The Siege of Sinope A Tragedy |
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| 6. | SCENE VI. |
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 | The Siege of Sinope |  |
SCENE VI.
THAMYRIS, ATHRIDATES, ARTABANES.ARTABANES.
Ha! my father here!
My trembling heart recoils.—
ATHRIDATES.
Imperious woman!
Hast thou forgot me?
THAMYRIS.
Wou'd I could forget
This day of matchless horrors!
ATHRIDATES.
Her stern eyes
Disdainful fix'd on earth, she meets with scorn
The father she abandon'd. Say, obdurate,
Ere on thy head the vengeful steel descends,
Where hast thou hid my victim? the remains
Of Mithridates' race? the impious pledge
Of thy unhallow'd nuptials?
THAMYRIS.
'Midst yon heaps,
Yon slaughter'd heaps, where age and infancy
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His unprotected innocence. But where,
Inhuman? tell me,—where is my Pharnaces?
Where are my murder'd people!—kingdom!—throne!
All, all, my unsuspecting, woman's, heart,
Betray'd to Athridates.—My fond wish
To hail once more the tender name of father,
To kiss that hand rever'd, and sue for pardon;
My weak, mistaken, filial piety,
Have pierc'd with tenfold wounds this bleeding land,
And wing'd the arrow to my husband's heart.
ATHRIDATES.
'Tis well, this arrogance becomes a daughter.
THAMYRIS.
Becomes a queen: thy cruelty has raz'd
Each tender name from nature's beauteous volume,
And clos'd the fond account. No more a daughter
Implores a father's smile; but majesty,
Offended, wounded, injur'd, majesty,
Meets its oppressor. Powerful as thou art,
Lord of my fate, I rise superior to thee
For thou hast broke thy faith.
ATHRIDATES.
Why waste I words?
The king, the conqueror, demands his captive:
Produce thy son, or instant death, embitter'd
By keenest tortures, waits thee.
THAMYRIS.
Vain these threats;
A mother's bosom, trembling for her child,
One fear alone can know.
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Thou fear'st for him!—
He lives then!—but 'tis well—be still that fear
Thy curse, 'till vengeance comes! Thou canst not long
Conceal him from my search:—A father's justice
Shall reach that heart relentless, and inflict
Pangs I could almost pity.—In that hour,
That trying hour, to meet with heart unmov'd
The sword of Rome, and brave a father's vengeance,
What god omnipotent shall give thee courage?
THAMYRIS.
The god within the soul,—despair,—myself.
ATHRIDATES.
Soon shalt thou meet the trial: summon all
Thy boasted fortitude.—The hour approaches.
| The Siege of Sinope | |