University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Part of the garden belonging to the palace, with fountains on each side, and in the middle a grove sacred to Diana. Time, night.
Eurynome, Learchus concealed in the grove.
Eury.
In every part methinks these eyes behold
Some dreadful objects that augment my fury.
Ye lonely horrors of the silent night,
Raise no remorse to terrify my soul!
Say rather that my son's unhappy shade
No longer roves without a wish'd revenge:
Say that no more he sighs in vain to cross
The dire Lethean flood; and that his peace
Is cheaply purchas'd by his mother's crime.

Lear.
It is Hypsipyle—be bold Learchus.

[comes out of the grove.
Eury.
Some one approaches! Heavens! what can it be?

Lear.
Thou dearest!—

[takes her hand.
Eury.
Say, what art thou? Whence that voice?

Lear.
Ha! I'm deceiv'd!

[retires.
Eury.

[walks about in great agitation.

SCENE II.

Enter Hypsipyle in haste.
Hyp.
Sure Rhodope has reach'd this place before me;
But hark! she's here: fly swift, my friend, to Jason,
[meeting Eurynome, she takes her for Rhodope.
Tell him the king yet lives, and that this hour
Shall see us both together at the port:
Yet stay awhile, for Jason with his friends
Perhaps may meet us, and secure our flight.

[goes towards the grove.
Eury.
[to herself.]
What secret treason here has chance discover'd!
Now well I know, my son, why round me hovers
Thy plaintive ghost; and have I then in vain
Been plung'd in guilt? And must the tyrant live?
O no—nor shall it e'er be said I've lost,
The fruit of all my crimes, a great revenge.

[goes out in a rage.

SCENE III.

Hypsipyle, Learchus apart.
Hyp.
This is the sacred grove where lies conceal'd
My dearest father. At my first arrival,
The shade, my terror, and impatient duty,
Perplex'd my trembling steps; but now full well
I know the place—My lord! my father! haste.

Lear.
Sure 'tis the voice of her I love—be bold—
[coming out of the grove.
O Heaven! my heart beats quick as I approach her.

Hyp.
Come near—where art thou?—Yet I hear thy steps,
But cannot find thee—'midst this dreary gloom
Perhaps—O no, thou art here.

[takes his hand.
Lear.
Assist me, Love!

[aside.
Hyp.
Thou tremblest, O my father! fear not; Jason
Will make our flight secure: for even but now
He reach'd the port of Lemnos.

Lear.
Fatal chance!
What do I hear?

[aside.
Hyp.
Already from afar
I see the blaze of torches.

Lear.
Then I'm lost.

[aside.
Hyp.
And now, methinks, I hear my Jason's voice.

Lear.
Let me again retire.

[returns to the grove.
Hyp.
But whither go'st thou?
Why dost thou fly, my lord?—Alas! how far
Misfortunes can unnerve the firmest soul!

SCENE IV.

Enter Eurynome with Bacchanals and Amazons with arms and lighted torches.
Eury.
Companions, compass round the wood, and stop
Each outlet of the garden.

Hyp.
Wretched Thoas,
Thy fear was sure prophetic.

[aside.
Eury.
Thou art discover'd:
Say where thy father lurks.

[to Hypsipyle.
Hyp.
Assist me, Gods!
[aside.
Dost thou require the dead?

Eury.
'Tis now too late
For this dissimulation: thou wert heard
To call his name, and hold a converse with him.

Hyp.
O! 'tis too true—his mournful image ever
Appears before my sight; where'er I go
Pursues my trembling steps; calls me ungrateful;
Reproaches me with savage cruelty,
That durst cut short a father's reverend days.

Eury.
Her words congeal me, though I know she feigns.

[aside.
Hyp.
I tremble while I strive to hide my fear.

[aside.
Eury.
No more—deceit is vain—

Hyp.
O Gods! look there!
Behold Eurynome, see where he comes!
Observe his fiery eyes that swell with rage,
While tears of anger trickle down his cheek;
His snow-white locks still dropping crimson blood,
Hang o'er his hoary face. Dost thou not hear
His threatening voice, and mark his dreadful mien?
Unhappy shade!—Enough have I endur'd
Of punishment—O Heavens!—In pity, hide,
Hide from my sight the torch of hell—take hence
The furies' iron whips—

Eury.
Ill-fated princess!
My soul is mov'd!

Hyp.
She softens at my words.

[aside.
Eury.
Yon' trees afford a shelter in their gloom
For melancholy phantoms: haste, my friends,
Hurl round the flames, and swift consume to ashes
That unpropitious wood.

Hyp.
Ah, no! forbear
Those trunks devoted to the Sylvan Goddess.

Eury.
Hearken not to her—

Hyp.
Impious! shall not then
The Gods themselves be sacred from thy fury?
And who shall execute the dire command?

Eury.
Unthinking maid! thou hast betray'd thyself.
Behold the grove where Thoas lurks conceal'd;
Go, friends, and drag him thence to punishment.

[the Amazons enter the grove.
Hyp.
Hear me! O! hear a most unhappy daughter!
What shall I do? O all ye powers of Heaven!
Eurynome have pity!

Eury.
'Tis in vain;
Thy father shew'd no pity to my son.

Hyp.
If thou'rt so thirsty for revenge, strike here;
O pierce this breast, and let me bleed for him!
Behold me suppliant, grovelling at your feet—

[kneels.
Eury.
Her tears disarm my rage.

[aside.
Hyp.
O yet relent,
Or change the destin'd victim of thy fury.
By all that is rever'd in earth or Heaven,
Even by the ashes of thy dear Learchus!

Eury.
That name has rouz'd anew my sleeping rage;
The tyrant dies, even by this hand he dies:
[draws her sword.
Ne'er will I rest till I behold my sword
Drench'd in his blood.

[as she turns, thinking to find Thoas, she meets Learchus, conducted by the Amazons from the grove; she stands in amazement, and lets fall her sword.
Lear.
My mother!

Eury.
Heavens! my son!

Hyp.
What can this mean? Amazement seizes me!

[rises.

SCENE V.

Enter Rhodope.
Rho.
What do I see? Learchus here and bound!
What power can save him!—Yes—I must dissemble.

[aside.
Eury.
Art thou my son! Am I Eurynome!

Lear.
As certain as desire to avenge thy son
Has made thee cruel to him.

Eury.
Wretched mother,
That blindly has destroy'd thee! Dost thou live
Only to make me guilty of thy death?
O my lov'd son! how dearly must I buy
The bitter pleasure of this fond embrace!

Rho.
Companions, bind the victim to yon' trunk,
And let our thirsty arrows drink his life.

[the Amazons bind Learchus to a tree.
Eury.
Ah! hold—Inhuman—

Rho.
First by force remove
Eurynome, nor let maternal sorrows
Disturb our purpose.

Hyp.
O unhappy mother!

Eury.
Have pity, Rhodope—

Rho.
Wouldst thou o'erturn
The laws thyself hast made?

Eury.
Hypsipyle,
Compassionate my tears!

Hyp.
Alas! what power
Remains in me!

Rho.
If but a moment more
Thou linger'st here, we speed the stroke of death.

Eury.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

Hypsipyle, Rhodope, Learchus, Bacchanals, and Amazons.
Lear.
Unpitying princess! in Learchus' fate
Behold the dreadful trophies of thy charms!
Excess of love impell'd me to this ruin.

Hyp.
Learchus, no: thou art thyself alone
The cause of thy misfortunes.

Lear.
At my birth
This day was fix'd in fate's eternal volume.

Hyp.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.

Rhodope, Learchus, Bacchanals, Amazons.
Rho.
My friends, unwelcome here to Nemesis
Would prove the victim: be the sacrifice
Public and solemn: haste and raise an altar
Amid the full assembly of the people.
Convene together all the conquering band:
Meantime myself will in this place remain
To guard the prisoner.

[the Bacchanals and Amazons go out.
Lear.
Never did I think
Such tyranny could harbour in thy breast.

Rho.
Ungrateful man! learn better how to judge
The soul of Rhodope; I feign'd resentment
To avert from thee th' effects of female rage.

Lear.
Should this be true, my heart is thine—

Rho.
O! no—
Think not I mean to bargain for thy love.

Lear.
Perhaps thou doubt'st me still—By all the Gods—

Rho.
Learchus, hold—I would not have thee purchase
My gift with perjury: from Rhodope
Receive at once thy liberty and life.

[unbinds him.
Lear.
Yet what return can gratitude afford thee?

Rho.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

Learchus
alone.

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

An open country covered over with tents, a prospect of the sea: the sun rising.
Jason
alone.

[sleeps.

SCENE X.

Enter Learchus.
Lear.
Enough of ill, my soul. At length 'tis time,
After so many dangers past, to change
This baneful course. I cannot bear for ever
To tremble near the fatal precipice;
To reverence others, and detest myself.—
What do I see! my rival slumbering here?
O! happy thou, born under friendly stars!
The inhuman fair, who scorns my love, reserves
Her charms for thee; but I in vain must mourn
Abandon'd to despair; while 'midst th' embraces
Of mutual fondness thou shalt scorn my sufferings,
And find new pleasure from Learchus' pains.
O cruel image that distracts my heart!
No—let not him survive by whom I perish;
[draws a dagger.
Here let him die—but ha! what would I do!
[stops.
Are these the generous thoughts I form'd but now?
Is this my late remorse?

SCENE XI.

Enter Hypsipyle.
Hyp.
[entering.]
Where shall I meet
My hapless father?—Ha!—Learchus here!
What means his poniard drawn?

Lear.
[to himself.]
The world can ne'er
Be conscious of this virtue: should I now
Forbear to kill him, my revenge is lost,
And yet no glory gain'd: the time will come,
I may repent this ill-advis'd compassion:
Then let me strike the blow.

[about to stab him.
Hyp.
Ah! traitor! hold:
What would'st thou do?

[holding his hand.
Lear.
Leave me, Hysipyle.

Hyp.
Hope not I'll e'er permit—

Lear.
Consent with me
To quit this place, and I resign my weapon.

Hyp.
First let a thunder-bolt from angry Jove
Dash me to atoms!

Lear.
Then his fate is fix'd;
There is no mercy for him.

Hyp.
Stay, Learchus:
If I but waken him, thou art lost.

Lear.
Ah! hold;
I am gone, Hypsipyle.

Hyp.
First let thy hand
Resign the poniard to me.

Lear.
There, ingrate!
[after a pause gives up the dagger to her.
Prince! thou art betray'd!

[wakes Jason, and flies.
Hyp.
O stay!—

[Jason rising, and about to draw his sword, sees Hypsipyle with the dagger in her hand.

SCENE XII.

Jason, Hypsipyle.
Jas.
Betray'd! by whom!
Almighty powers!

[sees Hypsipyle.
Hyp.
My lord!

Jas.
Relentless woman!
What have I done to thee? What crime of mine
Incites thy vengeance? That I've lov'd, may merit
Severest punishment, but not from thee.
Thou would'st, inhuman, from the face of earth
Sweep all the inhabitants, that none might here
Be witness to thy guilt.

Hyp.
Has then my fate
More sufferings for me? Prince, thou art deceiv'd;
I came not here to take thy life.

Jas.
That dagger,
Those looks confus'd, the voice I heard but now
Which rouz'd me from my sleep: do not all these
Enough condemn thee?

Hyp.
'Twas another hand
Assail'd thy life; I sav'd it from the danger.

Jas.
Yes; I have wondrous proofs of thy compassion:
She who could pierce a father's breast, would doubtless
Preserve a husband.

Hyp.
O! I slew him not.

Jas.
But if thy lips—

Hyp.
My lips, by fate compell'd,
Belied my deeds.

Jas.
What if I here beheld
The murder'd monarch?

Hyp.
'Twas deception all:
Thou didst not, couldst not see him.

Jas.
Tell me then
Where now is Thoas hid?

Hyp.
Alas! I know not;
I've sought him, but in vain—

Jas.
Perfidious woman!
And think'st thou Jason can be thus deluded?
Is't not enough, but thou must mock me too?
Thou hast confess'd thy crime; each tongue confirms it;
Myself am witness to it; yet thou hop'st
To assume the name of innocent! even now
I start from sleep, I find thee by my side,
With looks confus'd, a dagger in thy hand,
Prepar'd to pierce my heart; and wilt thou dare
To tell me all was meant for my defence?
Think not that Thessaly has form'd her sons
So easy of belief.

Hyp.
Soon shalt thou see—

Jas.
I've seen enough.

Hyp.
And wilt thou not—

Jas.
O! no;
I'll hear no more.

Hyp.
And dost thou then believe—

Jas.
Yes, I believe that I partake thy guilt
In listening to thee longer.

Hyp.
Must we part?

Jas.
Leave me.

Hyp.
Where is thy former love!

Jas.
With shame
I call it now to mind.

Hyp.
And am I then—

Jas.
Thou art poison to my eyes!

Hyp.
Yes, yes, ye furies!
Inhabitants of this destructive land,
I find that to be innocent is guilt.
Have I not seen enough of slaughter stain
My native soil? Assuage your horrid thirst,
Behold my blood shall flow!

[offers to stab herself.
Jas.
What dost thou mean!

[holds her.
Hyp.
Why should'st thou, Jason, thus restrain my hand,
And make me longer drag the life I loathe?

Jas.
Die, if thou wilt, but seek some other place
To end thy wretched being.

[wrests the dagger from her.
Hyp.
Yet at least—

Jas.
Leave me in peace.

Hyp.
O hear me!

Jas.
Never, never.

Hyp.
Kill me, in pity kill me!

Jas.
No—I cannot.

Hyp.
For one last look—

Jas.
'Tis guilt but to behold thee.

Hyp.
My lord! my husband!

Jas.
Hence! or I am gone.

Hyp.
Since 'tis your harsh command, I go;
But for this cruelty you show,
Your heart perhaps will anguish know,
With sighs your breast may heave.
And when you learn my hapless state,
In vain your tears may mourn my fate;
For sorrow then shall prove too late
My sufferings to relieve.

[Exit.

SCENE XIII.

Jason alone.
Jas.
At length she's gone! Thanks to the mighty Gods!
A moment longer those seducing tears
Had sapp'd my best resolves: far distant hence
Let me retire to breathe another air,
Where absence may erase this shameful passion.

SCENE XIV.

Enter Thoas.
Ah prince!—my friend!

Jas.
My lord! am I awake?
Or art thou sovereign of the Lemnian land?

Tho.
At least I have been so.

Jas.
I'm all amazement!
How art thou risen again? Myself beheld thee
Stretch'd pale and lifeless in the regal palace:
Either I then but dream'd, or now I dream.

Tho.
Thou saw'st a murder'd wretch array'd like me,
In princely robes, whose semblance to myself
Deluded every eye: this pious fraud
Hypsipyle contriv'd for my defence.

Jas.
O Heaven! my love! and art thou guiltless then
Of each imputed crime!—Thoas, farewell,
This instant I'll return.

[going.
Tho.
Why would'st thou leave me?

Jas.
O! let me find the treasure of my soul;
Soon shalt thou know how I have injur'd her.

Tho.
Yet hear: what would'st thou do? The female bands,
Flush'd with their late success, scour every part;
And should'st thou thus unguarded venture forth,
Thou could'st not 'scape thyself, nor save Hypsipyle.

Jas.
To arms, to arms! awake, 'tis Jason calls—
Follow me, friends.

[going towards the tents.
Tho.
Myself will guide your steps.

Jas.

[while this air is singing, the Argonauts come out of the tents.]
[Exit Jason, with Argonauts.

SCENE XV.

Thoas
alone.

[Exit.