 | The Uninhabited Island |  |
SCENE X.
Enter Sylvia.Syl.
[entering.]
Where is Constantia? Still I've sought in vain:
For I have much to tell her.
407
[turning to Syl.
Sure I dream!
What wonder strikes my sight! Stay, beauteous nymph.
Syl.
O Heavens! art thou return'd?
[about to fly.
Hen.
Why would'st thou fly?
O! hear me but a moment.
Syl.
Say, what would'st thou?
[from the side of the scene.
Hen.
But gaze upon thee; speak a few short words,
No more.
Syl.
Then, ere thou speak'st, give me thy promise
To come not near me.
Hen.
Fear not, lovely maid,
I promise this.
[retiring further off.
What graceful innocence
Through all her frame!
Syl.
How gentle are its looks!
[going nearer.
Hen.
But what's in me to cause such mighty terror?
I am no asp, nor savage beast of prey:
A man can surely not affright thee thus.
Syl.
[disturbed.]
Art thou a man?
Hen.
I am.
Syl.
[flying.]
O! save me! save me!
408
[staying her.]
Yet stay.
Syl.
[kneels.]
O! spare me—never have I wrong'd you:
Then be not cruel to me.
Hen.
[raising her.]
Rise, my fair-one,
Compose thy thoughts; this causeless fear distracts me.
Syl.
[aside.]
Sure my heart whispers I may trust his faith.
Hen.
O! if thou art gentle, as thy form bespeaks thee,
Say when and where did poor Constantia die?
Syl.
Constantia? Heaven be prais'd, Constantia lives.
Hen.
She lives!—O lovely Sylvia!—Yes, this place,
Thy tender years, all tell me thou art Sylvia.
Fly to Constantia, while I haste as swift
To seek Gernando.
Syl.
Hast thou then with thee
That cruel, that ingrate?
Hen.
Call him unhappy,
But not ingrate or cruel—O! delay not,
'Twere barbarous to defer, but for a moment;
The tender raptures of this faithful pair.
Syl.
Together let us go.
Hen.
No, that would ask
409
Seek thou Constantia, bring her to this place,
And with Gernando hither I'll return.
[going.
Syl.
Yet stay awhile—What is thy name?
Hen.
Henriques.
Syl.
[tenderly.]
Then hear, Henriques, tarry not too long.
Hen.
What means this haste, my fair?
Syl.
Alas! I know not:
I feel a sudden damp at thy departure,
And feel, at thy return, as sudden joy.
Hen.
And, witness Heaven, I could for ever hear thee,
Gaze on thy sweets, and dwell with thee for ever.
[Exit.
| The Uninhabited Island | |