Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Orest. Madam, go on!

Insult me still: I'm us'd to bear your scorn.

Her. Why am I told how Pyrrhus loves or hates ? --Go, prince, and arm the Greeks against the rebel; Let them lay waste his country! raze his towns; Destroy his fleets; his palaces ;-himself!

Go, prince, and tell me then how much I love him.
Orest. To hasten his destruction, come yourself;
And work your royal father to his ruin.
Her. Mean while he weds Andromache!
Orest. Ah, princess!

What is't I hear?

Her. What infamy for Greece,

If he should wed a Phrygian, and a captive!

Orest. Is this your hatred, madam ?—’Tis in vain
To hide your passion; every thing betrays it:
Your looks, your speech, your anger: nay, your si-
lence;

Your love appears in all; your secret flame
Breaks out the more, the more you would conceal it.
Her. Your jealousy perverts my meaning still,
And wrests each circumstance to your disquiet;
My very hate is constru'd into fondness.

Orest. Impute my fears, if groundless, to my love.
Her. Then hear me, prince. Obedience to a father
First brought me hither; and the same obedience
Detains me here, till Pyrrhus drive me hence,
Or my offended father shall recall me.

Tell this proud king, that Menelaus scorns

To match his daughter with a foe of Greece;
Bid him resign Astyanax, or me.

If he persists to guard the hostile boy,
Hermione embarks with you for Sparta.

[Ex. Her. and Cleone. Orest. Then is Orestes blest! My griefs are fled! Fled like a dream!-Methinks I tread in air! "Pyrrhus, enamour'd of his captive queen, "Will thank me, if I take her rival hence : "He looks not on the princess with my eyes! "Surprising happiness!-Unlook'd-for joy!" Never let love despair!-the prize is mine! Be smooth, ye seas! and ye, propitious winds, Breathe from Epirus to the Spartan coasts! I long to view the sails unfurl'd!—But, see! Pyrrhus approaches in an happy hour.

Enter PYRRHUS, and PHOENIX.

Pyr. I was in pain to find you, prince. My warm Ungovern'd temper would not let me weigh The importance of your embassy, and hear You argue for my good. I was to blame. I since have pois'd your reasons; and I thank My good allies: their care deserves my thanks. You have convinc'd me, that the weal of Greece, My father's honour, and my own repose, Demand that Hector's race should be destroy'd. I shall deliver up Astyanax;

And you, yourself shall bear the victim hence.

Orest. If you approve it, sir, and are content
To spill the blood of a defenceless child;
The offended Greeks, no doubt, will be appeas'd.
Pyr. Closer to strain the knot of our alliance,
I have determin'd to espouse Hermione.
You come in time to grace our nuptial rites:
In you the kings of Greece will all be present;
And you have right to personate her father,
As his ambassador, and brother's son.
Go, prince, renew your visit; tell Hermione,
To-morrow I receive her from your hands.

Orestes!

Orest. [Aside.] Oh, change of fortune! Oh, undone [Exit Orestes. Pyr. Well, Phoenix, am I still a slave to love? What think'st thou know? Am I myself again? Phan. 'Tis as it should be: this discovers Pyrrhus; Shews all the hero. Now you are yourself!

The son, the rival of the great Achilles !

Greece will applaud you; and the world confess,
Pyrrhus has conquer'd Troy a second time!

Pyr. Nay, Phoenix, now I but begin to triumph; I never was a conqueror 'till now!

Believe me, a whole host, a war of foes,
May sooner be subdu’d, than love. Oh, Phoenix,
What ruin have I shunn'd! The Greeks enrag'd,
Hung o'er me, like a gathering storm, and soon
Had burst in thunder on my head; while I
Abandon'd duty, empire, honour, all,

To please a thankless woman !-One kind look
Had quite undone me!

Phan. Oh, my royal master!

The gods, in favour to you, made her cruel.

Pyr. Thou saw'st with how much scorn she treat ed me!

When I permitted her to see her son,

I hop'd it might have work'd her to my wishes.
I went to see the mournful interview,

And found her bath'd in tears, and lost in passion.

Wild with distress, a thousand times she call'd
On Hector's name: and when I spoke in comfort,
And promis'd my protection to her son,

She kiss'd the boy; and call'd again on Hector:
"Then, strain'd him in her arms; and cry'd, 'Tis he!
"'Tis he himself! his eyes, his every feature!
"His very frown, and his stern look already!
"'Tis he: 'Tis my lov'd lord whom I embrace!"
Does she then think, that I preserve the boy
To soothe, and keep alive her flame for Hector?
Phan. No doubt, she does; and thinks you favour'd

in it;

But let her go, for an ungrateful woman!

Pyr. I know the thoughts of her proud, stubborn heart:

Vain of her charms, and insolent in beauty,

She mocks my rage; and when it threatens loudest,
Expects 'twill soon be humbled into love.

But we shall change our parts; and she shall find,
I can be deaf, like her; and steel my heart.
She's Hector's widow; I Achilles' son!
Pyrrhus is born to hate Andromache.

D

Phan. My royal master, talk of her no more;

I do not like this anger. Your Hermione

Should now engross your thoughts. 'Tis time to see her;

'Tis time you should prepare the nuptial rites ; And not rely upon a rival's care:

It may be dangerous.

Pyr. But tell me, Phœnix,

Dost thou not think, the proud Andromache
Will be enrag'd, when I shall wed the princess?
Phan. Why does Andromache still haunt your
thoughts?

What is't to you, be she enrag'd or pleas'd?
Let her name perish: think of her no more!

Pyr. No, Phoenix-I have been too gentle with her,
I've check'd my wrath, and stifled my resentment:
She knows not yet to what degree I hate her.
Let us return :—————— -I'll brave her to her face:
I'll give my anger its free course against her.
Thou shalt see, Phoenix, how I'll break her pride!
Phan. Oh, go not, sir!-There's ruin in her eyes!
You do not know your strength: you'll fall before her,
Adore her beauty, and revive her scorn.

Pyr. That were indeed a most unmanly weakness! Thou dost not know me, Phoenix!

Phan. Ah, my prince !

You are still struggling in the toils of love.

Pyr. Canst thou then think I love this woman still!

One who repays my passion with disdain !

A stranger, captive, friendless and forlorn ;

« ZurückWeiter »