alas they're innocent! and wrong'd like me,
Like me forsaken, and undone like me!
No let th'Offending only feel my Anger!

Mer.
Ay, give it Vent, on those discharge your pain.
It is our Sexes Quarrel, Womankind
However fearful else, will here be bold,
And with confederate Mischief back your Vengeance.

Alth.
Vengeance! Vengeance! alas! I love too much!—
My wrongs are great, but oh! my Love is greater!
When his dear Image comes before my Mind,
False as he is, my Rage ebbs out apace,
And Love in a full Tyde of Tenderness flows in.

Merop.
For Lybia's Lover? and for your Betrayer?

Alth.
For Lybia's Lover? Oh! the very Thought
Strikes Daggers thro me, and alarms my Soul;
Rouzes my injur'd Heart to hateful Mischief!
I cannot, will not bear it.—Ha!

Her Fathers Ghost arises, and she starts back, and gazes as affrighted.
Ghost.
Bear it not.

Alth.
O! all ye Gods! and heavenly Pow'rs protect me!
O! Juno guard me from this dreadful Vision!

Mer.
O! gracious Heav'n restore her wandring Senses!

Cass.
Tho I see nothing, yet a trembling Horror
Shakes me all o're.

Alth.
O! Gods! see yet he stays and glares upon me!

Ghost.
Let not the Image of thy Father fright thee!
I come not now to punish, but assist thee!
At least as far as cruel Fate allows.
Fear not, but hear me!

Alth.
O! thou paternal Shade! O! Hierax! Father!
Father (for yet that kind indulgent Form
Speaks Tenderness, that merits that dear Name)
Can you? O! can you, yet forgive my Flight?
My guilty Flight? that bore me from my Father,
My Hopes, my Happiness! my Innocence!
But oh! severely have I suffer'd for it,
Pierc'd through and through with most ingrateful wrongs!

Ghost.
Too strong, Althea, were the just Impressions
Thy Virtue made upon a Fathers Soul
For Death to raze.—
Our Passions are immortal, as our beings,
A part Essential of them, for without them
There is no Pain, nor Pleasure; Bliss, nor Woe;
I blame not then thy Flight, compell'd by Love,
That o're the young maintains a Tyranny.
I blame thee not for Love, but for thy Tameness;
For bearing Wrongs from this Ægyptian Race.
The injur'd Genius of thy native Country
Calls loudly on thee for Revenge, Revenge.
How long? how long must our unhappy House
Call for Revenge in vain, in vain from thee.
Ægypt's the Source of all our Houses Woe.
For Isis, Argus falls; I for Phaeton:
For Lybia thou. Juno and Hymen both
Demand Revenge for violated Vows.
Juno herself assists thy just Revenge
Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!—

Sinks down.
Alth.
Oh! stay—Oh! do not fly so swiftly from me!
Take not away so soon that pious form,
That pleasing Image of paternal Love,
That touch'd with Care of his unhappy Daughter,
Burst from the peaceful Mansions of the Dead,
To rouze my Justice and accuse my Tameness;
This poor Insensibility of VVrongs!
I feel my Father roll through all my Veins,
Rage in my Blood, and fire my doubting heart!
Revenge! Revenge, Revenge it was he cry'd
Justice, and Pity demand revenge.
My Country, Father, and the Gods demand it.

Cass.
O! Gods appease this Fury of her Mind!

Mer.
Revenge is the best ease the Gods can give her.

Alth.
Revenge! Revenge! it gives some tast to Life
Nor am I wholly wretched while I can
Revenge my Wrongs, and punish my Undoer.—
Inform, advise, instruct, direct my Fury,
While yet my mind is capable of acting.
Yes I will live.—but live for speedy Vengeance,
Great as my Causeless Wrongs, on him, on her;
On her the curs'd Usurper of my Bed:
On Merops, Clymene, and all the Guilty House.

Cass.
Might I advise; I d leave him to the Gods,
Nor think more of him.

Alth.
How! not think of him while yet he wrongs me?
While yet he slights and leaves me for another?
No I'm all Rage, whole Nemesis is in me!
And I'll pursue him with immortal Hate,
Revenge my Injuries, tho I fall my self.

Mer.
But hold—Compose your self—hide your concern;
For see th'Ægyptian Tyrant Merops comes.
Please not his Eyes with Griefs you shou'd not own
To their vile cause—till your Revenge is sure.

Enter Merops, Guards and Attendance.
Merops.
How long must I command you hence in vain?
Weak Monarchs thus are Brow-beat by their Slaves,
When they forget to see themselves obey'd.
Therefore depart—immediately away,
For hence I'll not remove till you are gone.

Alth.
Protect me Heav'n! this blow compleats my Ruin.
Ah! me! to whom! Ah! whither shall I turn?
When thus I fall on every side most wretched.

Merops.
I have no leisure now to hear you rave
Impatient of your hated sight—be gone—
Ease me and mine of this most odious Burden.

Alth.
Thus low, opprest with such a Weight of Woe,
Permit me ask the Reason of my Exile.
What new! what sudden motive cou'd I give,
A helpless Woman, and of All forsaken?

Merops.
Let it suffice I fear thee;
(For mean disguises are below a King)
I fear you'll plot some Mischief against my Daughter,
And for these Fears you are a fertile Cause.
Asia and Europe yield too fatal Proofs,
With what impetuous Fury 'tis you love;
And how my Lybia ought to dread your Rage,
Since you're divorc'd for her, from Phaeton.

Alth.
I grant, that forc'd by Loves Almighty Pow'r
I dard above my Sexes softer Temper
For him that said, nay swore too that he lov'd me
Above his Life, his Life! above his Glory.
Yet think not Merops, think me not so mean,
So very fond to love when I am slighted.
What'er I did for him when yet he lov'd,
I nothing shall attempt for him that hates.
Nor boots it me who loves, or who's belov'd,
Since he loves me no more, since he hates me.
Go on, proceed, consummate their Espousals;
Live long; live happily; I envy't not.
Allow this Wretch alas a sad Retreat.
A shelter against worse Fortune's all I ask.
In secret only I'll on him complain;
Murmur the pangs of my expiring Love.
Where soon Ill learn to yield him up to her,
That more deserves him, than my self.

Merops.
Your Words a specious Mildness only bear,
I fear the deadly Rancour hid within.
For with more Ease w'oppose the Lust of Vengeance,
When it appears in its own native fury,
Than when disguis'd in smooth submissive Words.
Therefore be gone—nor think with subtle Speeches
To change my Will; thy Exile is decreed;
Nor shall thy cunning Arts reverse thy Doom.

Alth.
Oh! I will clasp your Knees: O Sir! by these,
She kneels, and clasps his knees.
By the new Pair I beg, I do conjure you—

Mer.
You beg in vain, all you can say is lost.

Alth.
It is unkingly to reject a Suppliant.

Mer.
It is unjust to prize you 'bove my Family.

Alth.
O! my Country! 'tis now, 'tis now, 'tis now, alas!
That I remember thee!

Mer.
That you shou'd ne'r
Have suffer'd to escape your Memory.

Alth.
O Love! destructive plague to womankind!

Mer.
Yes, when pursu'd against a Parents will.

Alth.
O! Jupiter!
Remember who was the Author of all this!

Mer.
Trifler be gone, and free me from my Cares.

Alth.
'Tis me, 'tis me alone hat Cares oppress;
Nor need I more to make me wholly wretched.

Mer.
Be gone I say, or Slaves shall drive you hence.

Alth.
O! Merops hear me! yield to my Request!

Mer.
In vain you strive to break my fix'd Resolve.

Alth.
No, I will go—I aim not by my Tears
To bend your Stubborn Mind to let me stay?

Rises.
Mer.
What woud you then? Why leave you not my Kingdom?

Alth.
Give but a day to sit me for my Journey.
And since their Father has forgot his Children,
Permit me give em the best Help I can.
Ah! pity them, for youve had Children too!
As you re a Parent let a Parents sorrows
Touch you—Young, tender, and unus'd to Hardships,
As you well know I am; yet, O! Merops!
I am not griev'd for my own Banishment,
But the Misfortunes that attend my Infants,
My little helpless Babes! my early Orphans,
Orphans, while yet their Father is alive.
'Tis these torment me, these that rack my Soul.

Mer.
That I m not ruld by an obdurate Mind,
Let this convince you; your Desire is granted.
Yet hear me, Woman, hear, and mark me well,
If then to morrows Sun do find thee here
Thou dy'st, thou and thy Children surely dye.

Exit Merops cum suis.
Mer.
Alas! unhappy Mistress!
What will you do? or whither will you flye?
To unexperienc'd miseries expos'd?

Cass.
Whose Friendship? or what Nation will you seek?
What Hospitable coast against your sufferings?

Alth.
'Tis true, my Friends Ill-Fortune does surround me,
Yet think not that Ill lose this last success.
Think you I cou'd have crouch'd so to the Tyrant?
Have been His Suppliant? held to Him these Hands?
Had not my hopes of Vengeance bent my Knees,
Soften'd my Language, and thrust out my Arms?
Besotted Merops shou'd have driv'n me hence,
Not giv'n a Day! a Day's a mighty Space,
Enough to Sacrifice all, all my Foes,
The Daughter and her Father, Mother, Son
My perjur'd Husband! Where shall I begin?
Amid this Crop, this Glut of my Revenge?
Shall I set fire to their curs'd Nuptial Bed?
Or with this Dagger pierce their guilty Hearts?
No, by more subtle Arts I must prevail,
Deceit with the Deceivers shou'd not fail;
Yet if this do not, as it ought, succeed,
I with this Hand will do the dreadful Deed:
Amid their Guards, in the full face of Day,
Nor Heav'n nor Hell shall stop my furious way;
I'll wound, I'll stab, transfix their conscious Hearts;
From me they shall be sure of their Deserts.
With joy I'd dye, and as in Triumph fall;
If with my pondrous Fate, I crush'd them all.

Exeunt Omnes.