University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Madauces and Melampus.
MADAUCES.
My art informs me, that the utmost efforts
Of violence are try'd. Less obvious mischief,
And thence more dang'rous, threatens. Wary conduct
Must now succeed to valour. All around
Is dress'd in soft delusion to dissolve
The firmest heart in languor. Ev'ry bird
Tunes to deceitful melody his throat;
The od'rous gales in whispers, and the rills
Diffuse in warbles heart-entrancing pleasures:
Each fragrant myrtle may conceal a fiend,
And fate sit lurking in perfidious flowers.

MELAMPUS.
Let me attempt the palace.

MADAUCES.
Something new
And strange awaits thee. I can pass no further;
My steps some hand invisible repels.
Thou know'st how far that weapon can befriend thee;
But with internal sences (may they prove
Like adamant!) against the pow'r of woman
Secure thy heart. The very form of beauty,
Much more of yielding beauty, arm'd with craft,
Subdues the mighty, and deceives the wise,
Most frail, least guarded, when oppress'd by sadness.
Should that accustom'd visitant approach thee
Just on the close of action, oh! endure,
Till my return endure thy heavy thoughts;
But shun relief from beauty's proffer'd joys,
Or thou art lost.

MELAMPUS.
Than adamant more strong,
To sence my heart thy counsels I retain.

MADAUCES.
A power to mine superior drives me hence,
And stops my frozen tongue.

SCENE II.

MELAMPUS.
My friend is gone:
I stand alone. This try'd defence I hold;
And on my single conduct must rely.
Now for the palace.

SCENE III.

Melampus. A large scroll, inscribed with letters of fire, appears in the air.
MELAMPUS.
Vision strange and new,
I will confront thee with a stedfast eye,
And give those characters of fire a voice.
He reads.
“Retreat in safety, ere that direful gate
“Is thrown abroad. Thy enterprise, pursu'd,
“Will end in cureless torment to thy mind.”
He speaks.
That mind, in torment exercis'd so long,
Defies the menace, and disdains retreat.
Out of my way, thou obstacle of air!
[He brandishes his spear, and the scroll vanishes.
The palace is disclos'd—th' enchantress comes!
That rod denotes her potent arm: that veil
O'ershades a visage hateful to the sun.
Yet majesty sustains her awful port,
And not unlike divinity she moves.

SCENE IV.

Melampus and the Enchantress.
ENCHANTRESS.
Presumptuous man! what art thou, who hast dar'd
Invade my barrier, and molest my peace?

MELAMPUS.
Thou dost behold thy conqueror, proud woman!
That knowledge may suffice thee.

ENCHANTRESS.
Art thou pure,
Of blameless thoughts, and unpolluted truth?
Hast thou ne'er trac'd the devious paths of frailty?
They only, whose unviolated faith
No perjuries have stain'd, can sojourn here.
For them alone these chaste abodes reveal
Their hidden treasures. These harmonious choirs
For them alone Elysian music chaunt.
Them to refreshing banks these fountains call,
With flow'ry odours virtuous toils to cheer.

MELAMPUS.
Whence is thy right to question me, Enchantress,
Who dost profane the sanctity of virtue,
In her bright garb infernal arts to mask?
Pure or impure, commission'd I appear
From sacred Themis to redress the wrong'd.
Whate'er I am, thy monsters I could tame,
Thy lofty bulwarks mix with empty air,
And dissipate their visionary guard.

ENCHANTRESS,
waving her wand while she is speaking.
Seest thou this gloom which overcasts the sky?
Or feel'st this sudden chilness in the air?
The myrtles wither, and the roses fade,
At thy ill-boding sight. Reply: who art thou?
Death is ascending from his iron cell;
His arms are spread abroad: e'en now they raise
His house of terrors to enclose thee round.
Yet wilt thou answer?

[The scene changes to the inside of a sepulchre.
MELAMPUS.
Unappall'd I stand,
And spurn this false creation of thy spells.
In justice strong, a victor's right I claim,
And rather question thee, hell's impious agent,
Why thou in base captivity retain'st
A hapless princess, and this nation's lord?
Why griev'st his bosom with thy hagard fiends?

ENCHANTRESS.
O truly brave! Thy fortitude in wonder
Ev'n I contemplate; nor without compunction
Foresee the evils soon to swarm around thee,
To stain with woman's tears a hero's cheek,
To shake with groans that majesty of form,
Or with distraction's dragon claw unrip
Th' excelling texture of that godlike mind.

MELAMPUS.
What canst thou raise more hideous than my spear
Hath foil'd already? Call another Hydra;
Bring a new Centaur; arm a second Cyclops.

ENCHANTRESS.
All mortal force, all charms, I know, must fall
Before thy valour, guarded by that weapon.
Nor is there need of violence to quell thee.
Thou prodigy of virtues wove with errors,
Thou bear'st thy foe within thee. Not the touch
Of that anointed staff can there avail.
There is no plant “affords the precious juice
“Which may dispel the sorcery of anguish,
“Or disenchant the bosom from despair,
“That black magician in the mind.”

MELAMPUS.
My words,
My own reflections hath she leagu'd against me.
What then? Thou, Themis, art my sov'reign judge,
Save one besides, before whose injur'd feet
My penitential spirit sues to break.
[At these last words the Enchantress turns aside, and weeps.
But wilt thou, pow'r of equity! permit
The artifice of magic to assume
Thy holy semblance, and arraign thy champion,
When, scorning safety, I refuse no hardship
Which may present me to the eye of mercy,
Wretch as I am! less hateful and deform'd?
No, no, thou wilt not. In thy righteous service,
I challenge Heav'n's support. Enchantress, hear.
Art thou confounded? Then the gods are present.
Does thy heart labour, sorceress, with sighs
O'er thy defeated cruelty and art?
Release the monarch and his captive princess;
Nor to an outrage on thy sex provoke me.

ENCHANTRESS.
Dost thou defy me still?

MELAMPUS.
I do, by Themis.

[She stamps on the ground, and waves her wand. A figure, representing Fame, ascends, bearing a mirror. A hand in the air holds a taper.
ENCHANTRESS.
Bold as thou art, by that infernal taper,
Dar'st thou survey this mirror?

MELAMPUS.
Yes, I dare;
And thou in dread this weapon may'st survey,
Which braves the keenest rancour of thy charms.

ENCHANTRESS.

MELAMPUS.
I start—with admiration.

[The figure of Fame sinks. A second, representing the God of Love, rises with a mirror.
ENCHANTRESS.
Lo! here, more lovely than his native Tempe,
The youth who leads the Argonautic band
Leaps to the shore. A winged troop of Loves
Around his head their purple torches wave;
While Juno, nuptial goddess, looks from heav'n,
And o'er his graces sheds celestial light.
Him soon, behold, that trembling maid accosts.
The colours vary on her virgin cheek;
Entranc'd she gazes; credulous, she hears:
Her plighted vows, her love to his she joins,
Her aiding magic to his warlike arm.
Her and the golden fleece, a double prize,
He bears away. There weeping, from his deck
Behold her take an everlasting leave
Of friends, of parents, of her native dwelling,
To him entrusting all. Incurious man!
Thou dost not ask their names.

MELAMPUS.
Their names!

ENCHANTRESS.
That virgin
Was once the wise Medea. He is Jason,
The brave, the beauteous, all-surpassing Jason.

MELAMPUS.
Detested name!

ENCHANTRESS.
[The figure of Time sinks. A Fury ascends with a mirror.
[Melampus, in consternation and horror, lets fall his shield and spear. She instantly lays her wand on his head. He sinks down in a trance. She throws herself upon him.

[A bower rises round Melampus.

SCENE V.

Enchantress and Cassandane from the palace, in tears.
ENCHANTRESS.
Poor Cassandane, sorrowful, like me,
Stands weeping yonder. Restless too with terror
She courts my beck'ning hand. Approach, dear maid.
To dry those tears, and calm that sighing breast,
This morn I gave thee entrance. Dost thou fear?

CASSANDANE.
How can I fear such goodness? But thy power,
Stupendous in achievement, hath depress'd
My grief-worn senses. Thunder at thy call
Peal'd in my ears; blue lightnings dimm'd my sight;
Earth felt thy foot, and shook like Cassandane.

ENCHANTRESS.
For thee and me these talents I exert.
Grief-worn, both labour with resembling evils.
Mine yet are undiscover'd. Thine I know;
Thy noble father's suff'rings too I know,
And long have pity'd. Be compos'd.

CASSANDANE.
I am,
When thou art near me.

ENCHANTRESS.
In the present hour
We must be near each other, must unite
In mutual efforts.

CASSANDANE.
Mutual efforts! How?
Why in this hour?

ENCHANTRESS.
The crisis of our fates
Is nigh.

CASSANDANE.
I tremble. What! of thine and mine?

ENCHANTRESS.
Of both. Look there.

(Pointing to Melampus.)
CASSANDANE
starts; then, with her eyes fixed upon him, speaks:
Dead! Dead! That form of manhood
Erect and noble, which allur'd my eye,
And melted thine, as winding through thy groves
His glances reach'd thy palace, is reduc'd
To clay, and soon will dissipate in dust.
My tongue was feeble to describe his sorrows,
And to appease thy anger strove in vain.
Forgive fresh tears and wonder.

ENCHANTRESS.
Faultless virgin,
Why dost thou ask forgiveness?

CASSANDANE.
Blind to science,
I never trac'd the spangled robe of night,
Nor knew the power of numbers. Though the meads
Yield their mysterious plants to hurt or heal,
I with unheeding ignorance pass by.
If I misjudge of thy transcendent works,
O'erlook my want of knowledge. But this deed—

ENCHANTRESS.
What deed, my Cassandane?

CASSANDANE.
Spare my weakness.
Perhaps my soul grows wild with admiration.
My senses, harass'd, may forget their functions,
My sight deceive me—Thou art still the sage
Rever'd for justice, and proclaim'd divine.

ENCHANTRESS.
Well may thy wonder be forgiv'n. My praise
Waits on thy gen'rous tears. But, gentle damsel,
Be not thus soon discourag'd. Ev'ry hour
With prodigy is charg'd. He only sleeps,
On whom our common destiny depends.

CASSANDANE.
What can I answer? Knowledge is thy part,
Belief is mine. Who is he?

ENCHANTRESS.
One, whose arm,
And dauntless magnanimity, controll'd
My fiercest guards.

CASSANDANE.
Yet wherefore lies he stretch'd
In this deep slumber, which too well resembles
The last to mortals?

ENCHANTRESS.
Thou shalt know hereafter.

CASSANDANE.
Alas! how wan his aspect!

ENCHANTRESS.
Wan, indeed!

CASSANDANE.
Well might I rank him in the train of death.
How worn and wither'd!

ENCHANTRESS.
Scarce in manhood ripe,
Yet old in sorrow!

CASSANDANE.
Thou dost melt again.
These gushing tears new mystery contain.
But I submissive will suspend inquiry.

ENCHANTRESS.
Ah, Cassandane! didst thou know his merits
And half his griefs, thy tenderness would pour
A sea of pity on that livid face.
He now three years, invincible of men,
Each barb'rous nation, each inclement sky
Hath brav'd, redress and peace to all imparting,
All but himself.

CASSANDANE.
And rests my future peace
On him?

ENCHANTRESS.
Him singly.

CASSANDANE.
Let me then awake him,
To hear my mournful story.

ENCHANTRESS.
Damsel, stay:
He must be waken'd to severe probation,
Not of his strength and courage, but his virtue.
If there he triumph, thou wilt soon accost him,
But thy deportment must be fram'd by me.
O hitherto victorious, may the balm
[To Melampus.
Of Morpheus brace thy constancy with firmness!
This magic weapon hath perform'd its office.
(Taking up the spear.)
Thy might hath conquer'd. Self-sustaining truth
Must triumph next, and scorn enchantment's aid.
Sweet friend, remove this jav'lin to the palace.

CASSANDANE.
Thou seem'st in agitation. I would stay,
Weak as I am, with thy permission stay,
To sooth thy trouble, or to share and weep.

ENCHANTRESS.
I trust thou wouldst. But leave me for a while.

CASSANDANE.
Ah me!

ENCHANTRESS.
Still fearful?

CASSANDANE.
Separate from thee
I am all weakness.

ENCHANTRESS.
Thy harmonious guard
Will not forsake thee. He shall greet thine eye
For the first time.

CASSANDANE.
Ah! rather let me hear,
Than see him.

ENCHANTRESS.
He, no sooty birth of darkness,
But genius fair of Caucasus, delights
To lay the ruffled Caspian with his song.
He charms the vulture, respiting the pains
Of torn Prometheus; nor to me less kind,
Oft-times alleviates my o'erburden'd hours
With his entracing measures. He well pleas'd
Obeys my summons, never better pleas'd
Than to attend on purity like thine.

SCENE VI.

Enchantress, Cassandane, and the Genius.
ENCHANTRESS.
Be visible, good being. Sing of hope
To Cassandane. Let thy voice, which lulls
The floods and tempests, harmonize her thoughts.

The Genius
sings.
O Hope! without thee life is pain.
Shed on this maid thy chosen sweets.
Nor less thy influence extend
To her whose virtues here preside.

ENCHANTRESS.
To me Hope sings in vain. Severe suspense
I feel too heavy for her flutt'ring pinion.

Genius
sings to the Enchantress, walking to and fro.
Ah! no more woo despair!
[Cretics and Trochaics.
Mounted on a serpent green,
Through the clouds Circe glides.
By her birds in gorgeous plumes
Juno drawn, hovers nigh.
On their aspect smiles are seen.
Droop no more, Hope descends.

ENCHANTRESS.
Their smiles I trust not. Leave me, gentle maiden,
Thou and thy guardian, not less good than powerful.

SCENE VII.

ENCHANTRESS.
Grim Demogorgon, eldest thou of beings,
Whose name no pow'r celestial dares pronounce,
Who spread'st in darker, lower gloom, than hell,
Thy black pavilion, direful as thou art,
Thou hast been soil'd. Thy terrors could not awe
My Jason's soul, triumphant most when yielding
To her own righteous feelings. But, alas!
Your part, insidious goddesses, I fear.
Whate'er is soft'ning to unbend the mind,
Or fair and lovely to solicit sense,
Whate'er is dazzling to awake ambition,
Whate'er persuasive, dress'd in specious duty,
To cozen guileless honour into error,
You have contriv'd. But, Juno, should he fail
To catch the glimpses of reviving bliss,
Which now are trembling on a point of chance,
Think not Medea longer will remain
Repeating curses, hurling her upbraidings
On destiny and Heav'n! Thy rapid lightning
May strike th' uplifted poniard from my hand:
Among the thousand avenues to death
One will I find; then lay my burden down
Of evils, grown too mighty for complaint.