Chapter VI: Act THE FIFTH: Scene I

_Enter DIONYSIUS and CALIPPUS._

_Dio._ Ere the day clos'd, while yet the busy eye Might 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 spoke A foe secure, and discipline relax'd.

_Dio._ Their folly gives them to my sword. Are all My orders issued?

_Cal._ All.

_Dio._ The troops retir'd To gain recruited vigour from repose?

_Cal._ The city round lies hush'd in sleep.

_Dio._ Anon Let 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.

[_Exit CALIPPUS._

Evander dies this night:--Euphrasia too Shall 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.

_Enter EUPHRASIA._

Once more approach and hear me; 'tis not now A 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 soon Shall deluge yonder plains. My fair proposals Thy 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 wanting A 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. All Thy 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!

_Enter PHILOTAS._

_Eup._ How my heart sinks within me!

_Dio._ Where's your pris'ner?

_Phil._ Evander is no more.

_Dio._ Ha!--Death has robb'd me Of half my great revenge.

_Phil._ Worn out with anguish, I saw life ebb apace. With studied art We 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 Evander Shall 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 all A warrior's speed, attend me at the citadel;-- There meet the heroes, whom this night shall lead To 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 tyrant Assault 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 steps Dare 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._

SCENE II.

_The Citadel._

_Enter CALIPPUS, and several OFFICERS: DIONYSIUS meeting them._

_Dio._ Ye brave associates, who so oft have shar'd Our toil and danger in the field of glory, My fellow warriors, what no god could promise, Fortune hath giv'n us. In his dark embrace Lo! 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 stratagem Alike 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 gloom Of night, assault their camp; your country's love, And fame eternal, shall attend the men Who 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 bear Hearts prodigal of blood, when honour calls, Resolv'd to conquer or to die in freedom.

_Dio._ Thus I've resolv'd: When the declining moon Hath veil'd her orb, our silent march begins. The order thus:--Calippus thou lead forth Iberia's sons with the Numidian bands, And line the shore.--Perdiccas, be it thine To march thy cohorts to the mountain's foot, Where the wood skirts the valley; there make halt Till brave Amyntor stretch along the vale. Ourself with the embodied cavalry Clad in their mail'd cuirass, will circle round To 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 swords In 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._

Scene III.

_The Inside of the Temple._

_A Monument in the Middle._

_EUPHRASIA, ERIXENE, and FEMALE ATTENDANTS._

_Eup._ Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins, Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altar Clasp on our knees?

_Erix._ Alas, the horrid tumult Spreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry side The victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches, In wild confusion rise. Once more descend Eudocia'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 din Of 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._

_Enter DIONYSIUS and CALIPPUS, with several SOLDIERS._

_Dio._ Here will I mock their siege; here stand at bay, And brave them to the last.

_Cal._ Our weary foes Desist 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 sword Thus sends thee to atone the bleeding victims This night has massacred.

_Cal._ [_Holding DIONYSIUS'S Arm._] 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.

_Enter EVANDER, 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 friend Arm in a cause like this a father's hand? Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! Evander Prostrate and groveling on the earth before thee! He begs to die:--exhaust the scanty drops That 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 revenge From any hand but mine. [_Offers to strike._

_Eup._ No, tyrant no; [_Rushing before EVANDER._ I have provok'd your vengeance; through this bosom Open a passage; first on me, on me Exhaust your fury. Ev'ry pow'r above Commands 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._ [_Embracing EVANDER._] 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 the GUARDS._] 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. [_Stabs DIONYSIUS._ Yes, first she strikes; an injur'd daughter's arm Sends thee devoted to th' infernal gods. [_He falls._

_Dio._ May curses blast thy arm! May Ætna's fires Convulse the land; to its foundation shake The groaning isle! May civil discord bear Her flaming brand through all the realms of Greece; And the whole race expire in pangs like mine! [_Dies._

_Eup._ Behold, all Sicily behold!--The point Glows with the tyrant's blood. Ye slaves, [_To the GUARDS._] look there; Kneel to your rightful king: the blow for freedom Gives 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. Enter PHOCION, 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 him A 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 feel The purest joy, the heart-dissolving bliss To have a grateful child.--But has the rage Of slaughter ceas'd?

_Phoc._ It has.

_Eva._ Where is Timoleon?

_Phoc._ He guards the citadel; there gives his orders To calm the uproar, and recal from carnage His conqu'ring troops.

_Eup._ Oh! once again, my father, Thy sway shall bless the land. Not for himself Timoleon conquers; to redress the wrongs Of 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 touch Of 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 care I 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 guide The goodness you inspir'd; that she may prove, If e'er distress like mine invade the land, A parent to her people; stretch the ray Of 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 the GUARDS._".]