 | Hypsipyle |  |
SCENE V.
Enter Jason with the Argonauts.Jas.
Hypsipyle, my life! what new affliction
Obscures those lovely eyes?
Hyp.
My dearest lord,
Thou com'st in happy time; for O! 'tis thou,
And thou alone, canst ease me—Haste—defend him—
Have pity on me—
Jas.
Speak, my love, what would'st thou?
213
Hyp.
O! Thoas!—O—my father!—curst Learchus—
I cannot speak—
Rho.
The traitor, false Learchus,
Bears off in fetters Thoas to the sea.
Jas.
Perhaps the same—
Hyp.
Yes, 'tis the same Learchus,
Who sought to kill thee while oppress'd with sleep,
But failing in the dire design, endeavour'd
With base suspicions to disturb our peace.
Jas.
Infamous villain!
Hyp.
Generous prince, behold
An enterprise that's worthy of thy courage:
Thou may'st preserve my dearest father's life:
O save him, or Hypsipyle is lost!
The fatal hour that sees the death of Thoas,
Cuts short my thread of being.
Jas.
Leave me, love,
To punish that perfidious—but meanwhile
Dry up those mournful drops; to see thee weep
Softens too much the temper of my heart.
To punish that perfidious—but meanwhile
Dry up those mournful drops; to see thee weep
Softens too much the temper of my heart.
214
O! let not sorrow dim those eyes
That rule me with unbounded power;
Assuage thy fears,
Dispel thy tears,
If I'm to boast of courage more.
That rule me with unbounded power;
Assuage thy fears,
Dispel thy tears,
If I'm to boast of courage more.
Then cease to bid soft passions rise
That all my firm resolves control;
For thus my breast,
With grief opprest,
Forgets what rage should fire my soul.
That all my firm resolves control;
For thus my breast,
With grief opprest,
Forgets what rage should fire my soul.
[Exit with Argonauts.
| Hypsipyle | |