 | Demophoon |  |
SCENE V.
Enter Adrastus.Adras.
The Phrygian ships, my lord, have gain'd the port.
Demo.
Then go, Timanthes, haste to meet thy bride.
Timan.
Who, I, my lord?
Demo.
Yes, thou, my son; myself
90
Of sacrifice demand me at the temple.
Timan.
Yet stay and hear me, sir—
Demo.
What would'st thou? Speak.
Timan.
Hear me confess—but whither am I driven?
Yet let me ask you—O my tortur'd soul!
O sir! the sacrifice!—the law—my wife!
O direful law! O most unhappy bride!
O cruel sacrifice and fatal chance.
Demo.
No more—I cannot now prolong the time.
The terms are settled, prince, my promise given:
A monarch's word is sacred, he who rules
Must guard his faith unstain'd; and oft we find
Virtue the offspring of necessity.
By this, in arms the warrior sleeps,
The sailor sings amid the deeps;
And death we view without affright.
The timorous beasts that fly the foe,
Can strength assume, and boldness show,
When by necessity they fight.
The sailor sings amid the deeps;
And death we view without affright.
The timorous beasts that fly the foe,
Can strength assume, and boldness show,
When by necessity they fight.
[Exit.
| Demophoon | |