University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

The Prison.
Enter Leonidas and Amphares, followed by an Officer.
LEONIDAS.
(to the Officer.)
Inform the princess, that her father comes
To break her chains, and clasp her to his bosom.
[Exit officer through the flat.
I dread the mighty tumults of her grief,
When on her widow'd heart, the woe shall burst.

AMPHARES.
Surely not sudden, should the tale of woe
Be trusted to her heart.—Let her first, taste
The blessings of your love.—By soft degrees
Prepare her for her loss, and for the vows,
My raptur'd pulse beat eagerly to pay.

LEONIDAS.
My tend'rest cares shall soothe her to repose,
For well, Amphares, dost thou know my soul
Delights in Chelonice.—Now farewel
To those keen jealousies, which have so long
Poison'd the tender flow of love parental!
Cleombrotus is now no more my rival;
And Chelonice now no more shall know
The soul-felt anguish of her father's frowns.
(Chelonice enters, looking wildly.)
Oh my lov'd child! the bonds the king commanded,
Thy father, thus impatient, bursts asunder!

CHELONICE.
(to Amphares.)
Where is my husband? Murderer! say where?
Why start'st thou thus?

AMPHARES.
Why question me, fair princess?
Is not Cleombrotus before our walls,
Leading the army which will level them?

CHELONICE.
Is he? is he not in the grove? say pale one!
Oh that hue! guilt speaks loudly in thy cheek—
I go to seek him!

[Exit.
LEONIDAS.
Amazement! the grove—
Cleombrotus!—

AMPHARES.
Betrayed! but 'tis impossible!
Some deity's against us, or the dreams
Philosophy has blown about the world
Are true.—The soul survives its humbler part,
And his must have reveal'd our sacred secret.

Enter Sarpedon.
Sarpedon,
(to Leonidas.)
Pardon, that thus unbid, I rush before thee!
Amphares, thee I sought;—murder's discover'd.

AMPHARES.
What murder? Why to me are all the tales
Of murder pointed? Can't a Spartan bleed,
But strait the public eye is bent on me?

SARPEDON.
Forgive me!

[going.
LEONIDAS.
Stay! whose death would'st thou discover?

SARPEDON.
That of Nicrates.

AMPHARES.
Nicrates!—what—my brother?

SARPEDON.
It is too true; for Lacedemon boasts not
A nobler gifted youth.

LEONIDAS.
Well hast thou said.
Whose is the guilt?

SARPEDON.
Th'assassin's fled unknown.

AMPHARES.
Unknown, and fled.—Then follow him, ye gods,
Whatever land his guilty feet shall press!
Where fell my brother?

SARPEDON.
As I search'd the grove,
My evening duty—I observ'd the base
Of Phocion's statue, reeking with warm blood.
I trac'd the sanguine steps, and found too soon,
The lifeless body whence the blood had flown.

AMPHARES,
(wildly.)
The body was not his—say, art—impossible!
Nicrates bled not there!

SARPEDON.
Alas! full well
Those eyes each feature knew, whilst from his neck
This honour'd badge I took, given him by Agis.

AMPHARES.
Go! thou'st done well.

[Exit Sarpedon.
LEONIDAS.
Why breathless now, Amphares?

AMPHARES.
Why breathing now, thou rather should'st enquire:
I've slain my brother.

[groans.
LEONIDAS.
Slain him!

AMPHARES.
I'm his murd'rer.
Start not at that.—Leonidas! our enemy
Yet lives.—Curse the deluding night! The base
Of Phocion's statue, was the spot, where I
Discern'd him as I judged; and where this arm
Plung'd in his heart the instrument of death.

LEONIDAS.
Thou pray'dst the Gods to curfe thy brother's murd'rer;
The prayer was just—speed it, ye winds, to heaven.
Fool! this the end of all thy perfidies?
Thou, he to wear a crown, and wed my daughter!
Avoid my sight, ill-fated man, and bid
Ambition quit a mind whose faculties
Are suited to the humblest state; nor dare
To loose thy thoughts, again, towards a throne!

[Exit.
AMPHARES.
Revenge! come thou; absorb those humble faculties!
Ambition, and my hatred both are cross'd;
Revenge be now the passion of my heart!
Oh! I will cherish it, as the mad lover
Nurses the passion which undoes his peace.
It shall be mistress, and my soul's dear tyrant;
I'll own no thought, that's not inspir'd by her,
And to her bidding, dedicate my life—
A short one perhaps; yet shall its aim be glorious!

[Exit.
Scene, a Colonade in the Palace.
Enter Sarpedon, followed by others.
SARPEDON.
(speaking as he enters.)
Pursue not me! haste thro' each avenue
And ev'ry street; where wrapt in false security
Our citizens repose.—I'll to the prison,
Where but a moment since I left the king—
Alas! that prison may be soon his home!

[Exit.
Enter Cleombrotus.
CLEOMBROTUS.
Oh well known haunts, vainly I trace your bounds!
The curs'd Amphares doth not meet my eyes;
Nor can I know what gloomy tower withholds
From their fond gaze, the object of his slanders.
Hah! sure 'tis she, who moves at distance hither.
It cannot be—how hath she gain'd her freedom?
It is—'tis she! that graceful form, that step,
That interesting air, distinguish her
Alone! Shall I await her here? oh no;
As eager zephyrs fly to kiss the rose,
I, to the sweeter bosom of my love!
[Exit, and after a pause re-enters with Chelonice.
Thy father broke thy chains, thy husband gives thee
New ones! gives thee a living prison! Oh
My Chelonice! thus enchain'd, imprison'd,
Thou shalt for ever dwell, nor wish for liberty!

CHELONICE.
O! my Cleombrotus, I scarce believe
That 'tis thy arm enfolds me.—My dear lord!
Thy Chelonice's steps e'en now were bent
Towards a spot where my sad heart foreboded—
I cannot bear the image!

CLEOMBROTUS.
Oh my soft love!
How much thy tenderness o'erpays my wrongs!
Here's one approaches.

CHELONICE.
Then retire, my lord!
It were not safe, he should behold thee here.

[Exit Cleombrotus.
Enter Sarpedon.
SARPEDON.
Where, Madam, is the king?

CHELONICE.
Whence is thy haste?

SARPEDON.
Part of the army of Cleombrotus
Beset our walls;—they have begun th'attack,
And with a fury, which bespeaks strong confidence
That our resistance will be short.—The rest
Advance not yet.—Princess, forgive my haste!
I seek Leonidas.

[Exit.
CHELONICE.
Can I forgive thy tidings?
Approach, thou false one! Is it thus, the man
[Enter Cleombrotus.
Aspiring to be king, observes his oaths?
Is't thus thou hast preserv'd thy vow'd suspension?
Stealing, like midnight ruffians, to the hoard,
From whence the conscious day had kept ye, trembling!

CLEOMBROTUS.
Well dost thou chide, were thy dear chiding just.
By Heaven the wretch who hath infring'd the oaths,
Which bound the promise thou extorted'st from me,
Shall by my sword be taught, how I detest
So black a perfidy.—It had ne'er been,
Had not Amphares' arts seduced me hither.
This moment in my camp, I had, impatient,
Waited those terms of peace thou bid'st me hope.
Mezentius is the man.—I'll instant seek him.

(going.)
CHELONICE.
Go then—yet stay!—

CLEOMBROTUS.
Boundless as is thy power,
In such a cause I can resist thy prayers,
Thy tears, thy love!—Thou hast a rival here;
The only rival thou canst ever dread—
'Tis Honour; and what she suggests, my soul
Hath never dared debate on. Her behests
Are not confined to rules—they're sacred impulses,
The spirit of morality, sublimed;
Which, if we stay to analize, is lost.

[Exit.
CHELONICE.
Go then, obey her impulse, and chastise—
My father here?

[Enter Leonidas, speaking.
LEONIDAS.
Fly then, and bid Demophilus
Lead his battalion quickly to the breach;
I'll follow with my own.—Who was it, daughter,
Abruptly parted hence, as I appear'd?

CHELONICE.
My father!

LEONIDAS.
Nay, why dost thou hesitate?
Why not confess it was my mortal foe?
'Twas he, whose troops, e'en at this living instant,
Beset thy aged father—'twas Cleombrotus.
He whose keen sword is levell'd at my bosom,
This instant left my daughter's.

CHELONICE.
Harsh reproach!
He knew not of th'attack his troops have made,
And left me, but to punish their rash leader.

LEONIDAS.
Dost thou believe him? Oh, thou easy one!
His troops beset our walls, without command!

(contemptuously.)
CHELONICE.
So he, in truth, hath sworn.

LEONIDAS.
And what men swear,
The fate of women binds them to believe.
What wilt believe, when thou shalt see him here,
Staining those pillars with my blood?

CHELONICE.
Oh Heaven!

LEONIDAS.
How wilt thou greet my murd'rer?

CHELONICE.
As my foe;
As him I'm bound to curse; and then I'll join thee,
Bleeding, and breathless, on thy funeral pile.

LEONIDAS.
Oh my dear child! come once more to my arms!
And hear me, whilst I swear in this sad moment,
—Perhaps the last we e'er shall taste together—
That the vast ruin which this hour marks out,
The loss of empire, liberty, and life,
Do not afflict my soul with half the anguish
Thy disobedience would bestow. Thy love,
Thy filial tenderness, is the sole cordial
Of my declining days. Cruel I've seem'd,
Yet oh, parental love hath ne'er one instant
Lost its sweet influence in this beating heart.

CHELONICE.
Oh, how do I survive this moment?
Is this our parting moment? If it be,
Bear witness to my oft repeated vow,
Thy conqueror shall never be my husband;
This bosom never shelter him, whose sword
Shall pierce my father's! Bless me now—oh bless me!
A power unknown, seems to bear down my mind—
Heaven grant, it be not madness!

LEONIDAS.
I do bless thee;
My soul, my child, doth bless thee.—Now retire.
[She goes, he gazes after her.
I'd fain indulge my eyes a little longer,
Lest they should shortly shut her out for ever.
What can this be, which cruel! thus unnerves me?
Why loiter here? all energies are lost.
Where are the feelings of the king and soldier?
[A violent crashing and noise.
That noise, which speaks our wall's demolishing,
And Sparta's ruin, cannot rouse my blood.
Oh age, thou curse of nature! in ill hour
Thou dost evince thy power.

Enter Sarpedon, and Citizens.
SARPEDON.
Joy, great Leonidas!

LEONIDAS.
Joy! and to me?

Citizen.
The enemy's repuls'd;
They fly before thy arms.

LEONIDAS.
How!

SARPEDON.
Oh! listen yet—
Cleombrotus himself opposed his soldiers,
And forc'd his conqu'ring troops back from the breach.

LEONIDAS.
Thou deal'st in wonders! he force back his troops!

SARPEDON.
They were his Thracian band, led by Mezentius,
Who fell beneath Cleombrotus's arm.
Soon as they saw their leader prone, they fled.

LEONIDAS.
They fled! Oh, had Cleombrotus but staid,
The fortune of the hour had been complete.

SARPEDON.
Still are thy wishes prosperous! Cleombrotus
Beheld Amphares, and strait rush'd towards him,
But instant was closed in;—when like the fork
The lightning darts, which cleaves the stubborn rock
And nought resists, so pierc'd his way, Cleombrotus,
And fled for shelter to Minerva's temple.

LEONIDAS.
Gods, ye are just! Astrea hath not fled
Back to her native heaven! Mark'st thou, Sarpedon?
Scarcely ten full-orb'd moons have o'er our fields
Thrown their nocturnal brightness, since myself,
Driven by his faction, fled for sanctuary
To that same temple, which now shelters him.

SARPEDON.
I do remember't well.

LEONIDAS.
It makes my blood
Flow warm again within my veins.—I thought
A moment since, the curse of age, chill cowardice
Had seized upon my heart; but now I find
It was despair, pouring her torpid urn
Thro' every pulse.—Bright hope hath chas'd her hence,
I feel again the animating fires
That have so oft consum'd the foes of Sparta.
Let us away—one foe doth yet remain,
When he's no more, Leonidas will be immortal!

[Exeunt.
Scene the Temple.
Present, the High Priest and others.
HIGH PRIEST.
Who knocks so loud; claiming the sanctuary
Of our bright goddess?

A PRIEST,
(entering.)
'Tis Cleombrotus;
He who was late our prince, now seeks a refuge
Beneath this hallow'd dome.

HIGH PRIEST.
Oh the vicissitudes
Of human fate! they lift men now aloft,
Then dash them down, o'erwhelm'd with bitter ruin.
Hither advance, Cleombrotus, nor fear thy foes,
The altar of Minerva will protect thee.

CLEOMBROTUS,
(enters.)
I bend to thee, great Pallas! and to thee,
Her sov'reign Pontiff.—Father! late thou saw'st
My seat a throne; now thou beholdest me
Flying unarm'd, before the slaves I govern'd,
And seeking refuge in your temple.

HIGH PRIEST.
Son!
'Tis not to vulgar minds, the gods decree
Such strong reverses.—When they form a soul
To taste and bear th'extremes of human fortune,
'Tis form'd of fortitude! of wisdom! virtue!
Adore those then, who thus have form'd thy soul,
Nor grudge the tasteless ease bestow'd on men
Of lower faculties, and meaner virtues.

CLEOMBROTUS.
Father! I'm taught.

ATTALUS,
(without.)
Make way—way for the king!

CLEOMBROTUS.
Hah! my foe.

HIGH PRIEST.
Prince! beneath this sacred roof
Foes lose their stings, and enmity its scourge;—
Even to menace, in this place, is sacrilege.

Enter Leonidas.
LEONIDAS.
Have I then found thee?

CLEOMBROTUS.
Have I met thee here?
Would 'twere another place!

LEONIDAS.
The place is fortunate.
The rights of kings are sacred, and unbounded;
Vicegerents from the gods, their power is delegated,
And their temples ours.—Yet I'll not imbue
The sacred pavement with thy reble blood;—
Bear him away! and instant on the block
Sever his head.

HIGH PRIEST.
He claims the sanctuary.

LEONIDAS.
Bold priest, retire; and with thee all thy hirelings!
[Exit priests.
Soldiers! your duty;—why advance ye not?

ATTALUS.
The altar grants him its protection.

LEONIDAS.
Fools!
Shall I throw back the fortune of this day
Because ye're scruple bound.—Now by my fate
Cleombrotus I swear, I'll be the priest
To offer thee a sacrifice to Pallas!

CLEOMBROTUS.
Nay then!—forgive me goddess! from thy altar
[flying to the altar.
I seize the sacred knife; and with it guard the life
Thy temple hath protected.

Enter Chelonice, followed by Attendants with the Child.
CHELONICE.
Arm'd!
Against my father!

[Snatches the knife.
LEONIDAS.
Bless my Chelonice!

CLEOMBROTUS.
Oh, was this well?

[Sternly.
LEONIDAS.
Now bear him to his death.

CHELONICE.
His death, my father! Oh, remember now,
If I'd e'er power within thy soul, remember!
How, on this sacred spot, where now we stand,
Successive days and nights, beneath thy feet,
I wept, and watch'd and pour'd my soul in prayer;
When hither thou wert driven by th'Ephori,
Who made my husband king.—I left his throne,
I scorn'd his splendid diadem, and here
For ever I had staid, had not thy Fate
Again restor'd thee to thy royal seat.

LEONIDAS.
Oh my Chelonice, know I not thy worth,
Thy piety, thy unexampled love!

CHELONICE.
If they are dear to thee, grant this one boon!
Spare me my husband's life!

LEONIDAS.
Impossible!

CHELONICE.
Receive me Goddess! at thy shrine!
For here forever I'll remain, nor quit,
So bless me Pallas! as—

[Goes towards the altar.
LEONIDAS.
Cease thy rash vow!
Without thee, what is royalty? thus then
I will reward thy long-tried filial goodness—
Accept thy husband's life, but be he banish'd;—
Banish'd to th'utmost island in our realm,
There guarded, and immured—

CLEOMBROTUS.
I scorn thy mercy—give me instant death!

CHELONICE.
Oh thou, ingrateful! Thus I bend, to bless thee.

LEONIDAS.
But that's not all—bring here the diadem!
(They bring it, he places it on Chelonice's head.)
Bow to your Queen! Henceforward, sovereign
She reigns with me.—Ye who would bounties ask,
Or mercies taste, 'tis thro' your Queen alone
You can know either.—Hail, Queen of Sparta!
A flourish of trumpets; attendants repeat,
Hail, Queen of Sparta!

CHELONICE.
Oh my dread father! lend me to express
The joy and gratitude my heart distends with!
I see thee safe; thy enemies are fled,
And thou secure upon thy throne!—Oh Gods!
And I—I too am Queen; crown'd, and hail'd sovereign!
And what's he yonder?
(With something of scorn)
A poor exiled man!
Homeless, friendless, without a comforter,
Banish'd from Sparta.—Off thou vile toy!
[throwing away the crown.
My homeless, friendless, banish'd love, I'm thine!
I'll follow thee to desert lands, or sun-dried meads;
My arm shall pillow thee, my bosom rest
Thy aching head, and lull thee to repose.

Child.
What, will you not be Queen?

CHELONICE.
No, I'm an exile;
And so art thou.—Come, lead us to the port,
From whence we bid adieu to Lacedemon.

[Leading the child and holding by her husband.
CLEOMBROTUS.
Thou matchless woman!

LEONIDAS.
Most ungrateful daughter
Wilt leave me then to solitary age?
Abandon him who liv'd to cherish thee!

CHELONICE.
Not for whole worlds, wert thou not king again.
But how could I give joy to thee, myself
A wretch? My heart would still be cold and joyless—
A wanderer, within my father's palace.
This is my home—my resting place, and here
Will I forever dwell.

[Leaning on her husband's bosom.
LEONIDAS.
Go then, thou ingrate!
And with thee take thy father's curse.—May he
For whom thou sacrific'st so much, reward thee
With scorn, neglect, and hatred! may he wring
Thy heart, and thus revenge my bitter pangs,
On thee who giv'st them!

[Exit.
CHELONICE.
Oh! Cleombrotus,
Canst thou be this? Oh no! I read thy soul;
Through the soft dazzling-circle of thy eye
It speaks immortal love!

CLEOMBROTUS.
Well hast thou read!
And in that volume thou shalt read forever
Thy sparkling virtues;—yes, they will illume
These fading orbs, though time should dim their beams,
Or quench the brighter flames that live in thine.
And when in some ambitious hour, my soul
Sickens for sceptres, and revolves on crowns,
Th'alluring phantoms I will bid avaunt;
And seek the dearer empire of thy heart!—
There I will reign in arbitrary pomp,
And rule with all the tender tyranny of love.

CHELONICE.

Chelonice, supported by Cleombrotus, leads her child.—They go to the wing, follow'd by guards, &c. A noise without—they turn.
CLEOMBROTUS.
Whence those deep groans?—surely the cry was death.

CHELONICE
(shrieks).
Oh Nature shield me in this horrid moment!
My father bleeding flies before Amphares—
Now, now Cleombrotus be true to Virtue
And save a parent!

Leonidas enters reeling, then sinks and drops his sword. Chelonice supports her father—Cleombrotus snatches the sword and meets Amphares.
CLEOMBROTUS.
Stay! behold a bosom
More meet than his, t'arrest thy murd'rous sword;
An arm more fit to give due chastisement
To vices black as thine!

AMPHARES.
Within his bosom
My sword already hath engrav'd revenge;
And when from thine its quivering point hath drawn
The ruddy stream, the crown of Lacedemon
Will glitter on the brow of scorn'd Amphares.

(They fight—Amphares falls.)
CLEOMBROTUS.
Thy brow must find its diadem in dust.
Leonidas's sword, urg'd by my arm
Hath work'd a double vengeance.—This alone,
Could expiate thy crimes against the princess;
The blood now rushing from thy heart
Obliterates the stains, thy tongue imbued.

AMPHARES.
Oh, had my erring sword—but 'tis too late—
Thy fortune triumphs—if my breath would hold
To utter all the curses that I—oh—

[Dies.
CHELONICE.
Look up my father! stretched beneath thy feet
Amphares lies.—Cleombrotus—my husband.—
With grateful pride I will repeat the sound—
My husband hath reveng'd thee on thy foe!
Oh then be cheer'd, and thro' long years to come.—

LEONIDAS.
Alas! nor years, nor instants, now remain.
The villain hath—oh Chelonice—
Yet, yet support me! with my dying breath
I came to bless thee; to my closing eye
Be thou the last dear—oh those bitter pangs!
Ascend my throne.—Thy husband hath reveng'd me—
The crown of Lacedemon and thy heart,
His rich rewards!—oh may ye—

[Dies.
CHELONICE.
Th'unfinish'd blessing sinks upon his lips,
But wafts his soul to heaven.—O! awful hour,
I have no more a father!

[Groans.
(Continues kneeling behind the body and bending over it.)
CLEOMBROTUS.