University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

SCENE, A FORT.
Enter Araxes and Barzanes, two Scythian Officers, meeting.
Barzanes.
Remembrance cannot match th'unquiet Night,
So loud this Tempest: In my Walk of Guard,
I thought the ruffian Wind would from their Roots
Have torn the sturdiest Trees; with such Convulsions
They shook, and groan'd, and bow'd their Tops to Earth.

Arax.
Our Shores felt most its Rage; and still the Sea
Runs Mountain-high: If those tall lab'ring Barks,
Which by their Bulk and Trim we deem'd of Greece,
By Stress of Weather must put in to Land,
Let them beware, they touch not on this Coast.

Barz.
Why of all Ships, that plow the Euxine Sea,
Are those of Greece alone deny'd our Shelter?

Arax.
Know you not that? Such is Diana's Pleasure,
The Guardian Goddess of our Scythian Empire;
Who, for the Crime of one o'er-daring Man,
Pursues a Nation, unappeas'd and wrathful.

Barz.
Who was this Object of her fatal Spleen?

Arax.
A Name well noted in our Eastern World,
Th'Imperial Agamemnon; whose rash Pride,
Or Levity of Spirit, with wanton Boast
Prompted his Tongue to challenge Skill Divine;
And vie with Dian at th'unerring Bow.
Hence her Resentment grew; and when that Chief
Embark'd with Greece upon the Trojan War,
Their Fleet lay Wind-bound at Eubæan Aulis.
The Seers pronounc'd, no Gale could aid their Course,
'Till Iphigenia, Agamemnon's Daughter,
Should bleed a Sacrifice at Dian's Altar.

Barz.
And fell she so?

Arax.
Reports have varied there.
For some give out, that the relenting Goddess,
In soft Compassion of the Virgin's Youth,
Deign'd to accept a Sacrifice more fit,
And snatch'd her from the horrid Shrine, unseen.

Barz.
A Fate, like this, as oft I've heard it rumour'd,
Attends the beauteous Maid, who, all-unwilling,
Presides the Priestess at our Tauric Shrine.

Arax.
I do remember—But howe'er the Goddess
Spared the young Maid, her Wrath pursued the Sire
For when that Grecian Chief from down-fal'n Troy
Return'd in Conquest to his Argive Throne;
His Queen, resentful for her Daughter lost,
(Butcher'd at Aulis, as Reports avouch'd;)
Buried her Dagger in the Victor's Breast.

Barz.
Horrid Revenge!—But see, the lab'ring Sun,
Climbing Heav'n's Hill, relieves us from our Watch.
What dreadful Noise!

[A Noise as of a Ship striking against Rocks.
Arax.
It came as from the Shore:
Belike, some Ruin of the boist'rous Sea.

Enter Riphæus.
Riph.
A stranger Ship, driv'n by th'unruly Surge,
Is bulg'd against our Rocks: The piercing Cries
Speak, her Distress is great. With best Dispatch
Send down sufficient Force to give them Aid.
My Duty hastes me to inform the King.

[Exeunt severally.