EnterDionysiusandCalippus.Dio.Ere the day clos'd, while yet the busy eyeMight view their camp, their stations, and their guards,Their preparations for approaching night;—Didst thou then mark the motions of the Greek?Cal.From the watch-tower I saw them: all things spokeA foe secure, and discipline relax'd.Dio.Their folly gives them to my sword. Are allMy orders issued?Cal.All.Dio.The troops retir'dTo gain recruited vigour from repose?Cal.The city round lies hush'd in sleep.Dio.AnonLet each brave officer, of chosen valour,Forsake his couch, and with delib'rate spirit,Meet at the citadel. An hour, at furthest,Before the dawn; 'tis fix'd to storm their camp;Haste, Calippus,Fly to thy post, and bid Euphrasia enter.[ExitCalippus.Evander dies this night:—Euphrasia tooShall be dispos'd of. Curse on Phocion's fraud,That from my pow'r withdrew their infant boy.In him the seed of future kings were crush'd,And the whole hated line at once extinguish'd.EnterEuphrasia.Once more approach and hear me; 'tis not nowA 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 soonShall deluge yonder plains. My fair proposalsThy haughty spirit has with scorn rejected.And now, by Heav'n, here, in thy very sight,Evander breathes his last.Eup.If yet there's wantingA crime to fill the measure of thy guilt,Add that black murder to the dreadful list;—With that complete the horrors of thy reign.Dio.Woman, beware: Philotas is at hand,And to our presence leads Evander. AllThy dark complottings, and thy treach'rous arts,Have prov'd abortive.Eup.Ha!—What new event?And is Philotas false?—Has he betray'd him?[Aside.Dio.What, ho! Philotas!EnterPhilotas.Eup.How my heart sinks within me!Dio.Where's your pris'ner?Phil.Evander is no more.Dio.Ha!—Death has robb'd meOf half my great revenge.Phil.Worn out with anguish,I saw life ebb apace. With studied artWe gave each cordial drop, alas, in vain;He heav'd a sigh, invok'd his daughter's name,Smil'd, and expir'd.Dio.Bring me his hoary head!Phil.You'll pardon, sir, my over-hasty zeal.I gave the body to the foaming surge,Down the steep rock despis'd.Dio.Now rave and shriek,And rend your scatter'd hair. No more EvanderShall sway Sicilia's sceptre.Now then, thou feel'st my vengeance.Eup.Glory in it;Exult and triumph. Thy worst shaft is sped.Yet still th'unconquer'd mind with scorn can view thee;With the calm sunshine of the breast can see,Thy pow'r unequal to subdue the soul,Which virtue form'd, and which the gods protect.Dio.Philotas, bear her hence; she shall not live;This moment, bear her hence!—you know the rest:—Go, see our will obey'd; that done, with allA warrior's speed, attend me at the citadel;—There meet the heroes, whom this night shall leadTo freedom, victory,—to glorious havoc,And the destruction of the Grecian name.[Exit.Eup.Accept my thanks, Philotas;—generous man!These tears attest th'emotions of my heart.But, oh! should Greece defer——Phil.Dispel thy fears;Phocion will bring relief; or should the tyrantAssault their camp, he'll meet a marshall'd foe.Let me conduct thee to the silent tomb.Eup.Ah! there Evander, naked and disarm'd,Defenceless quite, may meet some ruffian stroke.Phil.Lo here's a weapon; bear this dagger to him.In the drear monument, should hostile stepsDare 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.Eup.Ye pitying gods, protect my father there![Exeunt.
EnterDionysiusandCalippus.
Dio.Ere the day clos'd, while yet the busy eyeMight view their camp, their stations, and their guards,Their preparations for approaching night;—Didst thou then mark the motions of the Greek?
Cal.From the watch-tower I saw them: all things spokeA foe secure, and discipline relax'd.
Dio.Their folly gives them to my sword. Are allMy orders issued?
Cal.All.
Dio.The troops retir'dTo gain recruited vigour from repose?
Cal.The city round lies hush'd in sleep.
Dio.AnonLet each brave officer, of chosen valour,Forsake his couch, and with delib'rate spirit,Meet at the citadel. An hour, at furthest,Before the dawn; 'tis fix'd to storm their camp;Haste, Calippus,Fly to thy post, and bid Euphrasia enter.[ExitCalippus.
Evander dies this night:—Euphrasia tooShall be dispos'd of. Curse on Phocion's fraud,That from my pow'r withdrew their infant boy.In him the seed of future kings were crush'd,And the whole hated line at once extinguish'd.
EnterEuphrasia.
Once more approach and hear me; 'tis not nowA 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 soonShall deluge yonder plains. My fair proposalsThy haughty spirit has with scorn rejected.And now, by Heav'n, here, in thy very sight,Evander breathes his last.
Eup.If yet there's wantingA crime to fill the measure of thy guilt,Add that black murder to the dreadful list;—With that complete the horrors of thy reign.
Dio.Woman, beware: Philotas is at hand,And to our presence leads Evander. AllThy dark complottings, and thy treach'rous arts,Have prov'd abortive.
Eup.Ha!—What new event?And is Philotas false?—Has he betray'd him?[Aside.
Dio.What, ho! Philotas!
EnterPhilotas.
Eup.How my heart sinks within me!
Dio.Where's your pris'ner?
Phil.Evander is no more.
Dio.Ha!—Death has robb'd meOf half my great revenge.
Phil.Worn out with anguish,I saw life ebb apace. With studied artWe gave each cordial drop, alas, in vain;He heav'd a sigh, invok'd his daughter's name,Smil'd, and expir'd.
Dio.Bring me his hoary head!
Phil.You'll pardon, sir, my over-hasty zeal.I gave the body to the foaming surge,Down the steep rock despis'd.
Dio.Now rave and shriek,And rend your scatter'd hair. No more EvanderShall sway Sicilia's sceptre.Now then, thou feel'st my vengeance.
Eup.Glory in it;Exult and triumph. Thy worst shaft is sped.Yet still th'unconquer'd mind with scorn can view thee;With the calm sunshine of the breast can see,Thy pow'r unequal to subdue the soul,Which virtue form'd, and which the gods protect.
Dio.Philotas, bear her hence; she shall not live;This moment, bear her hence!—you know the rest:—Go, see our will obey'd; that done, with allA warrior's speed, attend me at the citadel;—There meet the heroes, whom this night shall leadTo freedom, victory,—to glorious havoc,And the destruction of the Grecian name.[Exit.
Eup.Accept my thanks, Philotas;—generous man!These tears attest th'emotions of my heart.But, oh! should Greece defer——
Phil.Dispel thy fears;Phocion will bring relief; or should the tyrantAssault their camp, he'll meet a marshall'd foe.Let me conduct thee to the silent tomb.
Eup.Ah! there Evander, naked and disarm'd,Defenceless quite, may meet some ruffian stroke.
Phil.Lo here's a weapon; bear this dagger to him.In the drear monument, should hostile stepsDare 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.
Eup.Ye pitying gods, protect my father there![Exeunt.
The Citadel.EnterCalippus, and severalOfficers:Dionysiusmeeting them.Dio.Ye brave associates, who so oft have shar'dOur toil and danger in the field of glory,My fellow warriors, what no god could promise,Fortune hath giv'n us. In his dark embraceLo! sleep envelops the whole Grecian camp.Against a foe, the outcasts of their country,Freebooters, roving in pursuit of prey,Success by war or covert stratagemAlike is glorious. Then, my gallant friends,What need of words? The gen'rous call of freedom,Your wives, your children, your invaded rights,All that can steel the patriot breast with valour,Expands and rouses in the swelling heart.Follow th'impulsive ardour; follow me,Your king, your leader: in the friendly gloomOf night, assault their camp; your country's love,And fame eternal, shall attend the menWho march'd through blood and horror, to redeem,From the invader's pow'r, their native land.Cal.Lead to the onset; Greece shall find we bearHearts prodigal of blood, when honour calls,Resolv'd to conquer or to die in freedom.Dio.Thus I've resolv'd: When the declining moonHath veil'd her orb, our silent march begins.The order thus:—Calippus thou lead forthIberia's sons with the Numidian bands,And line the shore.—Perdiccas, be it thineTo march thy cohorts to the mountain's foot,Where the wood skirts the valley; there make haltTill brave Amyntor stretch along the vale.Ourself with the embodied cavalryClad in their mail'd cuirass, will circle roundTo where their camp extends its furthest line;Unnumber'd torches there shall blaze at once,The signal of the charge; then, oh, my friends!On every side let the wild uproar loose,Bid massacre and carnage stalk around,Unsparing, unrelenting; drench your swordsIn hostile blood, and riot in destruction.Away, my friends!Rouse all the war! fly to your sev'ral posts,And instant bring all Syracuse in arms![Exeunt.—Warlike music.
The Citadel.
EnterCalippus, and severalOfficers:Dionysiusmeeting them.
Dio.Ye brave associates, who so oft have shar'dOur toil and danger in the field of glory,My fellow warriors, what no god could promise,Fortune hath giv'n us. In his dark embraceLo! sleep envelops the whole Grecian camp.Against a foe, the outcasts of their country,Freebooters, roving in pursuit of prey,Success by war or covert stratagemAlike is glorious. Then, my gallant friends,What need of words? The gen'rous call of freedom,Your wives, your children, your invaded rights,All that can steel the patriot breast with valour,Expands and rouses in the swelling heart.Follow th'impulsive ardour; follow me,Your king, your leader: in the friendly gloomOf night, assault their camp; your country's love,And fame eternal, shall attend the menWho march'd through blood and horror, to redeem,From the invader's pow'r, their native land.
Cal.Lead to the onset; Greece shall find we bearHearts prodigal of blood, when honour calls,Resolv'd to conquer or to die in freedom.
Dio.Thus I've resolv'd: When the declining moonHath veil'd her orb, our silent march begins.The order thus:—Calippus thou lead forthIberia's sons with the Numidian bands,And line the shore.—Perdiccas, be it thineTo march thy cohorts to the mountain's foot,Where the wood skirts the valley; there make haltTill brave Amyntor stretch along the vale.Ourself with the embodied cavalryClad in their mail'd cuirass, will circle roundTo where their camp extends its furthest line;Unnumber'd torches there shall blaze at once,The signal of the charge; then, oh, my friends!On every side let the wild uproar loose,Bid massacre and carnage stalk around,Unsparing, unrelenting; drench your swordsIn hostile blood, and riot in destruction.Away, my friends!Rouse all the war! fly to your sev'ral posts,And instant bring all Syracuse in arms![Exeunt.—Warlike music.
The Inside of the Temple.A Monument in the Middle.Euphrasia,Erixene, andFemale Attendants.Eup.Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins,Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altarClasp on our knees?Erix.Alas, the horrid tumultSpreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry sideThe victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches,In wild confusion rise. Once more descendEudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter.Eup.Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit,Perhaps for the last time, a mother's urn.This dagger there, this instrument of death,Should fortune prosper the fell tyrant's arms,This dagger then may free me from his pow'r,And that drear vault intomb us all in peace.[Puts up the Dagger.The dinOf arms with clearer sound advances. Hark!That sudden burst!—Again!—They rush upon us!The portal opens; lo!—see there!—behold,War, horrid war, invades the sacred fane!No altar gives a sanctuary now.[Warlike Music.EnterDionysiusandCalippus, with severalSoldiers.Dio.Here will I mock their siege; here stand at bay,And brave them to the last.Cal.Our weary foesDesist from the pursuit.Dio.Tho' all betray me,Tho' ev'ry god conspire, I will not yield.If I must fall, the temple's pond'rous roof,The mansion of the gods combin'd against me,Shall first be crush'd, and lie in ruin with me.Euphrasia here! Detested, treach'rous woman!For my revenge preserv'd!—By Heaven, 'tis well;Vengeance awaits thy guilt, and this good swordThus sends thee to atone the bleeding victimsThis night has massacred.Cal.[HoldingDionysius'sArm.] My liege, forbear;Her life preserv'd may plead your cause with Greece,And mitigate your fate.Dio.Presumptuous slave!My rage is up in arms;—by Heav'n, she dies.EnterEvander, from the Tomb.Eva.Horror! forbear!—Thou murd'rer, hold thy hand!The gods behold thee, horrible assassin!Restrain the blow; it were a stab to Heav'n;All nature shudders at it!—Will no friendArm in a cause like this a father's hand?Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! EvanderProstrate and groveling on the earth before thee!He begs to die:—exhaust the scanty dropsThat lag about his heart;—but spare my child.Dio.Evander!—--Do my eyes once more behold him?—May the fiends seize Philotas! Treach'rous slave!'Tis well thou liv'st; thy death were poor revengeFrom any hand but mine.[Offers to strike.Eup.No, tyrant no;[Rushing beforeEvander.I have provok'd your vengeance; through this bosomOpen a passage; first on me, on meExhaust your fury. Ev'ry pow'r aboveCommands thee to respect that aged head:His wither'd frame wants blood to glut thy rage:Strike here; these veins are full; here's blood enough;The purple tide will gush to glad thy sight.Dio.Amazement blasts and freezes ev'ry pow'r!Ha! the fierce tide of war[A flourish of Trumpets.This way comes rushing on.[Goes to the Top of the Stage.Eup.[EmbracingEvander.] Oh! thus, my father,We'll perish thus together.Dio.Bar the gates;Close ev'ry passage, and repel their force.Eva.And must I see thee bleed? Oh, for a sword!Bring, bring me daggers!Eup.Ha!Dio.Guards, seize the slave,And give him to my rage.Eva.[Seized by theGuards.] Oh!Inhuman villains!Eup.Now, one glorious effort!—Dio.Let me despatch; thou traitor, thus my arm—Eup.A daughter's arm, fell monster, strikes the blow.[StabsDionysius.Yes, first she strikes; an injur'd daughter's armSends thee devoted to th' infernal gods.[He falls.Dio.May curses blast thy arm! May Ætna's firesConvulse the land; to its foundation shakeThe groaning isle! May civil discord bearHer flaming brand through all the realms of Greece;And the whole race expire in pangs like mine![Dies.Eup.Behold, all Sicily behold!—The pointGlows with the tyrant's blood. Ye slaves, [To theGuards.] look there;Kneel to your rightful king: the blow for freedomGives you the rights of men! And, oh, my father,My ever honour'd sire, it gives thee life!Eva.My child—my daughter—sav'd again by thee![He embraces her.A Flourish of Trumpets. EnterPhocion,Melanthon,Philotas, &c.Phoc.Now let the monster yield.—My best Euphrasia!Eup.My lord!—my Phocion!—welcome to my heart.—Lo! there the wonders of Euphrasia's arm!Phoc.And is the proud one fall'n! The dawn shall see himA spectacle for public view. Euphrasia!Evander too!—Thus to behold you both——Eva.To her direct thy looks; there fix thy praise,And gaze with wonder there. The life I gave her,Oh, she has us'd it for the noblest ends!To fill each duty; make her father feelThe purest joy, the heart-dissolving blissTo have a grateful child.—But has the rageOf slaughter ceas'd?Phoc.It has.Eva.Where is Timoleon?Phoc.He guards the citadel; there gives his ordersTo calm the uproar, and recal from carnageHis conqu'ring troops.Eup.Oh! once again, my father,Thy sway shall bless the land. Not for himselfTimoleon conquers; to redress the wrongsOf bleeding Sicily, the hero comes.Thee, good Melanthon, thee, thou gen'rous man,His justice shall reward. Thee too, Philotas,Whose sympathizing heart could feel the touchOf soft humanity, the hero's bounty,His brightest honours, shall be lavish'd on thee.Evander, too, will place you near his throne;And show mankind, ev'n 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.Eva.Come, let us seek Timoleon; to his careI will commend ye both: for now, alas!Thrones and dominions now no more for me.To thee I give my crown: yes, thou, Euphrasia;Shalt reign in Sicily. And, oh! ye Pow'rs,In that bright eminence of care and peril,Watch over all her ways; conduct and guideThe goodness you inspir'd; that she may prove,If e'er distress like mine invade the land,A parent to her people; stretch the rayOf filial piety to times unborn,That men may hear her unexampled virtue,And learn to emulate "The Grecian Daughter."
The Inside of the Temple.
A Monument in the Middle.
Euphrasia,Erixene, andFemale Attendants.
Eup.Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins,Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altarClasp on our knees?
Erix.Alas, the horrid tumultSpreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry sideThe victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches,In wild confusion rise. Once more descendEudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter.
Eup.Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit,Perhaps for the last time, a mother's urn.This dagger there, this instrument of death,Should fortune prosper the fell tyrant's arms,This dagger then may free me from his pow'r,And that drear vault intomb us all in peace.[Puts up the Dagger.
The dinOf arms with clearer sound advances. Hark!That sudden burst!—Again!—They rush upon us!The portal opens; lo!—see there!—behold,War, horrid war, invades the sacred fane!No altar gives a sanctuary now.[Warlike Music.
EnterDionysiusandCalippus, with severalSoldiers.
Dio.Here will I mock their siege; here stand at bay,And brave them to the last.
Cal.Our weary foesDesist from the pursuit.
Dio.Tho' all betray me,Tho' ev'ry god conspire, I will not yield.If I must fall, the temple's pond'rous roof,The mansion of the gods combin'd against me,Shall first be crush'd, and lie in ruin with me.Euphrasia here! Detested, treach'rous woman!For my revenge preserv'd!—By Heaven, 'tis well;Vengeance awaits thy guilt, and this good swordThus sends thee to atone the bleeding victimsThis night has massacred.
Cal.[HoldingDionysius'sArm.] My liege, forbear;Her life preserv'd may plead your cause with Greece,And mitigate your fate.
Dio.Presumptuous slave!My rage is up in arms;—by Heav'n, she dies.
EnterEvander, from the Tomb.
Eva.Horror! forbear!—Thou murd'rer, hold thy hand!The gods behold thee, horrible assassin!Restrain the blow; it were a stab to Heav'n;All nature shudders at it!—Will no friendArm in a cause like this a father's hand?Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! EvanderProstrate and groveling on the earth before thee!He begs to die:—exhaust the scanty dropsThat lag about his heart;—but spare my child.
Dio.Evander!—--Do my eyes once more behold him?—May the fiends seize Philotas! Treach'rous slave!'Tis well thou liv'st; thy death were poor revengeFrom any hand but mine.[Offers to strike.
Eup.No, tyrant no;[Rushing beforeEvander.I have provok'd your vengeance; through this bosomOpen a passage; first on me, on meExhaust your fury. Ev'ry pow'r aboveCommands thee to respect that aged head:His wither'd frame wants blood to glut thy rage:Strike here; these veins are full; here's blood enough;The purple tide will gush to glad thy sight.
Dio.Amazement blasts and freezes ev'ry pow'r!Ha! the fierce tide of war[A flourish of Trumpets.This way comes rushing on.[Goes to the Top of the Stage.
Eup.[EmbracingEvander.] Oh! thus, my father,We'll perish thus together.
Dio.Bar the gates;Close ev'ry passage, and repel their force.
Eva.And must I see thee bleed? Oh, for a sword!Bring, bring me daggers!
Eup.Ha!
Dio.Guards, seize the slave,And give him to my rage.
Eva.[Seized by theGuards.] Oh!Inhuman villains!
Eup.Now, one glorious effort!—
Dio.Let me despatch; thou traitor, thus my arm—
Eup.A daughter's arm, fell monster, strikes the blow.[StabsDionysius.Yes, first she strikes; an injur'd daughter's armSends thee devoted to th' infernal gods.[He falls.
Dio.May curses blast thy arm! May Ætna's firesConvulse the land; to its foundation shakeThe groaning isle! May civil discord bearHer flaming brand through all the realms of Greece;And the whole race expire in pangs like mine![Dies.
Eup.Behold, all Sicily behold!—The pointGlows with the tyrant's blood. Ye slaves, [To theGuards.] look there;Kneel to your rightful king: the blow for freedomGives you the rights of men! And, oh, my father,My ever honour'd sire, it gives thee life!
Eva.My child—my daughter—sav'd again by thee![He embraces her.
A Flourish of Trumpets. EnterPhocion,Melanthon,Philotas, &c.
Phoc.Now let the monster yield.—My best Euphrasia!
Eup.My lord!—my Phocion!—welcome to my heart.—Lo! there the wonders of Euphrasia's arm!
Phoc.And is the proud one fall'n! The dawn shall see himA spectacle for public view. Euphrasia!Evander too!—Thus to behold you both——
Eva.To her direct thy looks; there fix thy praise,And gaze with wonder there. The life I gave her,Oh, she has us'd it for the noblest ends!To fill each duty; make her father feelThe purest joy, the heart-dissolving blissTo have a grateful child.—But has the rageOf slaughter ceas'd?
Phoc.It has.
Eva.Where is Timoleon?
Phoc.He guards the citadel; there gives his ordersTo calm the uproar, and recal from carnageHis conqu'ring troops.
Eup.Oh! once again, my father,Thy sway shall bless the land. Not for himselfTimoleon conquers; to redress the wrongsOf bleeding Sicily, the hero comes.Thee, good Melanthon, thee, thou gen'rous man,His justice shall reward. Thee too, Philotas,Whose sympathizing heart could feel the touchOf soft humanity, the hero's bounty,His brightest honours, shall be lavish'd on thee.Evander, too, will place you near his throne;And show mankind, ev'n 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.
Eva.Come, let us seek Timoleon; to his careI will commend ye both: for now, alas!Thrones and dominions now no more for me.To thee I give my crown: yes, thou, Euphrasia;Shalt reign in Sicily. And, oh! ye Pow'rs,In that bright eminence of care and peril,Watch over all her ways; conduct and guideThe goodness you inspir'd; that she may prove,If e'er distress like mine invade the land,A parent to her people; stretch the rayOf filial piety to times unborn,That men may hear her unexampled virtue,And learn to emulate "The Grecian Daughter."
THE END.
[Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors in the original edition have been corrected. "Dia." has been changed to "Dio." in the speech beginning "Perdiccas, ere the morn's revolving light"; "Enp." has been changed to "Eup." in the speech beginning "Give me my father; here you hold him fetter'd;"; "Couduct me forward" has been changed to "Conduct me forward"; and a missing bracket has been added before the stage direction "To theGuards.".]