 | Demetrius |  |
SCENE II.
Enter Alcestes and Phenicius conversing.Alc.
My lord, forbear; since 'tis in vain you hope
To keep me longer here.
Olin.
Behold, Alcestes,
The vessel is prepar'd, the sailors wait,
The wind is friendly, and serene the sea.
Phen.
Olinthus, peace— [to Olinthus.]
At least but for awhile
Defer thy parting hence; 'tis not for nought
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To wish thou hadst not heard me—till this hour
Thou know'st I've been a friend, a parent to thee.
Olin.
Was then my father wanting to detain him?
[aside.
Alc.
What can I say? The queen's command forbids me
To hearken to thy counsel.
Olin.
'Tis most true;
Alcestes speaks with reason.
Phen.
Canst thou leave me?
Wilt thou depart, and shall Phenicius stay?
I hop'd thou better would'st return my love.
Alc.
My dearest father: such I sure may call thee:
Such hast thou been—O say not I'm ungrateful:
Thou stabb'st me to the heart: I little thought
To see these hapless fruits of all thy cares.
Alas! I hop'd that, bred beneath thy sight,
And treading in thy steps the paths of honour,
I might some day have call'd into thine eyes
The tender tears of pleasure not of grief.
But who can change the purpose of the stars?
Permit me to be gone; departing thus,
I may be less ungrateful to thy love.
Perchance the fellowship of the unhappy
Communicates misfortune. Yet at least,
Since I'm become so hateful to the Gods,
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Let fortune's angry darts on me be spent,
Nor one be left to pierce thy reverend age.
Phen.
O speak not thus, my son: thou dost not know
The vast importance of a life like thine:
Mine is a burden useless to myself,
Unless it can avail to serve Alcestes.
Alc.
You weep, my lord: I merit not these tears.
Alas! I should not thus prolong your sorrows—
Farewell!—farewell, to both!
[going.
Olin.
Thanks to the Gods!
[aside.
Alc.
[returning.]
To you, my friends, I recommend the care
Of my afflicted queen—O she will need
Your kind support in her distressful state.
Who knows how dear her virtue may have cost!
What anguish may have rent her tender heart,
To find herself forsaken; to despair
Of ever seeing her Alcestes more!
To bear still present in her memory
The happy moments past, each place—O Heaven!
Speak comfort to her grief—my friends, farewell!
[as he is going out, he meets Cleonice.
| Demetrius | |