 | Siroes |  |
SCENE XIII.
Enter Medarses.Med.
Father, I behold
Your features chang'd.
Cos.
[gives him the paper.]
Read there, belov'd Medarses,
And tremble as thou read'st.
Laod.
[aside.]
What can this mean?
Med.
[reads.]
“Cosroes, a snare is laid to take thy life,
“By one believ'd most loyal: on this day
“The blow is meant. Suspect in every one
“The secret traitor: death is surely thine,
“If from thy presence thou remov'st not all
“That share thy best affections—he who gives
“This counsel is thy friend: believe and live.”
[he returns the paper to Cos.
Laod.
I freeze with horror!
Cos.
What inhuman pity
Thus, thus to save me! From a hand unknown
The warning comes, but points not out the guilty.
Then must I ever fear my friends, my sons?
175
And see the cruel threat in every sword?
Is this to be preserv'd? Is this to live?
Sir.
[apart.]
Unhappy father!
Med.
[aside.]
Lose not now, my soul,
This fair occasion.
Cos.
Still, Medarses, silent?
Laodice, thou dost not speak.
Laod.
Alas!
I'm struck with terror.
Med.
If I spoke not yet,
I wish'd to hide the guilty from your anger,
The guilty dear to both; but when I see
The cruel anguish of a father's heart,
I can no longer hold—that paper's mine.
Sir.
[apart.]
Insidious falsehood!
Cos.
Know'st thou then the traitor,
And yet conceal'st him from my just resentment?
Med.
[kneels.]
O father most belov'd! forgive the guilty;
Let it suffice, thy life has been preserv'd:
Ah! think not ever in such blood to stain
Your royal hands: know, he who seeks your life
Is your own son—and your Medarses' brother!
Sir.
[apart.]
Must I be silent still?
Cos.
Medarses, rise:
What tongue to thee reveal'd the dreadful secret?
176
Siroes himself disclos'd it.
Laod.
[aside.]
Can it be!
What heart would have conceiv'd it?
Med.
Long he tried
To make me partner in his crime—I pleaded,
I begg'd, but all in vain, he vow'd your death;
And hence Medarses in that scroll reveal'd
The dire design.
Sir.
[discovers himself.]
Medarses is a traitor:
That paper's mine.
Med.
[aside.]
O Heaven!
Laod.
[aside.]
What do I see?
Cos.
Ha! Siroes here, conceal'd in my apartment!
Med.
His guilt is clear.
Sir.
'Tis false: desire to save
Your threaten'd life, my father, brought me hither:
A desperate foe, unknown, designs your death,
And you're betray'd.
| Siroes | |