 | Dido |  |
SCENE I.
A royal apartment, a table and seats.Selene, Araspes.
Sel.
What hand has loos'd the rude barbarian's chains?
Aras.
I know not, fair Selene; I behold
Myself a prisoner, guilty; then again
In freedom and absolv'd; in one short moment
Araspes freed, his sovereign lord in bonds:
Through all the palace anxious now I seek him,
And find Selene.
Sel.
Ah! some secret treason
Is fram'd against Æneas—O! Araspes,
Preserve the hero's life.
Aras.
He is my foe:
But if you ask Araspes to defend him
From hidden fraud, thus far I plight my faith;
My honour here will prove his firmest guard:
Thus much must yet suffice.
Sel.
It shall suffice.
[going.
Aras.
Ah! take not from my eyes so soon the joy
To view Selene's charms.
Sel.
What means Araspes?
260
Alas! I know I should conceal my passion;
But if I err, Selene, to yourself
Impute the crime of love.
Sel.
I own, Araspes,
Thy valour, virtue, all that claims regard
From woman's sex—but, ah! another flame
Has warm'd Selene's heart.
Aras.
Ah me, unhappy!
Sel.
Yet more, Araspes—if these feeble charms
Have touch'd thy breast, at least disclose thy pains,
I'll hear and pity them—but ah! Selene
Cannot conceal, yet dares not own her secret.
Aras.
Yet let me here devote my constant faith.
Sel.
Thus much I grant, but ne'er expect return:
If thou canst love me on this hard condition,
I take thy love—but ne'er aspire to more.
Aras.
My heart, on this condition, plights its truth.
Sel.
For me thy faithful love retain,
Thy bosom bear the shaft in vain;
But ne'er to me henceforth complain
Of unrewarded love.
My constant heart and thine must share
An equal portion of despair:
No hope must ever sooth thy care,
Nor I compassion prove.
[Exit.
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alone.
Thou bid'st me never hope, but bid'st in vain;
Hope is the gleam that cheers the parting soul.
[Exit.
| Dido | |