University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A private Apartment. Enter Orontes and Zopyrus.
Oron.
Destruction to my hopes! what gods averse
Could blast my fortune further!—Can it be!
Zopyrus—all our schemes abortive thus!
What he, whom lifeless now the city mourns,
Is not Arsetes—Arsetes and Pharnaces
The same—

Zop.
There is no room for doubt—the tablets
Found on the vestments of the slain unknown,
Confirm the important truth.

Oron.
Unthinking wretch!
A thousand proofs recur, that speak too plain—
His birth conceal'd—surprise when Lycomedes
Propos'd the combat with the prince—distraction!
A turn like this may frustrate all!—it teems
With tenfold ruin!—Cleonice's love
To this Arsetes starts another train
Of galling doubts—What's to be done?

Zop.
Already
The soldier pants impatient on the edge
Of battle—Who can tell the event? Pharnaces
May fall, and crown your wish.

Oron.
But still the chance
Of war is ever doubtful—Could we draw
Pharnaces from the tumult of the fight,
The tufted grove, that shades the fane of Mars,
Might hide an ambush'd force, to whelm at once
Our foe in swift destruction.

Zop.
'Tis a thought
The cause itself inspires.

Oron.
Zopyrus, go;
Inflame the soldiers with Arsetes' name,
That name shall second our design—I haste
To lead them to the field—away—

[Exit Zopyrus.
Oron.
[Alone.]
Ascend,
Black mischief, child of hell, from the dire gloom
Of burning Acheron, whence perfidy,
Assassination, treason (names that shake
The coward soul), breathe forth inspiring aid
To vast ambition, at whose dazzling shrine
Orontes ever bends—I fell, I feel
The sacred influence here—If fortune yet
Assist my arms, in fight Pharnaces falls
An open victim; but if still averse
She thwart my glorious aims, what force denies,
Deep covert guile shall give; and all my fears
Be hush'd for ever in Pharnaces' blood.

[Exit.