His head unarmed, as if in scorn of danger, The battle joined, and through the barbarous host, Fight, fight, and paradise! was all the cry. At last our leaders met; and gallant PhocyasBut what are words to tell the mighty wonders We saw him then perform?-Their chief unhorsed, The Saracens soon broke their ranks and fled; And had not a thick evening fog arose, (Which sure the devil raised up to save his friends) The slaughter had been double hold! The hero comes, -But, be Enter PHOCYAS, EUMENES meeting him. Eum. Joy to brave Phocyas! Eumenes gives him back the joy he sent. The welcome news has reached this place before thee. How shall thy country pay the debt she owes thee? Pho. By taking this as earnest of a debt Which I owe her, and fain would better pay. Her. In spite of envy I must praise him too. [Aside. Phocyas, thou hast done bravely, and 'tis fit within our walls? To rust at home, and sicken with inaction? Again the beaten foe may force our gates; This Herbis is a foul old envious knave. And thou shalt see I'll yet be governor. Pho. [Looking on it.] 'Tis to Eumenes. O Phocyas, Herbis, Artamon! my friends! Well dost thou bid the voice of triumph sound Through all our streets; our city calls thee father; And say, Eumenes, dost thou not perceive sent, And should be freely shared. Pho. True-Generous minds Redoubled feel the pleasures they impart. For me, if I've deserved by arms or counsels, By hazards gladly sought, and greatly prospered, Whate'er I've added to the public stock, With joy I see it in Eumenes' hands, And wish but to receive my share from thee. Eum. I cannot, if I would, withhold thy share. What thou hast done is thine, the fame thy own; And virtuous actions will reward themselves. Pho. Fame-What is that, if courted for her- Less than a vision; a mere sound, an echo, labyrinths, Her cheated lovers; lost and heard by fits, A real beauty; yet with weary steps dame, May we not then expect the dower she brings Eum. Well-ask that dowry; say, can Da- | To be a very tame obedient father. mascus pay it? Her riches shall be taxed: name but the sum, Her merchants with some costly gems shall grace thee; Nor can Heraclius fail to grant thee honours, By trash, by sordid gold, to venal virtue? As for the emperor, if he owns my conduct, Eum. Eudocia! Phocyus, I am yet thy friend, And therefore will not hold thee long in doubt. Thou must not think of her. Pho. Not think of her? Eum. Forbear-What need a herald Pho. Yet hear me; Why wilt thou judge, ere I can plead my cause? Eum. Why wilt thou plead in vain ? hast thou not heard My choice has destined her to Eutyches? Pho. And has she consented to that choice? Eum. Has she consented! What is her consent? Is she not mine? Pho. She is—and in that title Even kings with envy may behold thy wealth, And think their kingdoms poor! and yet, Eu menes, Shall she, by being thine, be barred a privilege Which even the meanest of her sex may claim? Thou wilt not force her? Eum. Who has told thee so? I would force her to be happy. Pho. Thou canst not. What happiness subsists in loss of freedom? The guest, constrained, but murmurs at the banquet; Nor thanks his host, but starves amidst abundance. Eum. 'Tis well, young man-Why then, I'll learn from thee Thou hast already taught my child her duty. Hast thou not found her a most ready scholar? Pho. I am sorry that Eumenes thinks- Sorry for what? Then thou dost own thou'st wronged me! That's somewhat yet-Curse on my stupid blindness! For had I eyes I might have seen it sooner. Pho. It was with pride I own it-'twas Eudocia, I have served thee in serving her, thou knowest it, And thought I might have found a better treat Impossible! Oh, rather let me walk Like a dumb ghost, and burst my heart in silence. [Exit. SCENE II.-The Garden. Enter EUDOCIA. Eud. Why must we meet by stealth, like guilty lovers! But 'twill not long be so-What joy it will be This gentle season is a friend to love; And now, methinks, I could with equal passion, Meet thine, and tell thee all my secret soul. Enter PHOCYAS. He hears me-O my Phocyas!-What-not answer! Art thou not he; or art some shadow?- Pho. I am indeed a shadow-I am nothingEud. What dost thou mean?-for now I know thee, Phocyas. Pho. And never can be thine! It will have vent―O barbarous, cursed-but hold I had forgot it was Eudocia's father! O generous maid! Pho. Dost thou fear !--Alas, Then thou wilt pity meThou hast charmed down the rage that swelled my heart, And choaked my voice-now I can speak to thee. And yet 'tis worse than death what I have suffered; It is the death of honour! Yet that's little ; 'Tis more, Eudocia, 'tis the loss of thee! Eud. Hast thou not conquered? What are all these shouts, This voice of general joy, heard far around? What are these fires, that cast their glimmering light Against the sky? Are not all these thy triumphs? Pho. O name not triumph! Talk no more of conquest! It is indeed a night of general joy, Pho. Yes; How wilt thou hereafter But I have done and now thou hast my story, too. For is it not for me that thou hast borne this? What else could be thy crime?-Wert thou a traitor, Had'st thou betrayed us, sold us to the foe-——— host. Pho. To my grave; Where can I bury else this foul disgrace? Thou hast been used thus? Art thou quite undone? Alone am grateful to this wondrous man! And show, without a blush, how much I love. Pho. Then I am rich again! [Embracing her. Eud. Why wilt thou name him? Pho. Now, even now, he's coming! Just hovering o'er thee, like a bird of prey. Thy father vows-for I must tell thee all'Twas this that wrung my heart, and racked my brain, Even to distraction!-vows thee to his bed; Nay, threatened force, if thou refuse obedience. Eud. Force! threatened force! my father where is nature? Is that, too, banished from his heart!-O then No home, but am henceforth an out-cast orphan; O save me, Phocyas! thou hast saved my father; Pho. See, how we're joined in exile! How our fate Conspires to warn us both to leave this city! Eud. There-any where, so we may fly this See, Phocyas, what thy wrongs and mine have wrought In a weak woman's frame! for I have courage To share thy exile now through every danger. Danger is only here, and dwells with guilt, With base ingratitude, and hard oppression. Pho. Then let us lose no time, but hence this night. The gates I can command, and will provide Eud. I know it well; the place is most secure, Pho. Fear not;-thy innocence will be our guard. I've thought already how to shape our course; Some pitying angel will attend thy steps, Guide thee unseen, and charm the sleeping foe, Till thou art safe! O, I have suffered nothing! Thus gaining thee, and this great generous proof, How blest I am in my Eudocia's love! My only joy, farewell! Eud. Farewell, my Phocyas! I have no friend but thee-yet thee I'll call Friend, father, lover, guardian !-Thou art all! [Exeunt. SCENE I-Caled's Tent. ACT. III. Abu. I have walked The rounds to-night, ere the last hour of prayer, Enter CALED and Attendants. SERGIUS brought From tent to tent, and warned them to be ready. in bound with cords. Well, then, thou shalt have mercy to requite thee; [Exit Serg. dragged away by the Guards. Cal. Abudah, welcome! Abr. O Caled, what an evening was the last! Cal. Name it no more; remembrance sickens with it, And therefore sleep is banished from this night; What must be done? Cal. Thou know'st the important news, Which we have intercepted by this slave, Of a new army's march. The time now calls, While these soft Syrians are dissolved in riot, Fooled with success, and not suspecting danger, Neglectful of their watch, or else fast bound In chains of sleep, companion of debauches, To form a new attack ere break of day; So, like the wounded leopard, shall we rush From out our covers on these drowsy hunters, And seize them, unprepared to 'scape our vengeance. Abu. Great captain of the armies of the faithful! I know thy mighty and unconquered spirit; Or the death turned on him that drew the bow! I fear, may soon-but, oh, avert it, Heaven! Fall even a prey to our own spoils and conquests. Cal. No-thou mistakest; thy pious zeal de ceives thee. Our prophet only chides our sluggard valour. trance, A javelin in his hand, and turned them back Upon the foe; they fought again, and conquered. Behold how we may best appease his wrath! His own example points us out the way. Abu. Well-be it then resolved. The indulgent hour Of better fortune is, I hope, at hand. And yet, since Phocyas has appeared its champion, How has this city raised its drooping head! His eyes are fixed on earth; some deep distress Is at his heart. This is no common captive. Cal. A lion in the toils! We soon shall tame him. Still art thou dumb?-Nay, 'tis in vain to cast Abu. Phocyas-Mahomet, we thank thee! Now dost thou smile again. Dar. [Aside.] O devil, devil! And I not know him!-'twas but yesterday Not while he lives. Cal. [Aside.] This is indeed a prize! Is it because thou know'st what slaughtered heaps There, yet unburied, lie without the camp, Whose ghosts have all this night, passing the Zo rat, lastCalled, from the bridge of death, to thee to follow, To single fight, and put that charm to proof, stronger. Enter DARAN. Dar. Health to the race of Ismael! and days More prosperous than the last-a christian captive Is fallen within my watch, and waits his doom. Cal. Bring forth the slave !-O thou keen vulture, Death! Do we then feed thee only thus by morsels! DARAN goes out, and re-enters with PHOCYAS. Whence, and what art thou?--Of Damascus ?Daran, Where didst thou find this dumb and sullen thing, That seems to lour defiance on our anger? Dar. Marching in circuit, with the horse thou gavest me, To observe the city gates, I saw from far The other was a woman, and had fled, And got within the gates. Wouldst thou know more, Himself, if he will speak, can best inform thee. My countrymen.-Yet, were you men, I could Presages good aceruing to our cause Cal. I tell thee, then, thou wrong'st us, And mute attention shall await thy words. |