University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

The Grove before the Temple.
Enter Queen and Dumnacus, with the People Arm'd.
Dum.
I fear your Passion has betraid our Cause,
For while we thus divide, our Pow'r is weak'n'd.

Queen.
If they will fight, there yet remain enow
To vanquish his small handful; if they won't,
Thus we secure at least this Place of Safety;
And there make sure the Pledge of future Peace;
Or if all fail the happy Means of Vengeance.

Dum.
Your Reason's good, Capt. surround the Temple;
Place Guards at every door, and every Loop-hole;
Let none come out, or enter but the Queen.
Our common Safety's built upon your Care.

Capt.
My Lord, your Orders shall be strictly follow'd

[exit.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes.
As soon, my Lord, as you'd drawn off these Forces.
As if with you, their Soul and Courage went,
The Rest assaulted, by the furious King,
Like Crouds of helpless Women fell, or fled.
Till weary of the slaughter he recall'd
His conqur'ing Troop to lead 'em against you.

Dum.
Curse on their timo'rous Souls, full of proud Boasts.
Let him come on, I here will wait his Onset.

Enter two Messengers.
2. Mes.
My Lord, most strange, and most surprizing News!
The Gods, when Mortal Aid forsook us, sent,
I think from heav'n new force against the King.

Queen.
Speak thou again, thou bring'st new Life, new hopes.

2. Mes.
Whilst in the Valley we withstood the King,
The British Fleet all anchor'd in our Port,
This by the Cambrian Pris'ners was discover'd;
Who from the Ramparts leapt into the Sea,
Swam all aboard, with loud Applause were welcom'd,
And then, with fury, Rhesus led his Men
To shore.

Queen.
(Aside.)
O! Mischief unforeseen! the freedom
My fondness gave him, has undone my hopes!

3. Mes.
This the King hear'd while we were Pris'ners led,
And gave us Freedom, alarm'd with this new Terror,
He drew his Guards t'oppose the Britains landing,
In vain—for Rage, Revenge, and Courage led 'em on.

Enter a Fourth Messenger.
Dum.
What new Advice bring'st thou?

4. Mes.
The King, my Lord,
Dispairing to oppose the British Pow'rs,
Headed by Rhesus,
Has left a Party of his Guards to face 'em:
While he retires this way to the Temple.

Dum.
That's as my Soul cou'd wish, his Journey's ended!
The Journey of his guilty Life here Ends,
The Britains press behind, and we before
Oppose his Flight, betwixt, us he must fall,
What more, my Daughter, cou'd our fortune give us?

Queen.
What more! good Gods! what worse cou'd happen!

Dum.
He must be for us, for we fight his Battel.

Queen.
Oh! no! he ne'r will join with us, besure,
Who have design'd his Queen's, and Children's Deaths.
(Aside ... )
If he prevail, I doubly am undone,
I loose my Vengeance, and I loose my Love!—
He, that in Dungeons cou'd my Love despise,
What will he do with Conquest on his Sword?
Bear off in Triumph, my detested Rival!
And leave me here, slighted! ruin'd! wretched.
Oh! Gods! I cannot, bear that Thought!—
No to the Temple I'll this Moment flie;
There seize my Victim, and before I die,
I with this hand my Rival will remove,
And Rhesus so, as well, as I shall prove
The Pangs of my Despair, that durst despise my Love. ( ... Aside)


Exit.
Enter King, and Soldiers with their Swords drawn,
King.
My fellow-Soldiers,
The Foe, you see, is but a Nerveless Limb
Of those tame Rebels, you but now have beaten.
The Foe behind, that like a roaring Torrent
Comes rolling on you, with a swift Destruction,
Has left thro' these our only way to Safety,
The only passage to my conquering Army.

Enter chief Druid, with a troop of Druids, and holy Banners.
Dum.
Fall on my Friends.

Chief Druid.
Ha! Rebel! dare you view these awful Banners?
These consecrated Robes? these holy Wreaths?
And know the Doom that dwells upon my Tongue,
Yet stand in Arms against your King, and me?

Dum.
I'm not his Subject but an injur'd King.

Druid.
Lay down your Arms Rebels e're I curse ye,
And pour th'avenging Plagues of angry Heav'n
On all your impious heads, 'tis I 'tis Heav'n,
That summon your Obedience! quit,—forsake
Fly that Ingrateful instantly—or—

Dum.
Hell, and Furies! this canting Dotard routs me!
Will you be aw'd from Liberty, by Words?
Assess; Dolts;—fall on—Liberty! Liberty!

None come forward but Dumnacus, who advancing to attaque the Druid, and the King is Immediatly kill'd.
Dum.
Confusion seize you all! I'm slain—
[Falls.
[when he is fall'n.]
Ye abject Wretches!
Who durst not strike one Blow for all your Wishes!
How you cou'd mutter 'gainst your vile Oppressions;
Talk big in Corners what your Swords shou'd do
For Liberty, and Ease. But when, like Men
You shou'd do something Worthy such bold Threats,
You quake, and tremble, you are by Nature slaves.
So may you sink beneath your Burdens all!
Domestic Plagues consume you! home-bred Feuds
Destroy you all! Confinement, Poverty,
And all the Curses of a Tyrants Reign
Be—still—your Lot—oh!—
[Dies.

King
Bear off his Body.

[They bear it off.
Enter some Soldiers flying.
Soldiers.
Flie, flie, my Lord, the furiuos Britains come.

King.
Turn, Souldiers, turn! You that have Vanquish'd Romans
Flie not from Britains.
You that love Liberty—
[to the People.
Against Invaders now defend your Country.

Ch. Druid.
Save You your Country, and restore their Queen.

King.
Restoring her, we loose a Pledge of Safety.

Ch. Druid.
Restore you her, and I'll ensure your Safety.

King.
Ha! Traytor! thou ensure our Safety!
Then thou'rt Confedrate with thy Countries Foes!
Begon, thou, and thy venal Tribe begon;
Begon, I say, e're my just Vengeance reach you.

Ch. Druid.
Yes, we will go—but here too late thou'lt wish us,
To shield thee from the Wrath of angry Heaven!

[Exeunt Druids.
Enter Rhesus, and Britains driving in the Gauls flying before them.
Rhesus advancing toward the King, as his men do toward the Gauls.
Rhes.
Oh! art thou found again?
What greater Fear made insecure thy flight?
And fixt thee here, no more t'escape my Sword?

King.
Hold Britains hear me; for it much imports you.

Rhes.
What wou'dst thou say?

King.
Return, with speed return!
Flie to your ships this moment, while you may;
My conqu'ring Army comes, 'till when this Pass
With ease We can maintain against your Fury.
When they arrive, no Britain I will spare.

Rhes.
Peace, Vanquish'd Gaul, nor think to brow-beat Britains
When ever Love, or Glory leads us on
The Gallic Nation is too weak to stop us.

King.
Hold yet your Swords; and once more hear me speak!

Rhes:
Vain Trifler, I've no time to dally.

King.
Hold!—
For your first Blow gives Guinoenda Death.

Rhes.
Ha!—
Thou can'st not be so base, to kill a Woman?

King.
Depend on that, and see her bleed this Moment.

Rhes.
Thou say'st thou lov'st her,

King.
Better far than thou do'st.

Rhes.
And yet woud'st kill her?

King.
Rather, than see her thine; because I love her.

Rhes.
No, no, thy self alone thou lov'st, not her.

King.
The Love of both's so join'd, I can't divide them.

Rhes.
If you lov'd her, you'd seek her Happiness.

King.
But with my self not thee.

Rhes.
With thee, she's wretched.

King.
That yet she knows not; give her time to try.

Rhes.
Dar'st thou thus provoke me?

King.
Why not? provoke thee?
What Terrors do'st thou fancy, that thou wear'st?
In mortal Duel I have vanquish'd Romans,
In League with Fortune, and the partial Gods,—
How can I then fear thee?

Rhes.
Come boast no more what thou hast done but do,
What e'r with Romans thou hast done, thou dar'st not
Attaque a British King.

King.
Dare not?

Rhes.
Dare not.
I will forgoe the Odds my Fortune gives me,
And on this single Arm repose Success.
Thy Quarrel is unjust, and all thy own;
Spare then thy Men; I dare thee to the Combate.

King.
Oh! that thou durst but do this!

Rhes.
'Tis thy Fear,—
Thy Fear alone, that makes thee seem to doubt it.
Thy tim'rous Heart confiding in mean Wiles
Thou fear'st to trust thy Love to thy own Prowess.

King.
I'm all on fire to pierce thy haughty Bosome.

Rhes.
My fellow Soldiers, and my Country-men.
When Public Good, or Safety calls, you all
Shall share my Dangers: but my private Wrongs
I will revenge my Self. For I shou'd blush
On those to lavish Subjects, such as You.
Not one of you advance to my Assistance
'Tis my Command.

[to the Britains.
King.
You I command the same.
[to the Gauls.
Come on; for Love and Guinoenda!—
Have at thy heart so swell'd with Pride of Virtue,
As if thou wert a God! come this to try—

Rhes.
Come on Despiser of Heroic Virtue.

They Fight and the King falls.
King.
Ha! to me indeed, thou art immortal!
I feel Deaths Icy Hand about my heart!
O! Guinoenda!—oh!—

[Dies.
Rhes.
Bear your King's Body hence.

[To the Gauls.
The Gauls bear off the King's Body.
Rhes.
Let not Injustice ever think to prosper,
For soon or late the watchful Gods o'retake it,
So perish all the foes of Britain!
Now, my brave friends, advance we to the Temple
There from the Gods the dear Reward to gain
The Aim of all our Toil, the End of all our Pain.

[Exeunt Omnes.

SCENE II.

Changes to the Inside of the Temple.
Guinoenda, Queen and Attendants with a Bowl. &c.
Queen.
False is your Grief for what you most desire;
Common delusive Arts of Woman kind,
Ill therefore hid from me. Your boasted Love
Avoids this test, where subtle Art is vain;
The pow'r you know is mine; within my hands:
Your husbands Life, a forfeit to that Pow'r,
And only for your sake, your Guilt in danger.
If therefore you this Minute drink this Bowl
Rhesus is free, if not this Moment ends him.

Guin.
Swear by the God then of this awful Temple,
Who, if thou art perjur'd, may revenge me on thee,
He shall be free, as soon as I have drank it.

Queen.
I swear by Hermes, Rhesus shall be free
When thou hast drank it.

Guin.
Hast, and give it me.
[They give her the Bowl.
O! Pow'rs severe! let here your Anger cease;
Your Indignation let my Death appease;
Pursue no farther my unhappy Race!
Give me the welcome draught, that ends my Woes,
And gives my Rhesus Life.
[she drinks.
This is a Cordial to my sickly Fortunes.

Qu.
And to mine.—since, by my superiour Genius,
Thou now art fal'n, thy Rhesus shall be free,
But free for me;—
For know I love him, and he shall be mine.
Let that torment thee.—

Guin.
If he be free, that fear will ne'r disturb me:
For well I know the torture will be thine,
If it be true, that thou do'st love him; for
He will loath thy Love.

Queen.
Believe not that, my Charms are not so weak.

Guin.
Too weak you'l find to win a heart from me.

Queen.
Oh! be not vain of my fond Husbands Dotage;
Nor think I shine with such a beamless fire,
But I can warm your Rhesus to desire.
Tho' my dull King my pointed Charms declin'd,
'Twas thro' the baseness of his vulgar Mind,
For my excess of Brightness made him blind.
Like bird Obscene, he took his guilty flight,
From my fierce day to thy bleak dusky Night;
Pleas'd with thy sickly Rays of inoffensive Light.
But Rhesus like the Royal Bird of Jove,
When from thy Gloom, he sees Me roll above,
Will shoot, with Joy, up to my Sun of Love.

Guin.
Let him be happy, and I have my Aim.

Queen.
Can you so calmly then resign your Claim?
No, no, thro' this I your Despair can see.

Guin.
That's only by the guilty felt, like thee.
Why does thy feeble Malice toil in vain?
Thou hurts not me with all thy bootless Pain.
Unable my impassive Mind to wound,
Back on thy self th'envenom'd darts rebound.
The Shrubs below thee may thy Tempest fear,
I move above thee in too high a Sphere.
Survey beneath me thy vain Storm of Soul,
And smile to see thy Mimic Thunders roll.

Queen.
O! pompous Shew of Virtue not thy own!
O! fulsome dawb too artlesly laid on!
Thro' the disguise thy swarthy Soul appears;
Thy awker'd Courage but betrays thy Fears
To leave him here with me, while thou must go
Deserted to the dismal Shades below.

Guin.
Oh! I shall go where thou shalt never come,
By Crimes secure of a severer Doom.
Thy drossy Soul sinks to profoundest Hell,
And there 'mid fiery Floods, and shud'ring Ice must dwel;
No respit to thy Pains, thro' all the Round,
Of vast Eternity will e're be found.
While I pass forward to those blest Abodes,
Where Souls refine, and ripen into Gods.
Wait there a while the coming of my Love,
Then with united Virtue upward move,
Together, to the starry Realms above.—
But I shou'd husband better my last breath;
This scantling Moment lent by Miser Death,
To begg the Gods, that they when I am dead,
Wou'd show'r their Blessings on my Rhesus's head;
Against all Evils wou'd his Guardians be;
Against the worst of Evils, against thee.

Turns from her and goes and kneels down at the Altar.
Queen.
What art thou gone? stay I command thee stay,
I will not let thee have the Ease to pray;
I will not leave thee till I've seen thee die,
Before my feet beheld thee gasping lie,
And with th'expir'ing Pangs, have fed my longing Eye.

Enter Messenger.
3. Mess.
Madam
The doubtful Issue of the War's decided.
The King is dead, and Oh! that I cou'd say
The King alone!

Queen.
Hold—if what thou hast to say,
Be not so pleasing, let me never hear it.
In one blest Moment both my foes destroy'd!
My Barrs to happiness; my Source of Pain!
As yet I have no motive of Complaint.
I see a boding grief fixt on thy Brow,
That checks my Joy, and with a sullen gloom,
Foretells a tempest near, to wreck this Joy.
Well let it break—the hideous burst must come,
And fate has arm'd me 'gainst the dreadful Blow.
Thou wert still hear my Father; say, where is he?
How does he? is he well? Conquers? or is vanquish'd?

Mess.
Alas! I fear to tell, what you must know,
He's dead!

Queen.
Ha! blasted be thy tongue, as my hopes are!
The Arm, that slew him, and that Coward Herd
That did so ill defend his Godlike Life!

Mess.
Your Curses are forestall'd, the King, who slew him,
Fell next himself: And conquering Rhesus comes
To bear his Queen in triumph from this Place.

Queen.
Slave, not so loud, least she shou'd tast this joy,
Before she die.—But Rhesus comes too late,
Thanks to my stars, too late, to rescue her!
But oh! my fortune, like a Misers Gift,
Shews penury of Soul ev'n in it's Bounty
My Pow'r is lost, all hopes of Pow'r are gone!
And with those hopes, all hopes of love, and Glory.
Nature, and fortune were at mighty Odds
When I was form'd; Nature gave vast desires
Fortune but scanty scraps of short Success,
To make my fatal disappointments greater
O! Love! Ambition! Duty! Father! Rhesus!
What several ways you drag my tortur'd heart!
And quite disjoint my Soul!

Enter Rhesus, Druids, Britains, and Attendants.
Mess.
Madam the Cambrian King.

Queen.
I must resolve.
I have no time to argue with my fortune.
Ambition, Love deny me life without him!
He shall be mine, or perish with me, here.

Ch. Druid
to Rhesus as they come forward.
Pardon me, Royal, Sir, my Grief's his due
He was my King, the last of his great house;
Shar'd in my Blood, and 'till this fatal love,
Did nought unworthy his illustrious Race.
The Crown h'has left me is alas a Burden!

Rhes.
Your Grief is just, as all your actions are;
And I shou'd share your pious Woe, but that
My heart's so full of Joy, that I approach
To end my Guinoenda fears, I can not think
Of ought that's sad.

Queen.
My Lord, I hope Success
Will not destroy your Justice
I must one Moment, interrupt your Wishes,
By staying you to know the fate of mine.

Rhes.
May all your juster Wishes prove successful!

Queen.
You are a niggard in your Pray'r, my Lord,
And with a large Reserve, you choak your Bounty;
While you will judge the Justice of my Wishes.
But sure theyr'e just when they end all in you!
I know a Woman, shou'd not say she loves;
But I am prest too close, by fate, to wait
The artful forms of tedious Ceremony;
To introduce a truth, I can't conceal.

Rhes.
Madam, there's none so great or fortunate
But wou'd be proud to wear the pleasing Chains
Of such a charming Beauty.—
But I was born for Guinoenda only,
And her alone can love.

Queen.
But were she dead?

Rhes.
Far be
The fatal Supposition! yet, ev'n then
I cou'd love none but her, but oh! much rather
I'd die my self; I'd rather the whole sex—
But, Madam, harbour no such fatal thought,
Oh! let not that betray you to attempt
Ought against, her, for by the Gods I swear
No expiation shall absolve your Guilt,
Or e'r appease my wild, destroying Vengeance.

Queen.
Be not too proud, and Vain of your success;
Our Army, now approaching, owns my Cause;
We have a Nation, to supply our losses,
You but a handful, far from all relief.
Be wise, and snatch the lucky, offer'd Moment,

Rhes.
Threats are but vain, for fear ne'r reach'd my heart,
And therefore, I must tell you Madam,
There's something fatal in you shocks my Nature,
Like suddain Illness in the mid'st of health.
Your very sight has damp'd my rising Joy.
All contraries in Nature may unite,
Sooner, than we.

Queen.
Am I so loathsom then?

Rhes.
Death, and Guinoenda I wou'd choose
Before an Empire, with the fairest She,
That e'r was vain of Beauty, Proud of Pow'r.

Queen.
Insensible, dull man, take then thy Wish,
Offers to stab him being hinder'd. stabs her self.
And let the Grave unite you.
Ha! disappointed!
Here at least I'm right.

Rhes
Wrest the dagger from her.

Queen.
Your Malice there's too impotent; 'tis done
Obedient Death relieves me from a sight,
My sick'ning soul wou'd ake at; her vast Joy
At thy Embraces; but it shall be short,
Short it shall be; yes fleeting, as my hopes were!
But then the Racks and Tortures that succeed
Oh! double may they be, and long! that sight,
Whose Image so delights my Rage, I fain
Wou'd live to see—but—oh!—it! wo'not—be—

[dies.
Guinoenda rises and is led forward.
Ch. Druid.
Remove her cursed body, that polluted
Our holy Temple with this hateful Murder.

Guin.
Methought I heard my Rhesus's melting Voice.
The charming Lure brought down my mounting Soul
That like a falcon towr'd aloft to'ards Heav'n.
Ha! what fatal Scene is this!

Rhes.
My Life! my Guinoenda!
Let not that sight now interrupt thy Joy.
The Gods at last have snatch'd us from ill fortune,
See here my noble Britains, all arriv'd!
The King fell by my Sword, the furious Queen
By her own hand, ev'n in this sacred Temple.

Guin.
The Gods are just, and in the very Place
Have punish'd her offence. It is enough
'Tis happiness enough to see thee free,
To have thee by me while I am expiring,
'Twas all I had to ask my cruel Stars.

Rhes.
Talk not of death, now danger is remov'd.
Now every God looks down, and smiles upon us
Blesses our Love, our Constancy, and Truth.

Guin.
Ah! dream no more of happiness with me!
For I have drank a draught, will quickly shew,
None lov'd so well, and yet was so unhappy!

Rhes.
Now heav'n forbid! what has thy Madness done?

Guin.
The Queen just now propos'd this fatal choice,
To live without my Rhesus, or die for him.
I cou'd not long delib'rate which to choose
But on her Oath to save your Life, I drank
The fatal Bowl.

Rhes.
Oh! unexpected! oh! too cruel Treachery!
Run all to seek some help, some Antidote.
My Kingdom for her Cure.

Guin.
It will not be!
I find it spread thro' every vital part,
And to my heart it takes its chilling journey.

Rhes.
Is this heav'n's care of Innocence, and truth!

Ch. Druid.
Be patient.

Rhes.
Tell me not of Patience
Were I on the Rack, m'extended limbs
Disjointed, my Bones all crush'd in pieces,
I might bear that, without a groan, or pang;
But oh! this Rack of Soul cannot be born!

Guin.
Ah! grieve not thus!
That adds a double terror to my fate.

Rhes.
O! Guinoenda! I am vastly wretched!

Guin.
Ha! now I feel the fatal gripe of death!
Support my sinking body in thy Arms.
O! glorious Sun! O! quickly setting Beams!
Setting to me for ever! O! ye Spheres!
That roll above with animating fires!

Rhes.
They see us both most wretched.

Guin.
O! vital Air! O! Earth! O! British Mansions!
O! genial Bed! that I shall ne'r see more!

[declines her head.
Rhes.
Lift up thy beauteous head, my Love, nor leave me!
But move the Gods, that can do all, to Pity.

Guin.
In vain! in vain; I see the grizly Terror.
With hideous Importunity, it waits
To waft me over to th'eternal shades.

Rhes.
O! dismal Sounds! O woes too vast to bear!

Guin.
Haste set me down, my feet will not support me;
And a dark Night slides, on my languid Eyes!

Rhes.
O! miserable Rhesus! oh! words more piercing,
And far more terrible, than Death it self!
Oh! thou art grown so much a part of me,
That on thy fate my life, and Death depend.

Guin.
I have prefer'd thy safety to my Own.
I might have liv'd; but chose to die for you
For rob'd of you, indeed I cou'd not live.
Oh! then my Rhesus, grant my last Request.

Rhes.
Oh! Name it quickly, that I may have life
To grant it.

Guin.
Where are my Children? call them
To take a sad farwel of their poor Mother.

Rhes.
O Guinoenda! sure my heart will burst!
Oh! take us both, ye Gods, or spare her life.

Enter Children.
Guin.
I know you love these little Ones, as I do,
Be tender of their Childhood, guard their Youth;
For I am leaving them! this Moment leaving them!
For ever leaving these dear pretty Orphans.
Farwel, my Children, may you both be happy,
More happy, than your Father, or your Mother!
Ah! love my Memory, as I have lov'd thee!

Rhes.
Coud'st thou resign thy life for me, and think,
I e'r cou'd cease to love thee! O! ye Gods!
Who have ordain'd this fatal Tryal, witness!
How much I love my Guinoenda! yes
While this wretched Remnant of my Life
(Which sure such Woes will shorten) does remain
Thee only I will love, and think on thee alone
And when kind fate shuts up my gloomy day
In everlasting Night, within one Grave
I will lie by thee! no fate shall ever part us.

Guin.
Here from my hands receive these charming Pledges
Ah! be their Mother too, as well as Father!

Rhes.
Alas! there's a Necessity for that!

Guin.
Ah! now, my Rhesus now I die!

Rhes.
Oh! take me with thee, for I will not live!

Guin.
Ah! live! these loose enough, in loosing me!

Rhes.
O! Gods! O! Fates what! Treasure you take from me!

Guin.
A leaden slumber falls upon my Eyes!

Rhes.
Oh! leave me not! forsake not your poor Children!

Guin.
Not willingly: but Oh! farwel!

Rhes.
Ah! look but on us!

Guin.
I'm going!

Rhes.
Ah: leave us not!

Guin.
Farwel!

[dies.
Rhes.
O! wretched Rhesus! speak once more!
Stay but, a Moment! take, ah! take me with thee,
Oh! Oh!—

[He stands fixt, and gazing on her.
Manse.
O! Mother! hear me! speak to me; 'tis I
'Tis I call on you; 'tis I that kiss your lips,
And press your hands, O! my dear Mother!

Tyr.
Alas! my Sister you call in vain on her,
That cannot hear you now, we both must share
This Woe, for both have lost the best of Mothers!

Rhesus
starting up.
It shall be so!—we'l be inter'd together?
Fate cou'd not part our Loves, nor shall our Bodies.

Ch. Druid.
My Lord be patient: bear it like a man,

Rhes.
O! Druid! she was the tenderest Wife!
So good! so soft! so loving! Gods! Oh! Gods!
Yet she is dead! by hellish Treachery dead!
The best of Women slain by the most Wicked!

Ch. Druid.
We all are born to die.

Rhes.
Why do I live then?
O! Guinoenda! must I live without thee!

Ch. Druid.
Remove her hence, the Sight too much disturbs him!

Rhes.
You shall not take her from me
By Heav'n I will not part with her, 'till death
Has made me like her. No I will hold her
Press her cold body fast within my Arms;
Unweary'd gaze on her benighted Eyes;
And 'mid ten thousand tender ardent Kisses,
Breath a new Life into her.—
Here I will fix immoveably fast
'Till I've transfus'd my Soul into her Body!—
I feel it on the Wing already.—

[faints away.
Ch. Druid
Go bear him gently to my Bed,
[they bear both off.
And take peculiar Care of his recovery.
Be comforted, my Boy, thy Father lives.
And Fate foredooms him a more glorious Death.
The Gods prepare him by this mighty Tryal,
For Deeds illustrious as his future Race.
Thy Mother might have longer life enjoy'd
But ne'r cou'd with such Glory have expir'd
The Phœnix of her Sex, the only Wife;
That for her Husband, durst resign her Life.

Tyr.
Sorrows begon!
Revenge will be more worthy me, than Tears!
I feel unusual Vigour in each Nerve
The godlike Genius of my drooping Father,
Shook from his Breast by his prevailing Sorrows,
Doubly informs my Soul, and fires my Blood.
Come on my Britans—
Unsheath your Swords, and with wide-wasting fury,
Fly to revenge your Queen, as Britians shou'd;
As Britains will when ever Gaul shall wrong them.
Burn kill, destroy, that, all around, the Shrieks,
And Groans of dying Gauls, may rend the Skies,
'Till Rhesus starting at the gladsom Sound,
With fullen Joy surveys our dreadful Deeds,
Leaps from his languid grief, to join our Rage,
To share the early Glory of his Son
And so compleat the Vengeance, we begun.

[Exit with Britains.
Ch. Druid