 | Demetrius |  |
SCENE II.
Enter Mithranes.Mith.
Alcestes,
Say, whither would'st thou go?
Alc.
Detain me not;
I fly to Cleonice.
Mith.
O! my friend,
Thou art denied admittance to her sight.
Alc.
Is it then true that I'm forbid—
Mith.
Too true.
Alc.
For pity's sake, Mithranes, plead my cause;
Return, and tell her that this cruel stroke
Is more than all my firmness can support:
Tell her some envious tongue has wrong'd my fame,
That still I'm true, that should she think me guilty,
I at her feet can clear my sullied honour.
349
I dare not now obey you; for the queen
Has given us charge to speak of you no more,
And makes it criminal to name Alcestes.
Alc.
But say the cause.
Mith.
From me she keeps it secret.
Alc.
Alas! I am betray'd: some impious wretch
Belies me to her: but whoe'er thou art
Tremble, thou traitor; think not thou shalt long
Be hid from my resentment: in the temple
I'll pierce thy heart, nor shall the sacred altar
Preserve thee from my rage.
Olin.
These threats, Alcestes,
Are spent in vain.
Alc.
Alas!—forgive, my friends,
The transport of a mind disturb'd: my state
Deserves compassion, and I ask it of you.
O! speak in my behalf: at least with pity
Reflect that, midst his many griefs, Alcestes
Is now reduc'd to place his trust in you.
The transport of a mind disturb'd: my state
Deserves compassion, and I ask it of you.
O! speak in my behalf: at least with pity
Reflect that, midst his many griefs, Alcestes
Is now reduc'd to place his trust in you.
Is there a man whose savage heart
No sense of soft compassion proves,
For one, though guiltless, doom'd to part
For ever from the fair he loves?
No sense of soft compassion proves,
For one, though guiltless, doom'd to part
For ever from the fair he loves?
Though cruel stars my death decree,
Yet nothing from my soul can tear
Her image which I ever see,
Which ever in my breast I bear.
Yet nothing from my soul can tear
Her image which I ever see,
Which ever in my breast I bear.
[Exit.
| Demetrius | |