University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Hesione to Zimon, and Tryhon.
Welcome; O welcome to thy Father's Arms!
[Embracing her.
Pledge of my youthful Love! thou fairest Flow'r,
Which with a Planter's Care I still have guarded,
Cherish'd, defended from invading Storms,
That when my Winter shou'd draw on, when Age
Shou'd sadden all things to me, thou alone
Might'st bloom, and flourish in my faded Eyes,
And smooth the last, sad, rugged Stage of Life.
—O may'st thou yet, yet answer all my Hope!

Hesione.
Doubt you Hesione, whose grateful Heart
Ne'er knew a Wish, that came not first from yours?

Zimon.
O, gaze not on me thus! but rather turn,
And hide thee from me—Oh, Hesione!
Say from thy Soul, hast thou not ever found me
Kind to thy Will, and yielding to thy Pray'rs?

Hesione.
Ever! and a whole Life of duteous Love
Will poorly recompence your tender Care.

Zimon.
Can'st thou be rigid in Obedience?

Hesione.
Duty, and Love stand ready to perform,
Whate'er my Father's Justice can command.

Tryphon.
You think the Gods are just, Hesione?

Hesione.
Let all my Actions testify I do.

Tryphon.
Heav'n grant they may!

Hesione.
Then I am doubtful still.
Say, my lov'd Father, I conjure you say,
Whence are these Sighs? why heaves your gen'rous Breast?

Zimon.
Think! canst thou bear the Storms of angry Fate?
Canst thou thy self subdue? and hast thou learnt
Of Patience ought besides its empty Name?

Hesione.
With you the worst of Fates I cou'd endure!
Shou'd it please Heav'n, at once to pull us down
Even unto the last of Miseries!
That Bondage, Sickness, Poverty, and Shame
Might seize upon us all, your Name, and House
Expung'd for ever from the Book of Fame!
E'en then Omphales, and Hesione
Cou'd least forsake you. All the weary Day,
Tho' threaten'd, scorn'd, we'd beg for your Support;
All Night by turns secure you in your Sleep,
And with our wretched Weeds from the cold Dews
Defend your reverend Head.

Zimon.
Excellent Creature!—
Thou art alas! too tender for thy Fate.
[Aside.
Tell me, Hesione, when thou hast heard
Some moving Tale of unsuccessful Love,
Some sad, disastrous Story, full of Woe,
Of tedious Absence, Pain, and Sufferance;
When, thro' a strange variety of Ills,
The constant Pair have met, have even reach'd
Each others Arms, and then some angry God
Has sever'd 'em for ever! say, my Child,
When thou hast heard a moving Tale like this,
How has thy Heart endur'd it?

Hesione.
Oh, my Father!
Whence are these Words? why urge you this to me?
—Where is Omphales?