University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Themistocles, Aspasia.
Asp.
[to herself.]
Conduct not, mighty Gods!
My father to these shores!

Them.
[aside.]
Then let me seek
Some better knowledge from this Grecian dame.
[to her.]
Fair virgin, if the Heavens—Almighty Powers!
What features do I see!

Asp.
Eternal Gods!
'Tis sure my father, or some form like his!

Them.
O! say—

Asp.
Themistocles!

Them.
Aspasia!

Asp.
Father!

Them.
My daughter!

[embrace.
Asp.
Fly, O! fly—

Them.
And dost thou live?

Asp.
Ah! fly, my dearest father.—O! what star
In evil hour has brought you to this palace?
Ah! Xerxes seeks your life, and vast rewards
Are promis'd him who brings you to his sight—
Alas! delay not—some one may discover—

Them.
Thou wilt thyself discover me, Aspasia,
With this excess of fear.—Say, when to Argos
I sent thee for a shelter from the dangers
Of war and tumult, was not then thy ship
Engulph'd in roaring waves?

Asp.
It was; and none,
Save I alone, surviv'd the cruel wreck;
By wondrous chance escap'd from stormy seas
To pay with liberty my ransom'd life.

Them.
Say how was this?

Asp.
A vessel from the waves—
(O Heaven! I freeze with terror!) from the waves
A hostile vessel took me, scarce alive,
And bore me prisoner to this fated land.

Them.
Is here thy birth disclos'd?

Asp.
No.—Xerxes gave me
(My race unknown) a present to the princess,
The fair Roxana.—How I oft invok'd
A father's name! How oft I wearied Heaven
With vows to see him! But I little thought
To find my vows so fatally fulfill'd.

Them.
Compose thyself, my daughter; joy and grief
Are plac'd with bounds so near to each, the passage
Is but a moment's work. This day our fortune
May take a different aspect; finding thee,
Already do I feel my sufferings less.

Asp.
But how! how have you found me here? A wretch,
In servile bonds! And how are you arriv'd?
A fugitive proscrib'd! A lonely exile!
Alas! my father, where is now the splendor
That once encircled you? The pomp, the menials,
The wealth, the friends?—O! Deities unjust!
O! most ungrateful Athens! and does earth
Support thee still? And still the thunder sleep
In Jove's eternal hand?

Them.
Forbear, Aspasia!
And learn, more wise, to keep thy grief in bounds;
Know, she, who calls for vengeance on her country,
Can ne'er be daughter to Themistocles;
Nor will I bear thou should'st one moment harbour
Such impious thoughts.

Asp.
When you defend her cause,
Your country's guilt is doubled.

Them.
Hold! no more.

Asp.
Yet, let me beg you fly!—Ah! quit this land.

Them.
Whence is thy dread, if there to all unknown—

Asp.
To all unknown? And where! ah! where, is then
Themistocles unknown? The character
Of majesty impress'd upon his brow,
That speaks his soul, suffices to betray him.
This day the peril threatens more: from Athens
At Sufa an ambassador arrives:
From him and from his followers, who shall now
Conceal—

Them.
—But tell me, know'st thou yet his business,
And what his name?

Asp.
I know not; but the king
Will give him speedy audience.—See already
Where yonder throng the impatient populace
To reach the destin'd place.

Them.
May each that wills it
Be present at the meeting?

Asp.
Doubtless each.

Them.
Remain thou here: I haste to satisfy
A wish I long have cherish'd in my breast,
Thus face to face to meet my ancient foe.

Asp.
Forbear—Unhappy me! What would you do?
You kill me with affright! O! if you love me,
Forego the thought—By this unconquer'd hand,
On which, a trembling and a suppliant daughter,
I now impress the kiss of filial duty;
Even by that country, which, to you a foe,
You still have reverenc'd; which you have defended,
Howe'er to you ungrateful.

Them.

[Exit.