University of Virginia Library

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.