The Grecian Daughter Part 2

_Dio._ Thou lovely trembler, hush thy fears to rest.

The Greek recoils; like the impetuous surge That dashes on the rock, there breaks, and foams, And backward rolls into the sea again.

All shall be well in Syracuse: a fleet Appears in view, and brings the chosen sons Of Carthage. From the hill that fronts the main, I saw their canva.s.s swelling with the wind, While on the purple wave the western sun Glanc'd the remains of day.

_Eup._ Yet till the fury Of war subside, the wild, the horrid interval In safety let me sooth to dear delight In a lov'd father's presence: from his sight, For three long days, with specious feign'd excuse Your guards debarr'd me. Oh! while yet he lives, Indulge a daughter's love; worn out with age Soon must he seal his eyes in endless night, And with his converse charm my ear no more.

_Dio._ Why thus antic.i.p.ate misfortune? Still Evander mocks the injuries of time.

Calippus, thou survey the city round; Station the centinels, that no surprise Invade the unguarded works, while drowsy night Weighs down the soldier's eye. Afflicted fair, Thy couch invites thee. When the tumult's o'er, Thou'lt see Evander with redoubled joy.

Though now unequal to the cares of empire His age sequester him, yet honours high Shall gild the ev'ning of his various day.

_Eup._ For this benignity accept my thanks.

They gush in tears, and my heart pours its tribute.

_Dio._ Perdiccas, ere the morn's revolving light Unveil the face of things, do thou despatch A well-oar'd galley to Hamilcar's fleet; At the north point of yonder promontory, Let some selected officer instruct him To moor his s.h.i.+ps, and issue on the land.

Then may Timoleon tremble: vengeance then Shall overwhelm his camp, pursue his bands, With fatal havoc, to the ocean's margin, And cast their limbs to glut the vulture's famine, In mingled heaps upon the naked sh.o.r.e.

[_Exit DIONYSIUS._

_Eup._ What do I hear? Melanthon, can it be?

If Carthage comes, if her perfidious sons List in his cause, the dawn of freedom's gone.

_Mel._ Woe, bitt'rest woe, impends; thou wouldst not think----

_Eup._ How? speak! unfold.

_Mel._ My tongue denies its office.

_Eup._ How is my father? Say, Melanthon----

_Mel._ He, I fear to shock thee with the tale of horror!

Perhaps he dies this moment.--Since Timoleon First form'd his lines round this beleagur'd city, No nutriment has touch'd Evander's lips.

In the deep caverns of the rock imprison'd He pines in bitterest want.

_Eup._ Well, my heart, Well do your vital drops forget to flow.

_Mel._ Despair, alas! is all the sad resource Our fate allows us now.

_Eup._ Yet, why despair?

Is that the tribute to a father due?

Blood is his due, Melanthon; yes, the blood, The vile, black blood, that fills the tyrant's veins, Would graceful look upon my dagger's point.

Come, vengeance, come, shake off the feeble s.e.x, Sinew my arm, and guide it to his heart.

And thou, O filial piety, that rul'st My woman's breast, turn to vindictive rage; a.s.sume the port of justice; show mankind Tyrannic guilt hath never dar'd in Syracuse, Beyond the reach of virtue.

_Mel._ Moderate your zeal, Nor let him hear these transports of the soul, These wild upbraidings.

_Eup._ Shall Euphrasia's voice Be hush'd to silence, when a father dies?

Shall not the monster hear his deeds accurst?

Shall he not tremble, when a daughter comes, Wild with her griefs, and terible with wrongs; Fierce in despair, all nature in her cause Alarm'd and rous'd with horror?

Melanthon come; my wrongs will lend me force; The weakness of my s.e.x is gone; this arm Feels tenfold strength; this arm shall do a deed For Heav'n and earth, for men and G.o.ds to wonder at!

This arm shall vindicate a father's cause.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

_A wild romantic Scene amidst overhanging Rocks; a Cavern on one side._

_ARCAS, with a Spear in his Hand._

_Arcas._ The gloom of night sits heavy on the world; And o'er the solemn scene such stillness reigns, As 'twere a pause of nature; on the beach No murmuring billow breaks; the Grecian tents Lie sunk in sleep; no gleaming fires are seen; All Syracuse is hush'd; no stir abroad, Save ever and anon the das.h.i.+ng oar, That beats the sullen wave. And hark!--Was that The groan of anguish from Evander's cell, Piercing the midnight gloom?--It is the sound Of bustling prows, that cleave the briny deep.

Perhaps at this dead hour Hamilcar's fleet Rides in the bay.

_Enter PHILOTAS, from the Cavern._

_Phil._ What, ho! brave Arcas! ho!

_Arcas._ Why thus desert thy couch?

_Phil._ Methought the sound Of distant uproar chas'd affrighted sleep.

_Arcas._ At intervals the oar's resounding stroke Comes echoing from the main. Save that report, A death-like silence through the wide expanse Broods o'er the dreary coast.

_Phil._ Do thou retire, And seek repose; the duty of thy watch Is now perform'd; I take thy post.

_Arcas._ How fares Your royal pris'ner?

_Phil._ Arcas, shall I own A secret weakness? My heart inward melts To see that suffering virtue. On the earth, The cold, damp earth, the royal victim lies; And while pale famine drinks his vital spirit, He welcomes death, and smiles himself to rest.

Oh! 'would I could relieve him!

_Arcas._ May no alarm disturb thee. [_Exit._

_Phil._ Some dread event is lab'ring into birth.

At close of day the sullen sky held forth Unerring signals. With disastrous glare, The moon's full orb rose crimson'd o'er with blood; And lo! athwart the gloom a falling star Trails a long tract of fire!--What daring step Sounds on the flinty rock? Stand there; what, ho!

Speak, ere thou dar'st advance. Unfold thy purpose: Who and what art thou?

_Eup._ [_Within._] Mine no hostile step; I bring no value to alarm thy fears: It is a friend approaches.

_Phil._ Ha! what mean Those plaintive notes?

_Eup._ [_Within._] Here is no ambush'd Greek, No warrior to surprise thee on the watch.

An humble suppliant comes--Alas, my strength Exhausted quite forsakes this weary frame.

_Phil._ What voice thus piercing thro' the gloom of night-- What art thou? what thy errand? quickly say, Wherefore alarm'st thou thus our peaceful watch?

_Eup._ [_Within._] Let no mistrust affright thee--