University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

Enter Dionysius and Calippus.
Dion.
Ere the day clos'd, while yet the busy eye
Might view their camp, their stations and the guards,
Their preparations for approaching night,
Did'st thou then mark the motions of the Greeks?

Calip.
From the watch-tour I saw them: all things spoke
A foe secure, and discipline relax'd.
Their arms thrown idly by, the soldiers stray'd
To one another's tents; their steeds no more
Stood near at hand caparison'd for war;
And from the lines numbers pour'd out, to see
The spot, where the besieg'd had sallied forth,
And the fierce battle rag'd; to view the slain
That lie in heaps upon the crimson beach.
There the fond brother, the afflicted father,
And the friend, sought some vestige of the face
Of him who died in battle; night came on;
Some slowly gain'd their tents; dispers'd around
Whole parties loiter'd, touch'd with deep regret;
War, and its train of duties, all forgot.

Dion.
Their folly gives them to my sword: are all
My orders issued?

Calip.
All.

Dion.
The troops retir'd
To gain recruited vigour from repose?

Calip.
The city round lies hush'd in sleep.

Dion.
Anon
Let each brave officer, of chosen valour,
Forsake his couch, and with delib'rate spirit,
Meet at the citadel.—An hour at furthest
Before the dawn, 'tis fix'd to storm their camp;
And whelm their men, their arms, and steeds, and tents,
In one prodigious ruin. Haste, Calippus,
Fly to thy post, and bid Euphrasia enter.
[Exit Calippus.
Evander dies this night: Euphrasia too
Shall be dispos'd of. Curse on Phocion's fraud,
That from my pow'r withdrew their infant boy.
In him the seed of future kings were crush'd,
And the whole hated line at once extinguish'd.

Enter Euphrasia.
Dion.
Once more approach and hear me; 'tis not now
A time to waste in the vain war of words.
A crisis big with horror is at hand.
I meant to spare the stream of blood, that soon
Shall deluge yonder plains. My fair proposals
Thy haughty spirit has with scorn rejected.
And now, by Heav'n, here, in thy very sight,
Evander breathes his last.

Euphra.
The truce you've granted
Suspends the rage of war: meantime send forth
The orators of peace with olive crown'd.
Timoleon, good and just, and ever willing
To conquer rather by persuasive truth,
Than by devouring slaughter, will agree
In friendly parley to assert his rights,
And compromise the war.

Dion.
And must I sue
For terms of peace?—To an invader sue?
Since you, the fiend of Syracuse and Greece,
Since you thus urge me on to desp'rate daring,
Your father first—of him I'll be assur'd—
Your father meets his fate.

Euphra.
If yet there's wanting
A crime to fill the measure of thy guilt,
Add that black murder to the dreadful list;
With that complete the horrors of thy reign.

Dion.
Woman, beware: Philotas is at hand,
And to our presence leads Evander. All
Thy dark complottings, and thy treach'rous arts,
Have prov'd abortive.

Euphra.
Ha!—What new event?
And is Philotas false?—Has he betray'd him?

[Aside.
Dion.
Evander's doom is seal'd—What ho! Philotas!
Now shalt thou see him die in pangs before thee.

Enter Philotas.
Euphra.
How my heart sinks within me!

Dion.
Where's your pris'ner?

Philo.
Evander is no more.

Dion.
Ha!—Death has robbed me
Of half my great revenge.

Philo.
Worn out with anguish
I saw life ebb apace. With studied art
We gave each cordial drop—Alas! in vain;
He heav'd a sigh; invok'd his daughter's name,
Smil'd and expir'd.

Dion.
Bring me his hoary head.

Philo.
You'll pardon, Sir, my over-hasty zeal.
I gave the body to the foaming surge
Down the steep rock despis'd.

Dion.
Now rave and shriek,
And rend your scatter'd hair. No more Evander
Shall sway Sicilia's sceptre.

Euphra.
Mighty Gods!
The harden'd heart, the man elate with pride
View with compassion! To the bad extend
Some portion of your mercy; crimes and blood
Have made their souls a seat of desolation,
Of woe, despair and horror! Turn to them
An eye of pity: whom your bounty form'd
To truth, to goodness, and to gen'rous deeds,
On them no more from your bright stores of bliss
You need dispense: their virtue will support them.

Dion.
Now then thou feel'st my vengeance.

Euphra.
Glory in it;
Exult and triumph. Thy worst shaft is sped.
Yet still th'unconquer'd mind with scorn can view thee;
With the calm sunshine of the breast beholds
Thy pow'r unequal to subdue the soul,
Which virtue form'd, and which the Gods protect.

Dion.
Philotas, bear her hence; she shall not live;
This moment bear her hence; you know the rest;
Go, see our will obey'd; that done, with all
A warrior's speed attend me at the citadel;
There meet the heroes, whom this night I'll lead
To freedom, victory, to glorious havock,
To the destruction of the Grecian name.

[Exit.
Euphra.
Accept my thanks, Philotas; generous man!
These tears attest th'emotions of my heart.
But oh! should Greece defer—

Philo.
Dispel thy fears;
Phocion will bring relief; or should the tyrant
Assault their camp, he'll meet a marshall'd foe.
Let me conduct thee to the silent tomb.

Euphra.
Ah! there Evander, naked and disarm'd,
Defenceless quite, may meet some ruffian stroke.

Philo.
Lo! here's a weapon; bear this dagger to him;
In the drear monument should hostile steps
Dare to approach him, they must enter singly;
This guards the passage; man by man they die.
There may'st thou dwell amidst the wild commotion.

Euphra.
Ye pitying Gods, protect my father then!

[Exeunt.
Scene the Citadel.
Calippus and several Officers.
First Officer.
What new event thus summons' us together?

Calip.
'Tis great occasion calls;—Timoleon's ardor
Comes rushing on; his works rise high in air,
Advance each day, and tow'r above our walls.
One brave exploit may free us—Lo! the king.

Enter Dionysius.
Dion.
Ye brave associates, who so oft have shar'd
Our toil and danger in the field of glory,
My fellow-warriors, what no god could promise,
Fortune hath giv'n us.—In his dark embrace
Lo! sleep envelops the whole Grecian camp.
Against a foe, the outcasts of their country,
Freebooters roving in pursuit of prey,
Success by war, or covert stratagem
Alike is glorious. Then, my gallant friends,
What need of words? The gen'rous call of freedom,
Your wives, your children, your invaded rights,
All that can steel the patriot breast with valour,
Expands and rouzes in the swelling heart.
Follow th'impulsive ardour; follow me,
Your king, your leader; in the friendly gloom
Of night assault their camp; your country's love,
And fame eternal, shall attend the men
Who march'd through blood and horror, to redeem
From the invader's pow'r, their native land.

Calip.
Lead to the onset; Greece shall find we bear
Hearts prodigal of blood, when honour calls,
Resolv'd to conquer or to die in freedom.

Dion.
Thus I've resolv'd: when the declining moon
Hath veil'd her orb, our silent march begins.
The order thus:—Calippus, thou lead forth
Iberia's sons with the Numidian bands,
And line the shore.—Perdiccas, be it thine
To march thy cohorts to the mountain's foot,
Where the wood skirts the valley; there make halt
Till brave Amyntor stretch along the vale.
Ourself, with the embodied cavalry
Clad in their mail'd cuirass, will circle round
To where their camp extents its furthest line;
Unnumber'd torches there shall blaze at once,
The signal of the charge; then, oh! my friends,
On every side let the wild uproar loose,
Bid massacre and carnage stalk around,
Unsparing, unrelenting; drench your swords
In hostile blood, and riot in destruction.

Enter an Officer.
Dion.
Ha! speak; unfold thy purpose.—

Offi.
Instant arm;
To arms, my liege; the foe breaks in upon us;
The subterraneous pass is theirs; that way
Their band invades the city sunk in sleep.

Dion.
Treason's at work; detested, treach'rous villains!
Is this their promis'd truce? Away, my friends,
Rouze all the war; fly to your sev'ral posts,
And instant bring all Syracuse in arms.

[Exeunt. Warlike Music.
Enter Melanthon.
Calip.
Melanthon, now collect your faithful bands.

Melan.
Do thou pursue the King; attend his steps:
Timoleon lords it in the captive city.

[Exit Calippus.
Enter Philotas.
Melan.
Philotas, vengeance has begun its work.

Philo.
The Gods have sent relief; dismay, and terror;
And wild amaze, and death in ev'ry shape,
Fill the affrighted city.

Melan.
Tyrant, now
Th'inevitable hour of fate is come.
Philotas, round the dome that holds Evander.
We will arrange our men; there fix our post,
And guard that spot, till, like some God, Timoleon
Still the wild uproar, and bid slaughter cease.

[Exeunt.
Scene another Part of the City.
Enter Dionysius.
Why sleep the coward slaves? All things conspire;
The Gods are leagu'd; I see them raze my tow'rs;
My walls and bulwarks fall, and Neptune's trident
From its foundation heaves the solid rock.
Pallas directs the storm; her gorgon shield
Glares in my view, and from the fleet she calls
Her Greeks enrag'd.—In arms I'll meet 'em all.
Who, ho! my guards—Arise, or wake no more.

Enter Calippus.
Calip.
This way my liege; our friends, a valiant band,
Assemble here.

Dion.
Give me to meet the Greek.
Our only safety lies in brave despair.

[Exeunt.
Scene the Inside of the Temple.
A Monument in the Middle.
Euphrasia, Erixene, and Female Attendants.
Euphra.
Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins,
Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altar
Clasp on our knees?

Erix.
Alas! the horrid tumult
Spreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry side
The victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches,
In wild confusion rise. Once more descend
Eudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter.

Euphra.
Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit,
Perhaps for the last time, a mother's urn.
This dagger there, this instrument of death,
Should Fortune prosper the fell tyrant's arms,
This dagger then may free me from his pow'r,
And that drear vault intomb us all in peace.
[Puts up the dagger.
Hark!—how the uproar swells! Alas what numbers
In Dionysius' cause shall yield their throats
To the destructive sword!—Aloft I climb'd
The temple's vaulted roof; the scene beneath
Is horrible to sight; our domes and palaces
Blaze to the sky; and where the flames forbear,
The Greeks enrag'd brandish the gleaming sword.
From the high roofs, to shun the raging fire,
Wretches precipitate their fall. But oh!
No pause, no mercy; to the edge o'th'sword
They give their bodies; butcher'd, gash'd with wounds
They die in mangled heaps, and with their limbs
Cover the sanguine pavement.

Erix.
Hark!

Euphra.
The Din
Of arms with clearer sound advances. Ha!
That sudden burst! Again! They rush upon us!
The portal opens—Lo! see there—The soldier
Enters; war invades the sacred fane;
No altar gives a sanctuary now.

[War-like music.
Enter Dionysius and Calippus, with several Soldiers.
Dion.
Here will I mock their siege; here stand at bay,
And brave 'em to the last.

Calip.
Our weary foes
Desist from the pursuit.

Dion.
Tho' all betray me,
Tho' ev'ry God conspire, I will not yield.
If I must fall, the temple's pond'rous roof,
The mansion of the Gods combin'd against me
Shall first be crush'd, and lie in ruin with me,
Euphrasia here! Detested, treach'rous woman!
For my revenge preserv'd! By Heav'n 'tis well;
Vengeance awaits thy guilt, and this good sword
Thus sends thee to atone the bleeding victims
This night has massacred.

Calip.
(Holding Dionysius's arm)
My liege forbear;
Her life preserv'd may plead your cause with Greece,
And mitigate your fate.

Dion.
Presumptuous slave!
My rage is up in arms—By Heav'n she dies.

Enter Evander from the Tomb.
Evan.
Open, thou cave of death, and give me way.
Horror! forbear! Thou murd'rer hold thy hand!
The Gods behold thee, horrible assassin!
Restrain the blow;—it were a stab to Heav'n;
All nature shudders at it!—Will no friend
Arm in a cause like thus a father's hand?
Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! Evander
Prostrate and groveling on the earth before thee;
He begs to die; exhaust the scanty drops
That lag about his heart; but spare my child.

Dion.
Evander!—Do my eyes once more behold him?
May the fiends seize Philotas! Treach'rous slave!
'Tis well thou liv'st; thy death were poor revenge
From any hand but mine.

(Offers to strike.
Euphra.
No, tyrant, no;
(Rushing before Evanier.
I have provok'd your vengeance; through this bosom
Open a passage; first on me, on me
Exhaust your fury; ev'ry Pow'r above
Commands thee to respect that aged head;
His wither'd frame wants blood to glut thy rage;
Strike here; these veins are full; here's blood enough;
The purple tide will gush to glad thy sight.

Dion.
Amazement blasts and freezes ev'ry Pow'r!
They shall not live. Ha! the fierce tide of war
(A flourish af trumpets.
This way comes rushing on.

(Goes to the top of the stage.
Euphra.
(Embracing Evander)
Oh! thus, my father,
We'll perish thus together.

Dion.
Bar the gates;
Close ev'ry passage, and repel their force.

Evan.
And must I see thee bleed?—Oh! for a sword
Bring, bring me daggers!

Euphra.
Ha!

Dion.
(Coming down the stage.)
Guards seize the slave,
And give him to my rage.

Evan.
(Seiz'd by the guards)
Oh! spare her, spare her.
Inhuman villains!—

Euphra.
Now one glorious effort!

(Aside.
Dion.
Let me dispatch; thou traitor, thus my arm—

Euph.
A daughter's arm, fell monster, strikes the blow.
Yes, first she strikes; an injur'd daughter's arm
Sends thee devoted to th'infernal gods.

(Stabs him.)
Dion.
Detested fiend!—Thus by a woman's hand!—

(He falls.
Euphra.
Yes, tyrant, yes; in a dear father's cause
A woman's vengeance tow'rs above her sex.

Dion.
May curses blast thy arm! May Ætna's fires
Convulse the land; to its foundation shake
The groaning isle! May civil discord bear
Her flaming brand through all the realms of Greece;
And the whole race expire in pangs like mine!

(Dies.)
Euphra.
Behold, all Sicily behold!—The point
Glows with the tyrant's blood. Ye slaves, (to the guards)
look there;
Kneel to you rightful king: the blow for freedom
Gives you the rights of men!—And, oh! my father,
My ever honour'd sire, it gives thee life.

Evan.
My child; my daughter; sav'd again by thee!

(He embraces her.
A flourish of trumpets.
Enter Phocion, Melanthon, Philotas, &c.
Pho.
Now let the monster yield.—My best Euphrasia!

Euphra.
My lord! my Phocion! welcome to my heart.
Lo! there the wonders of Euphrasia's arm!

Pho.
And is the proud one fall'n! The dawn shall see him
A spectacle for public view.—Euphrasia!
Evander too!—Thus to behold you both—

Evan.
To her direct thy looks; there fix thy praise,
And gaze with wonder there. The life I gave her—
Oh! she has us'd it for the noblest ends!
To fill each duty; make her father feel
The purest joy, the heart-dissolving bliss
To have a grateful child.—But has the rage
Of slaughter ceas'd?

Pho.
It has.

Evan.
Where is Timoleon?

Pho.
He guards the citadel; there gives his orders
To calm the uproar, and recall from carnage
His conqu'ring troops.

Euphra.
Oh! once again, my father,
Thy sway shall bless the land. Not for himself
Timoleon conquers;—to redress the wrongs
Of bleeding Sicily the hero comes.
Thee, good Melanthon, thee, thou gen'rous man,
His justice shall reward.—Thee too, Philotas,
Whose sympathizing heart could feel the touch
Of soft humanity, the hero's bounty,
His brightest honours, shall be lavish'd on thee.
Evander too will place you near his throne;
And shew mankind, ev'n on this shore of being,
That virtue still shall meet its sure reward.

Philo.
I am rewarded: feelings such as mine
Are worth all dignities; my heart repays me.

Evan.
Come, let us seek Timoleon; to his care
I will commend ye both: for now, alas!
Thrones and dominions now no more for me.
To her I give my crown. Yes, thou, Euphrasia,
Shalt reign in Sicily.—And oh! ye Pow'rs,
In that bright eminence of care and peril,
Watch over all her ways; conduct and guide
The goodness you inspir'd, that she may prove,
If e'er distress like mine invade the land,
A parent to her people; stretch the ray
Of filial pity to times unborn,
That men may hear her unexampled virtue,
And learn to emulate the Grecian Daughter