Hypsipyle | ||
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.
202
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.
O no! thy presence might disturb our purpose,
Amidst my fury I should fear for thee.
Haste, my companions, haste! each moment's precious—
My wife! my friend! O Heaven, my soul is rack'd
Between contending pangs of love and friendship.
Amidst my fury I should fear for thee.
Haste, my companions, haste! each moment's precious—
My wife! my friend! O Heaven, my soul is rack'd
Between contending pangs of love and friendship.
203
I leave thee, prince, nor can I tell
But this may prove the last farewell!
This arm must her I love restore,
Or Jason shall return no more.
But this may prove the last farewell!
This arm must her I love restore,
Or Jason shall return no more.
[while this air is singing, the Argonauts come out of the tents.]
[Exit Jason, with Argonauts.
Hypsipyle | ||