Merope A Tragedy |
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| 5. | SCENE V. |
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 | Merope |  |
SCENE V.
Merope, Narbas, Ismene, Priests.MEROPE.
What! are ye here already?—Out of my Sight,
Ye sanctify'd Deceits! You! whose bold Arts
Rule Rulers! and compel even Kings, to Awe!
Be gone, fly, vanish—
Ye Mouths of Mercy! and ye Hands of Blood!
CHIEF PRIEST.
Sorrows, and Wrongs, claim Privilege to rail:
And Heaven's affronted Vot'ries must forgive.
MEROPE.
Cool, in your Cruelty!—Religion's Veil
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Why talk you of Forgiveness?—'tis not yours.
CHIEF PRIEST.
Not in Death's Cause we come; but Heaven's—and Love's.
If Vows were plighted, 'twixt the King and You,
No Power on Earth dissolves 'em.
MEROPE.
False, as Hell!
He knows, I heard his hated Vows with Horror.
—Slight Insolence!—To this ill-founded Charge,
Silence, and Scorn, shall answer.
[turning away.
CHIEF PRIEST.
Gracious Sovereign!
Suspend your Anger: 'tis unjustly rais'd.
—Enlighten, and command us.—Found too easy
In one wrong'd Faith, we twice, perhaps, have err'd:
Alike deceiv'd, in Both.—Unbend that Brow:
And deign to teach our Doubt, what Name to give
This Stranger? this young Captive to the King?
MEROPE.
Give him the Name you dare to misapply.
Call him your King—my Son—my lost Eumenes.
CHIEF PRIEST.
Hear That, prophetic Soul! high Heaven!—I tremble,
In Dread, this great Discovery comes too late.
The shouting People crowd the waiting Altar:
And, erring in their Zeal, mis-hail the Day.
—What can be, shall be try'd, to cross his Doom.
They shall be taught, with bold, adventrous Speed,
To save their Sovereign's Right—and, hence, rash Queen,
Learn due Repentance: and no more, let loose
The Rage of Wrongs, against the Tongues of Gods.
[Exeunt Priests.
MEROPE.
—This solemn Sharpness of deserv'd Reproach,
Struck my too conscious Guilt, with infelt Awe!
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What, tho' Religion's Guardians taint her Tide!
Pure is the Fountain, tho' the Stream flows wide:
Too oft, her erring Guides her Cause, betray:
Yet, Rage grows impious, when it bars her Way.
| Merope | |