The gen'rous heart does more: will dare do all That honour prompts.-How dost thou dare to murder? Respect the gods, and know no other fear. The gen'rous impulse is not given in vain. Oh! thou hast conquer'd.--Go, Euphrasia, go, Yet mark my words; if aught of nourishment Thou would'st convey, my partners of the watch Will ne'er consent. Euph. I will observe your orders: On any terms, oh! let me, let me, see him. Phil. Yon lamp will guide thee through the cavern'd way. Euph. My heart runs o'er in thanks; the pi SCENE II-The inside of the Cavern. Enter ARCAS and EUPHRASIA. Are. No; on my life, I dare not. 1 wretched pittance; one poor cordial drop Arc. Not the smallest store Of scanty nourishment must pass these walls. Oh! give me, give me, rest. It pierces here! it cleaves my very heart. Till the returning blood shall lend thee firmness. Euph. The caves, the rocks, re-echo to his groans! You must be brief, or ruin will ensue. [Exit. Evan. [Raising himself] Oh! when shall I get free?-These ling'ring pangs Despatch me, pitying gods, and save my child! I burn, I burn; alas! no place of rest: [Comes out. A little air; once more a breath of air; Alas! I faint; I die. Euph. Heart-piercing sight! Let me support you, Sir. Evan. Oh! lend your arm. Whoe'er thou art, I thank thee; that kind breeze Comes gently o'er my senses-lead me forward: And is there left one charitable hand To reach its succours to a wretch like me? Euph. Well may'st thou ask it. Oh, my breaking heart! The hand of death is on him. A little onward to the air conduct me; That voice; art thou-alas! my eyes are dim! Euph. Not your own Euphrasia? Evan. My daughter, my Euphrasia! come to close A father's eyes! Given to my last embrace! I would pour my praise; transport Bears down each feeble sense: restore him, hea ven! Evan. All, my Euphrasia, all will soon be well. Euph. I will, my father. I fear to ask it, where is virtuous Phocion? Evan. And left thee here Expos'd and helpless? Euph. He is all truth and honour: He fled to save my child. Eran. My young Evander! Your boy is safe, Euphrasia?-Oh! my heart! Euph. Inhuman wretches! Will none relieve his want? A drop of water It is too much-assist me; bear me hence; Euph. His eyes are fix'd; And those pale quiv'ring lips! He clasps my hand: What, no assistance! Monsters, will you thus Let him expire in these weak, feeble arms? Phil. O! I can hold no more at such a sight, Fen the hard heart of tyranny would melt To infant softness. Arcas, go, behold The pious fraud of charity and love; Behold that unexampled goodness; see Th' expedient sharp necessity has taught her; Thy heart will burn, will melt, will yearn to view A child like her. Are. Ha!-Say what mystery Wakes these emotions? Phil. Wonder-working virtue! The father foster'd at his daughter's breast! And learn, that, while your cruelty prepares [Exit. Phil. I thank thee, Arcas; we will act like men Who feel for others' woes-She leads him forth, And tremblingly supports his drooping age. Re-enter EUPHRASIA and EVANDER. Evan. Euphrasia, oh, my child! returning life At the last gasp preserv'd! Ha! dawning light; Glows here about my heart. Conduct me forward! I do indeed: the father sees his child. Let me behold; in faith, I see thee now; Euph. I have reliev'd him-Oh, the joy's too great; 'Tis speechless rapture! Evan. Blessings, blessings on thee! Could I abandon that white, hoary head, father; Convey him hence; I do release him to you. tern Go with your daughter, with that wondrous pat- Yes, princess, lead him forth; I'll point the path, Honour has follow'd with no ling'ring step, Euph. And will you then refuse, when thus the gods Afford a refuge to thee? Evan. Oh! my child, There is no refuge for me. Euph. Pardon, Sir: Euphrasia's care has form'd a safe retreat; Soon shall Timoleon, with resistless force, The brave Timoleon with the power of Greece; Eran Timoleon come to vindicate my rights: Oh! thou shalt reign in Sicily! my child Do you, whose youthful spirit glows with life, Reject my prayer, nor trust your fate with me? Evan. Trust thee! Euphrasia? Trust in thee, my child? Though life's a burden I could well lay down, The father finds a parent in his child. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-A Rampart near the Harbour. Enter DIONISIUS and Officers. Dion. Base deserters! Curse on their Punic faith! Did they once dare To grapple with the Greek? Ere yet the main Was ting'd with blood, they turn'd their ships averse. May storms and tempests follow in their rear, And dash their fleet upon the Libyan shore! Enter CALIPPUS. Cal. My liege, Timoleon, where the harbour opens, Has storm'd the forts, and even now his fleet Despair and terror fly. A panic spreads Let instant victims at the altar bleed; Let incense roll its fragrant clouds to heaven, The image of their gods. A heart that's torn, that's mangled with remorse: Dion. Detested thought! No, though ambition teem with countless ills, Phil. In chains they wait their doom. Phil. What, ho! Melanthon, this way lead your prisoners. Enter MELANTHON, with GREEK SOLDIERS, and PHOCION. Dion. Assassins, and not warriors! do ye come, When the wide range of battle claims your sword, Thus do you come against a single life To wage the war? did not our buckler ring With all your darts in one collected volley Shower'd on my head? did not your swords at once Point at my breast, and thirst for regal blood? Greek Offi. We sought thy life. I am by birth a Greek. An open foe in arms, I meant to slay Dion. Thus then I warn them of my great revenge. Whoe'er in battle shall become our pris'ner, Greek Offi. Then wilt thou see How vile the body to a mind that pants For genuine glory. Twice three hundred Greeks Have sworn, like us, to hunt thee through the ranks; Ours the first lot; we've fail'd; on yonder plain Appear in arms, the faithful band will meet thee. Dion. Vile slave, no more. Melanthon, drag 'em hence To die in misery. Impall'd alive, Th' event of ling'ring war? with patience count Mel. Alas! he lives imprison'd in the rock. Thou must withdraw thee hence; regain once. more Timoleon's camp; alarm his slumb'ring rage; Pho. Would'st thou have me Mel. Yet hear the voice Of sober age. Should Dionysius' spies Pho. By heaven, I will; My breath shall wake his rage; this very night, When sleep sits heavy on the slumb'ring city, Then Greece unsheaths her sword, and great re Enter EUPHRASIA, ERIXENĖ, and other Female Attendants. Euph. This way my virgins, this way bend your steps. Lo! the sad sepulchre, where, hears'd in death, Erix. Forbear, Euphrasia, to renew your sor rows. Euph. My tears have dried their source; then let me here Pay this sad visit to the honour'd clay, [Goes into the Tomb. Eriz. Look down, propitious powers! behold that virtue, And heal the pangs that desolate her soul. Enter PHILOTAS. Phil. Mourn, mourn, ye virgins; rend your scatter'd garments; Some dread calamity hangs o'er your heads. Ill omens hover over us: at the altar Re-enter EUPHRASIA from the Tomb. Euph. Virgins, I thank you-Oh! more lightly now My heart expands; the pious act is done, rites. No god there smiles propitious on his cause. His wild, disorder'd step-Do you retire. And at the temple's entrance wait thy coming. [Erit. Euph. Now then, Euphrasia, now thou may'st indulge The purest ecstacy of soul. Come forth, Thou man of wo, thou man of every virtue. Enter EVANDER from the Monument. Evan, And does the grave thus cast me up With a fond father's love to view thee? thus Ias given new life. Thou from this vital stream Euph. Sprung from Evander, if a little portion how Endure their barb'rous rage? Evan. My foes but did To this old frame, what nature's hand must do. Invites thee back to life. Eran. And does he still Urge on the siege? Euph. His active genius comes To scourge a guilty race. The Punic fleet Half lost is swallow'd by the roaring sea. The shatter'd refuse seek the Libyan shore, To bear the news of their defeat to Carthage. Evan. These are thy wonders, heaven! abroad, thy spirit Moves o'er the deep, and mighty fleets are vanish'd. Euph. Ha!-Hark!—what noise is that? It comes this way. Some busy footstep beats the hollow'd pavement. Oh! Sir, retire-Ye powers!-Philotas !-ha! If they are all debas'd, and willing slaves, No plan is fix'd, and no concerted measure. Philotas swears Evan. Forbear: the man like thee, Truth, reason, justice, honour's fine excitements, Who feels the best emotions of the heart, Acts by those laws, and wants no other sanction. Euph. Again, th' alarm approaches; sure de struction To thee, to all, will follow :-hark! a sound Comes hollow murm'ring through the vaulted aisle, It gains upon the ear. Withdraw, my father; All's lost if thou art seen. Phil. And, lo! Calippus Darts with the lightning's speed across the aisle. Evan. Thou at the senate-house convene my friends. Melanthon, Dion, and their brave associates, child farewell: Thou shalt direct me now. [Exit into the Tomb, Euph. [Coming forward.] How my distracted heart throbs wild with fear! What brings Calippus? wherefore? Save me, heav'n! Enter CALIPPUS. Cal. This sullen musing in these drear abodes Alarms suspicion: the king knows thy plottings, Thy rooted hatred to the state and him. His soy'reign will commands thee to repair This moment to his presence. Euph. Ha! what means The tyrant?—I obey. [Exit CALIPPUS.] And, oh! ye powers, Ye ministers of heaven! defend my father; ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE 1-The Citadel. By heaven, this panting bosom hop'd to meet Now speak thy purpose; what doth Greece in Her. Timoleor., Sir, whose great renown in arms Is equall'd only by the softer virtues |