Her. You are Orestes, The same unaltered, generous, faithful lover: The prince whom I esteem; whom I lament; And whom I fain would teach my heart to love! Orest. Ay, there it is!-I have but your es teem, While Pyrrhus has your heart! Her. Believe me, prince, Were you as Pyrrhus, I should hate you! I should be blest! I should be loved as he is! While he neglects your charms, and courts an other. Her. And who has told you, prince, that I'm Has Pyrrhus said(Oh, I shall go distracted!) Who think thus meanly of me?- -Sir, perhaps, Orest. Madam, go on! Insult me still: I'm used to bear your scorn. Her. Why am I told how Pyrrhus loves or hates? -Go, prince, and arm the Greeks against the rebel; Let them lay waste his country! raze his towns; Fled like a dream!-Methinks I tread in air! Enter PYRRHUS, and PHOENIX. Pyr. I was in pain to find you, prince. My warm Ungoverned temper would not let me weigh And you, yourself, shall bear the victim hence. Orest. If you approve it, sir, and are content To spill the blood of a defenceless child, The offended Greeks, no doubt, will be appeased. Pyr. Closer to strain the knot of our alliance, I have determined to espouse Hermione. You come in time to grace our nuptial rites: In you the kings of Greece will all be present; And you have right to personate her father, As his ambassador, and brother's son. Go, prince, renew your visit; tell Hermione, To-morrow I receive her from your hands. Orest. [Aside.] Oh, change of fortune! Oh, [Exit Orestes. undone Orestes: Pyr. Well, Phoenix, am I still a slave to love? What think'st thou now? Am I myself again? Phan. Tis as it should be: this discovers Pyrrhus ; Shews all the hero. Now you are yourself! Pyr. Nay, Phonix, now I but begin to triumph: I never was a conqueror 'till now. May sooner be subdued, than love. Oh, Phoenix, Phan. Oh, my royal master! The gods, in favour to you, made her cruel. Pyr. Thou sawest with how much scorn she treated me! 'Tis he himself! his eyes, his every feature! His very frown, and his stern look already! 'Tis he: Tis my loved lord whom I embrace! Does she then think, that I preserve the boy, To soothe, and keep alive her flame for Hector? Phan. No doubt, she does; and thinks you favoured in it; But let her go, for an ungrateful woman! Pyr. I know the thoughts of her proud stubborn heart: Vain of her charms, and insolent in beauty, But we shall change our parts; and she shall find I can be deaf, like her; and steel my heart. Phan. My royal master, talk of her no more; 'Tis time you should prepare the nuptial rites, Pyr. But tell me, Phoenix, Dost thou not think, the proud Andromache What is't to you, be she enraged or pleased? I've checked my wrath, and stiffled my resent ment: She knows not yet to what degree I hate her. Let us return :——— -I'll brave her to her face: ness; Thou dost not know me, Phoenix. You are still struggling in the toils of love! One who repays my passion with disdain! Phan. You have it in your power to be re- Pyr. Yes-and I'll shew my power! I'll give her cause To hate me! her Astyanax shall die! Phan. Alas, you threaten like a lover still! Pyr. Phoenix, excuse this struggle of my soul: 'Tis the last effort of expiring love. Phan. Then hasten, sir, to see the Spartan princess; And turn the bent of your desires on her. ACT III. SCENE I. Enter PYLADES and ORESTES, Life is not worth my care. My soul grows des perate. I'll bear her off, or perish in the attempt. Pyl. FOR Heaven's sake, sir, compose your I'll force her from his arms :-By Heaven I will! ruffled mind, And moderate your rage! Orest. No, Pylades! This is no time for counsel. -I am deaf. Talk not of reason! I have been too patient. Pyl. Well, 'tis agreed, my friend :-We'll force her hence, But still consider, we are in Epirus. The court, the guards, Hermione herself, Good gods! what tempted you to seek her here! These outrages of fate, with temper! Could you but look into the soul of Pyrrhus, Pyl. Believe me, prince, (As Pyrrhus has consented) into Greece, Go, Pylades Pyl. Lead on, my friend, lead on! The ships are ready, and the wind sits fair : Orest. Thou art too good! I trespass on thy friendship, But, Oh! excuse a wretch, whom no man pities, The treasure of his soul: whom all mankind Pyl. The question is unkind. But now remember To keep your counsels close, and hide your thoughts; Let not Hermione suspect-no more— Orest. Away, my friend;. I am advised; my all depends upon it. [Exit Pylades. 'Twas then she loved him most. Had Pyrrhus Pyrrhus, my rival; and have gained him for you. left her, Orest. Oh, Pylades! My grief weighs heavy on me :-Twill distract me! O leave me to myself!-Let not thy friendship The king resolves to wed you. Her. So I am told: And farther, I am informed that you, Orestes, Are to dispose me for the intended marriage. Orest. And are you, madam, willing to com ply? Her. Could I imagine Pyrrhus loved me still? Your eyes do what they will, and cannot fail mised. Can I refuse what is not mine to give? All have a right to please themselves in love : S$ 'Tis fortune is my enemy, not you. But, madam, I shall spare you farther pain On this uneasy theme, and take my leave. [Exit Orestes. Her. Cleone, couldst thou think he'd be so calm? To keep him far from perils of ambition: Her. Madam, 'tis easy to conceive your grief: Cleo. Madam, his silent grief sits heavy on Madam, if Pyrrhus must be wrought to pity, him. He's to be pitied. His too eager love Her. Dost thou think Pyrrhus capable of fear! Whom should the intrepid Pyrrhus fear? the Greeks? Did he not lead their harrassed troops to conquest, When they despaired, when they retired from And sought for shelter in their burning fleets? I fear to-morrow will prove fatal to him. Her. Wilt thou discourse of nothing but Ores- Pyrrhus is mine again!-Is mine for ever! -Oh, I could tell thee numberless exploits, She weeps, and comes to speak her sorrows to you. Her. I would indulge the gladness of my heart! Let us retire: her grief is out of season. Enter ANDROMACHE and CEPHISA. Than Hector's widow suppliant and in tears? No woman does it better than yourself; [Exeunt Her. and Cleone. Andr. Didst thou not mind with what disdain she spoke? Youth and prosperity have made her vain; Ceph. Madam, were I as you, I'd take her counsel. I'd speak my own distress: one look from you Will vanquish Pyrrhus, and confound the GreeksSee, where he comes-Lay hold on this occasion. Enter PYRRHUS and PHENIX. Pyr. Where is the princess?—Did you not inform me Hermione was here? Phan. I thought so, sir. [To Phanir. Andr. Thou seest what mighty power my eyes [To Cephisa. have on him? Pyr. What says she, Phoenix? Andr. I have no hope left! Phan. Let us be gone:-) you. -Hermione expects Ceph. For Heaven's sake, madam, break this suilen silence. Andr. My child's already promised- Andr. No, no! my tears are vain! his doom is fixed! Pyr. See, if she deigns to cast one look upon us! | Oh, Heavens !-will you not look with pity on me? Is there no hope? Is there no room for pardon? Pyr. Phoenix will answer you: my word is past. Andr. You, who would brave so many dangers for me! Pyr. I was your lover then: I now am free. Andr. Ah, sir, you understood Ceph. But, madam Andr. What can I do more? The tyrant Sees my distraction, and insults my tears. [To Ceph. -Behold how low you have reduced a queen! These eyes have seen my country laid in ashes; My kindred fall in war; my father slain; My husband dragged in his own blood; my son Condemned to bondage, and myself a slave; Yet, in the midst of these unheard-of woes, 'Twas some relief to find myself your captive; And that my son, derived from ancient kings, Since he must serve, had Pyrrhus for his master. When Prian kneeled, the great Achilles wept: I hoped I should not find his son less noble. You would o'er-rule the malice of your fortune. Andr. Alas! Cephisa, what have I obtained! Only a poor short respite for my son. Ceph. You have enough approved your faith to Hector; To be reluctant still would be a crime. Ceph. Think you, 'twill please the ghost of your dead husband, That you should sacrifice his son? Consider, Andr. But how can I forget it! How can I I see him hew his passage through my brothers; And, bathed in blood, lay all my kindred waste. Think, in this scene of horror, what I suffered! I thought the brave were still the most compas-This is the courtship I received from Pyrrhus; sionate. Oh, do not, sir, divide me from my child! Pyr. Phoenix, withdraw a while. [Exit Phænix. Must I turn suppliant for him? Think, oh think, And this the husband thou wouldst give me! No, We both will perish first! I'll ne'er consent. Ceph. Since you resolve Astyanax shall die, Haste to the temple, bid your son farewell. Why do you tremble, madam? Andr. O Cephisa! Thou hast awakened all the mother in me. Ceph. Oh, the unhappy hour! 'Twas then Troy fell, and all her gods forsook her. Andr. That morn, Cephisa, that ill-fated morn My husband bid thee bring Astyanax; He took him in his arms; and, as I wept, My wife, my dear Andromache, said he, (Heaving with stifled sighs to see me weep) What fortune may attend my arms, the gods Alone can tell. To thee I give the boy; Preserve him as the token of our loves; If I should fall, let him not miss his sire While thou survivest; but, by thy tender care, Let the son see that thou didst love his father. Ceph. And will you throw away a life so precious? At once extirpate all the Trojan line? Andr. Inhuman king! What has he done to suffer? |