University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Enter Manlius, Clodio, and other Attendants.
Manl.
Oh! God of Love, thou anxious, pleasing Guest,
How are thy Votaries pain'd, and yet how blest!
Now like a Ship in thy vast Ocean tost,
Now seem in Port, yet in a Moment lost!
Now restless Fears like tumbling Surges roll,
Now rising Hopes revive their drooping Soul!

[Sees Granius.
Granius,
What News from the fair Maid I love?
Will she be kind, or does sh'obdurate prove?

Gran.
'Tis hard, Great Sir, a Woman's Thoughts to read,
From any Words that from her Tongue proceed.

Manl.
Hold me not in Suspence!—Oh, ease my Pain!
And say, dear Granius, say what Hopes remain.
Am I to live; or am I to despair?
Speak boldly, and my Fate at once declare.

Gran.
Then Sir, to mitigate your raging Pain,
Take This:—This fully will your Fate explain.

[Returns the Bracelet.
Manl.
Does then the cruel Fair still scorn my Love?
Will no Persuasions the cold Virgin move?
Is she so very coy, so wondrous nice,
To slight a Present of so great a Price?—
Granius, This Treatment I can never bear.—
Eudosia's Fetters I'll no longer wear.—
It is resolv'd,—The beauteous Maid shall bleed,—
And Vengeance shall my injur'd Love succeed.
—Yet hold,—Methinks she hovers round my Heart.—
My Blood runs cold.—'Twill fatal prove to part.—
O! Granius, some new Stratagem contrive,
To make my dying Hopes once more revive.
Upon thy Art, thy Friendship I rely:
For if Eudosia's lost, I surely die.

Gran.
Vengeance, my Lord, will ne'er your Love appease;
Like Oil, 'twill make the Flame more fiercely blaze.
Some other Way your Granius will devise
To gain a Conquest o'er Eudosia's Eyes.—
[Pauses.
—I have it;—you shall wed her in Disguise.
Your scornful Fair's a superstitious Maid,
And thro' her Zeal with Ease may be betray'd.

Manl.
Go on:—There's mystic Musick in thy Tongue:
Thy Words are sweeter than the Syren's Song.

Gran.
Oft' she with Lucia to the Temple goes,
And at Diana's Altar pays her Vows.
There you shall come, and stand before her Eyes,
In all the Pomp Religion can devise:
Like Great Apotlo come, and in his Name
Make known with sure Success thy ardent Flame.
With Gifts profuse suborn the Priestly Train;
They'll join, and bless the pious Fraud for Gain.

Manl.
Kind Statesman, I thy Politicks approve:
Take this,—as earnest of my future Love.
[Gives him a Diamond Ring.
Still serve my Flame, and you shall never want
Any Reward, that Manlius can grant.
I'll summon all the Priests, thy Scheme disclose,
And bribe them high as wisely you propose.
Granius this Signet to Octavia bear.
Take Gold untold:—No Pains, no Cost I'll spare,
To melt into my Arms this Frozen Fair.

Granius goes out.
Manlius
alone.
O beauteous Goddess! O bright Queen of Love,
Look down, and to my Wish propitious prove.
Oh! let her Heart once feel thy pleasing Fire,
And breathe into her Soul some soft Desire;

He goes out.