 | The tragedy of Sophonisba |  |
SCENE I.
Masinissaalone.
In vain I wander thro' the shade for peace;
'Tis with the calm alone, the pure of heart,
That there the goddess talks—But in my breast
Some busy thought, some secret-eating pang,
Throbs inexpressible; and rowls from—What?
From charm to charm, on Sophonisba still
Earnest, intent, devoted all to her.
Oh it must out!—'Tis love, almighty love!
Returning on me with a stronger tide.
I'll doubt no more, but give it up to love.
Come to my breast, thou rosy-smiling god!
Come unconfin'd! bring all thy joys along,
All thy soft cares, and mix them copious here.
But why invoke I thee? Thy power is weak,
To Sophonisba's eye, thy quiver poor,
To the resistless lightning of her form;
And dull thy bare insinuating arts,
To the sweet mazes of her flowing tongue.
Quick, let me fly to her; and there forget
This tedious absence, war, ambition, noise,
Even friendship's self, the vanity of fame,
And all but love, for love is more than all!
| The tragedy of Sophonisba | |