 | Merope |  |
SCENE II.
MEROPE. ISMENE. EURICLES.ISMENE.
Madam!—Lord Euricles—
MEROPE.
Welcome—what Hope?
EURICLES.
Vain was our Search—From Peneus' Bank, it spread,
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Enquiry, lab'ring, lost its fruitless Prayer.
Description cou'd not wake the least Idea.
None knew, none ever heard of, Narbas' Name!
MEROPE.
Alas! he breaths no more—my Son is dead.
ISMENE.
So, Fear makes real every fansied Woe.
—You've heard, that, on Report of this new Peace,
My Father guides him, secret, to your Hopes.
EURICLES.
Just was his Caution! Narbas, wisely loyal,
Veils his Return, and cautiously conveys him.
Narbas knows All his Dangers—I, mean while,
Watch, with a guardful Eye these Murd'rers Motions:
And, with determin'd Hand, prepare to save him.
MEROPE.
On Faith so try'd as Thine, even Woe leans, easy.
EURICLES.
Doubt but my Power's Defect: My Will finds none.
—But I have News more threat'ning.
Th' assembled Senate vote, in warm Debate,
A Consort in your Crown.—
MEROPE.
Presumptuous Care!
You shou'd have call'd it Insult.
EURICLES.
Words were vain.
Truth, unsustain'd by Power, but fights, to fall.
The partial People roar for Poliphontes:
And Right, and Law, and Pity, sink before him.
MEROPE.
Can Fortune, then, reduce the Great to Pity!
Can Kings, in their own Realms, contract to Slaves?
EURICLES.
Something must be resolv'd, to check their Speed.
MEROPE.
Yes—I will face these Lords, of Kings, and Law:
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That sparkle by the Fire they steal from Majesty!
I will go dart Truth's Light'ning in their Eyes,
And thunder in their Ears the Rights of Thrones.
I will revive lost Sense of Trust and Duty:
I will assert their Sov'reign's near Return.
(going.)
EURICLES.
Oh, Heav'n! be wary—That way, Ruin lies.
Their Tyrant Leader starts, already fir'd,
By that Alarm: and dreams, of what he dreads.
MEROPE.
What can he, more—so much already one?
EURICLES.
Jealous of Danger, Men make Haste in Guilt:
Work, to be safe, and hold no Means too wicked.
Mycene, but by Faction, freed from Faction,
Claim'd like a Conquest, he computes His own.
No Tye so sacred binds endanger'd Valour,
Where hot Ambition spurs it—Every Rampart
Gives Way, before him. Law, corrupted, guards him.
Wealth dresses, Poverty attends, Pride leads:
And Priesthood presses Gods who hate—to serve him.
MEROPE.
I see th' Abyss, before me—Let it be.
If I plunge in, and crush this Poliphontes,
'Tis but, to fall for Vengeance.
EURICLES.
Soft!—he comes.
Exeunt Euricles and Ismene.
MEROPE.
Wear for a Moment, Heart! the Veil thou hat'st.
| Merope | |