Evan. Oh! would the gods roll back the, Awhile I leave you to the care of Heaven. stream of time, And give this arm the sinew that it boasted The battle's rage, and, ere Evander die, Add still another laurel to my brow. Fell Dionysius, tremble! ere the dawn Euph. Enough of laurelled victory your sword Through the wide city's round shall wade in gore, Hath reaped in earlier days. Evan. And shall my sword, When the great cause of liberty invites, Will shew that victory has not forgot duct thee. Melan. And when the assault begins, my faithful cohorts Shall form their ranks around this sacred dome. Pho. And my poor captive friends, my brave companions Taken in battle, wilt thou guard their lives? Melan. Trust to my care: no danger shall assail them. Pho. By Heaven, the glorious expectation swells This panting bosom! Yes, Euphrasia, yes; And guilty men awake to gasp their last. Evan. Yet, ere thou goest, young man, So thinks Evander, and so tell Timoleon. [Exit with Melanthon and Philotas. For the best gift his bounty could bestow, Their preparations for approaching night, Cal. From the watch-tower I saw them: all A foe secure, and discipline relaxed. War, and its train of duties, all forgot. My orders issued? Cal. All. Dion. The troops retired, To gain recruited vigour from repose? Cal. The city round lies hushed in sleep. Let each brave officer, of chosen valour, Haste, Calippus, [Exit Calippus. Euphrasia, too, Evander dies this night: That from my power withdrew their infant re-In him the seeds of future kings were crushed, And the whole hated line at once extinguished. Enter EUPHRASIA. View with compassion! To the bad extend Dion. Once more approach and bear me; 'tis Have made their souls a seat of desolation, not now A time to waste in the vain war of words. A crisis big with horror is at hand. I meant to spare the stream of blood, that soon Euph. The truce you have granted, Dion. And must I sue For terms of peace? To an invader sue? Euph. If yet there's wanting A crane to fill the measure of thy guilt, Dion. Woman, beware: Philotas is at hand, Euph. Ha! What new event? And is Philotas false? Has he betrayed him? [Aside. Dion. Evander's doom is sealed-What, ho! Philotas; Now shalt thou see him die in pangs before thee. Of woe, despair, and horror! Turn to them You need dispense: their virtue will support them. Dion. Now, then, thou feelest my vengeance. Euph. Glory in it; Exult and triumph. The worst shaft is sped. Yet still the unconquered mind with scorn can view thee; With the calm sunshine of the breast can see tect. Dion. Philotas, bear her hence; she shall not live. This moment bear her hence; you know the rest. Go, see our will obeyed; that done, with all lead To freedom, victory, to glorious havoc, man! These tears attest the emotions of my heart. But oh! should Greece defer Phil. Dispel thy fears; Phocion will bring relief; or should the tyrant Assault their camp, he'll meet a marshalled foe. Let me conduct thee to the silent tomb. Euph. Ah! there Evander, paked and disarmed, Defenceless quite, may meet some ruffian stroke. Phil. Lo! here's a weapon: bear this dagger to him. In the drear monument should hostile steps Dare to approach him, they must enter singly; This guards the passage; man by man they die. There may'st thou dwell amidst the wild commotion. Euph. Ye pitying gods, protect my father there! [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The Citadel. CALIPPUS and several Officers. 1st. Offi. What new event thus summons us together? Cal. Tis great occasion calls; Timoleon's ar dour Comes rushing on; his works rise high in air, Advance each day, and tower above our walls. One brave exploit may free us-Lo! the king. Enter MELANTHON. Enter DIONYSIUS. Dion. Ye brave associates, who so oft have Our toil and danger in the field of glory, Your wives, your children, your invaded rights, From the invader's power, their native land. Cal. Lead to the onset; Greece shall find we Hearts prodigal of blood, when honour calls, Dion. Thus I've resolved: when the decli ning moon Hath veiled her orb, our silent march begins. Till brave Amyntor stretch along the vale. Clad in their mailed cuirass, will circle round Enter an Officer. Ha! speak; unfold thy purpose. To arms, my liege; the foe breaks in upon us; Dion. Treason's at work; detested, treacher-The ous villains! Is this their promised truce? Away, my friends, [Exeunt.-Warlike music. victor's shouts, the groans of murderde wretches, In wild confusion rise. Once more descend Eudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter. Euph. Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit, Perhaps, for the last time, a mother's urn. And brave them to the last. Cal. Our weary foes Desist from the pursuit. Dion. Though all betray me, Though every god conspire, I will not yield. Cal. [Holding Dionysius's arm.] My liege, forbear; Her life preserved may plead your cause with Greece, And mitigate your fate. Dion. Presumptuous slave! My rage is up in arms; by Heaven she dies! Enter EVANDER from the tomb. Prostrate and grovelling on the earth before thee; May the fiends seize Philotas! Treacherous slave! Open a passage; first on me, on me The purple tide will gash to glad thy sight. They shall not live. Ha! the fierce tide of war [A flourish of trumpets. This way comes rushing on. [Goes to the stop of the stage. Euph. [Embracing Evander.] Oh! thus, my father, We'll perish thus together. Dion. Bar the gates; Close every passage, and repel their force. Evan. And must I see thee bleed? Oh! for a sword! Bring, bring me daggers! Dion. [Advancing ] Guards, seize the slave, And give him to my rage. Evan. [Seized by the guards.] Oh! spare her, spare her! Inhuman villains! Euph. Now, one glorious effort! Dion. Let me dispatch; thou traitor, thus my arm Euph. A daughter's arm, fell monster, strikes the blow. [Stabs him. Yes, first she strikes; an injured daughter's arm Sends thee devoted to the infernal gods. [He falls. Dion. Detested fiend! Thus by a woman's hand! Euph. Yes, tyrant, yes; in a dear father's Convulse the land; to its foundation shake The groaning isle! May civil discord bear Evan. Horror! forbear! Thou murderer, hold Her flaming brand through all the realms of thy hand! The gods behold thee, horrible assassin ! Restrain the blow; it were a stab to Heaven; All nature shudders at it! Will no friend Arm, in a cause like this, a father's hand? Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! Evander Greece; Kneel to your rightful king: the blow for free- I To calm the uproar, and recall from carnage His conquering troops. dom Gives you the rights of men! And oh! my father, My ever honoured sire, it gives thee life. A flourish of Trumpets. Enter PHOCION, Euph. Oh! once again, my father, Thee, good Melanthon, thee, thou generous man, Pho. Now, let the monster yield. My best Euph. My lord! my Phocion! welcome to Lo! there the wonders of Euphrasia's arm! Pho. And is the proud one fallen! The dawn shall see him A spectacle for public view. Euphrasia! Evan. To her direct thy looks; there fix thy And gaze with wonder there. The Oh, she has used it for the noblest ends! Pho. It has. Evan. Where is Timoleon? Pho. He guards the citadel; there gives his orders His brightest honours, shall be lavished on thee. Evander, too, will place thee near his throne; And shew mankind, even on this shore of being, That virtue still shall meet its sure reward. Phil. I am rewarded: feelings such as mine Are worth all dignities; my heart repays me. Evan. Come, let us seek Timoleon; to his care I will commend ye both: for now, alas! That men may hear her unexampled virtue, VOL. I. 5 P |