 | Myrrha |  |
SCENE THE FIRST.
Euryclea, Myrrha.My.
Yes, Euryclea, thou beholdest me
Completely tranquillized; and almost joyous,
At my resolved departure.
Eu.
Can this be? ...
Alone with Pereus wilt thou hence depart? ...
Nor of so many of thy faithful hand-maids
Wilt thou select even one? Not even me
Wilt thou distinguish from this wide neglect? ...
What will become of me, my dearest child,
If thou abandon me? alas, I feel
Ready to die at the mere thought of this ...
My.
Ah! hold thy peace ... One day I shall return ...
Eu.
Ah! may the Heavens grant this! Beloved daughter! ...
I did not think that thou wert capable
Of such a stern resolve: I always hoped
That thou at last would'st close my dying eyes ...
My.
I should have chosen thee, and thee alone,
If I, by any means, could have resolved
To take an inmate of this palace with me ...
But against this am I inflexible ...
Eu.
And at to-morrow's dawn thou go'st from hence? ...
My.
I from my parents have at length obtain'd
Permission to do this; the rising sun
Will see our vessel wafted from this shore.
330
Auspicious be the day to thee! ... Could I
Know thou wert really happy! ... 'Tis in truth,
A cruel and a mortifying joy,
That thou dost manifest in leaving us ...
Yet, if it please thee, I will weep, though mute,
With thy aflicted mother ...
My.
Wherefore thus
My heart already too assailable
Dost thou assail? Why force me thus to weep? ...
Eu.
Oh! how can I suppress my bursting tears ...
This is the last time that I shall behold,
And shall embrace thee. Thou forsakest me
With many years bow'd down, and still more bow'd
With wretchedness. I shall be in my grave
At thy return, if that should ever be:
Some tears, I hope that, ... thou at least wilt give ...
To the remembrance ... of thy Euryclea ...
My.
For pity's sake ... oh! ... quit me; ... or at least
Be silent.—I command thee, hold thy peace.
It is my duty now to be to all
Inflexible; and chiefly to myself.—
This is a day sacred to nuptial joy.
Oh, if thou e'er hast loved me, I require
Of thee to-day the last hard proof of this;
Restrain thy tears, ... and mine.—I see already
My consort coming.—Let all grief be mute.
| Myrrha | |