 | The Athenian Captive |  |
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SCENE III.
The Outskirts of a Wood on one side; the Athenian Camp on the other. A Watch-fire at a little distance, lighting the Scene.PENTHEUS
(walking backwards and forwards as a Guard).
The cold grey dawn begins to glimmer; speed it,
Ye powers that favour Athens! From the sea,
Her everlasting guardian, Phœbus, rise,
To pour auspicious radiance o'er the field,
In which she may efface the foul dishonour
Her arms own'd yesterday. Not shame alone,
But loss no morrow can repair, is hers!
Archas, our army's noble leader, sleeps
Beneath the pressure of a thousand shields;
And Thoas, bravest of our youth, a slave—
Perchance, ere this a corpse. Friend whom I loved,
In whose advancing glories I grew proud
As though they had been mine—if yet thou breathest,
I will deliver, and if dead, avenge thee!
O, Thoas!
Enter Thoas wildly, from the Wood.
THOAS.
Who pronounc'd that wretched name,—
That name no honest tongue may utter more?
Pentheus!
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Thoas! most welcome. Thou art come in time
To share a glorious conflict. Ha! thine eyes
Glare with a frightful light;—be calm,—thou art safe;—
This is the camp of those who will reward
Thy great emprise of yesterday, with place
Among the foremost in the battle. Come
To my exulting heart.
[Offering to embrace Thoas.
THOAS.
No!—hold me from thee!—
My heart can ne'er know fellowship again
With such as thine; for I have paid a price
For this vile liberty to roam abroad,
And cry to woods and rocks that answer me
With fearful echoes:—such a price, my Pentheus—
My own unspotted conscience. Dost not see
Foul spots of blood upon this slave's apparel,
Polluting e'en that dress?
PENTHEUS.
If thou hast struck
Some soldier down to vindicate thy freedom,
Who shall accuse thee?
THOAS.
'Twas no soldier, Pentheus;
No stout opponent that my fatal knife
Dismiss'd to Erebus. A wither'd hand,
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Scarce met my touch,—which could not have delay'd
My course an instant;—'twas no thought of fear,
No haste for freedom, urged me,—but an oath
Glar'd on my soul in characters of flame,
And madden'd me to strike. I rais'd my arm,
And wildly hurl'd my dagger;—nought but air
It seem'd to meet;—but a sharp feeble sigh,
Such as death urges when it stops the gasp
Of wasting age, assur'd me it had done
A murderer's office.
PENTHEUS.
Think not of it thus:—
Thy lips are parch'd,—let me fetch water.
THOAS.
No!
I have drank fiercely at a mountain spring,
And left the stain of blood in its pure waters;
It quench'd my mortal thirst, and I rejoic'd,
For I seem'd grown to demon, till the stream
Cool'd my hot throat, and then I laugh'd aloud,
To find that I had something human still.
PENTHEUS.
Fret not thy noble heart with what is past.
THOAS.
No!—'tis not past!—the murderer has no PAST;
But one eternal PRESENT.
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[Within the wood.
Help me!—answer!—
THOAS.
The voice of Hyllus!—of that noble youth,
Who, for my sake, is outcast from his home,
So near the camp of Athens! Should our guards
Arrest him, he will perish. Friend! That voice
Comes on my ear like that of one who serv'd me,
In yonder city; leave thy watch to me
A moment.
PENTHEUS.
No—thy passion's dangerous;
I dare not trust it.
THOAS.
See—I have subdu'd
The pang which wrung me. By our ancient loves
Grant me this boon—perhaps the last.
PENTHEUS.
Be quick,
For the watch presently will be remov'd,
And the trump call to battle.
[Exit Pentheus.
THOAS.
[Calling to Hyllus.
Here! The hope
Of saving Hyllus wafts into my soul
A breath of comfort.
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HYLLUS.
I have lost my path,
Wandering the dismal night in this old wood;
I'd seek the coast; canst thou point out the way?
THOAS.
Avoid it—on each side the Isthmus, ships
Of Athens ride at anchor.
HYLLUS.
[Recognising him.
Thoas! free—
Then I am bless'd, and I can bear my lot,
However hard;—I guess the hand that op'd
The dungeon door;—how didst thou quit the palace?
THOAS.
Why dost thou ask me that? Through a large chamber
That open'd on a terrace—'twas all dark;—
Tell me who lay there?
HYLLUS.
'Tis my father's chamber,
Did he awake?
THOAS.
Thy father?—gods! The king?
The feeble old man with the reverend hair?
Art sure he rested there?
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Sure. No one else
May enter after sunset, save the queen.
THOAS.
The queen! all's clear;—Jove strike me into marble!
HYLLUS.
Why dost thou tremble so? as if a fit
Of ague shook thee.
THOAS.
Nothing—only thought
Of my past danger came upon my soul
And shook it strangely. Was the old man there?
[Stands abstractedly as stupefied.
PENTHEUS.
[Without.
Thoas!
THOAS.
Haste!—Do not lose a moment—fly!
The watch-fire that is waning now is fed
By hands which, madden'd by the foul defeat
Of yesterday, will slay thee.
HYLLUS.
Whither fly?
The camp of Athens is before me;—ships
Of Athens line the coasts,—and Corinth's king
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And crave my father's pardon.
THOAS.
No—not there—
Yet, where should the poor stripling go? O Jove!
When he shall learn—
HYLLUS.
Farewell—yet hold an instant!—
Wilt thou not send some message to Creusa,
That she may greet her brother with a smile?
THOAS.
Creusa smile!—Methinks I see her now—
Her form expands—her delicate features grow
To giant stone; her hairs escape their band,
And stream aloft in air;—and now they take
The forms of fiery serpents—how they hiss—
And point their tongues at Thoas!
HYLLUS.
This is frenzy;
I cannot leave thee thus:—whate'er my fate,
I will attend and soothe thee.
THOAS.
Soothe me!—Boy,
Wouldst haunt me with that face which now I see
Is like thy father's. Ha! ha! ha! Thou soothe me—
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Thou look'st a spectre. Hence, or I will rend thee!
HYLLUS.
I rather would die here.
THOAS.
Fool! fool! away!
[Exit Hyllus.
He's gone—yet she is with me still,—with looks
More terrible than anger;—take away
That patient face,—I cannot bear its sweetness;—
Earth, cover me!
[Falls on the ground.
Enter Pentheus.
PENTHEUS.
The troops are arming fast;
They call on thee to lead them.—Hark, the trump—
[The trumpet sounds.
THOAS.
[Leaps up.
Yes; I will answer to its call. Again
Thou shalt behold me strike. In yonder field
I'll win that which I hunger for.
PENTHEUS.
A crown
Of laurel which hath floated in thy dreams
From thy brave infancy—
THOAS.
A grave! a grave!
[Exeunt.
| The Athenian Captive | |