PERSONS. EMPEDOCLES. PAUSANIAS, a Physician. CALLICLES, a young Harp-player. The Scene of the Poem is on Mount Etna; at first in the forest region, afterwards on the summit of the mountain. EMPEDOCLES ON ETNA. ACT I, SCENE I. A Pass in the forest region of Etna. Morning. CALLICLES. (Alone, resting on a rock by the path.) HE mules, I think, will not be here this hour! THE They feel the cool wet turf under their feet By the stream-side, after the dusty lanes. In which they have toil'd all night from Catana, A thousand times have I been here alone But never on so fair a morn!-the sun Is shining on the brilliant mountain-crests, Is dark, and on the stream the mist still hangs; One sees one's foot-prints crush'd in the wet grass, Pausanias. And thou, then? I left thee supping with Peisianax, With thy head full of wine, and thy hair crown'd, Touching thy harp as the whim came on thee, And praised and spoil'd by master and by guests Almost as much as the new dancing girl. Why hast thou follow'd us? Callicles. The night was hot, And the feast past its prime; so we slipp'd out, Some of us, to the portico to breathe ;- I saw the mules and litter in the court, Thou, too, wast with him. Straightway I sped home; Pausanias. And now, back to the town with speed! Crouch in the wood first, till the mules have pass'd; They do but halt, they will be here anon. Thou must be viewless to Empedocles! |