And then as sudden from th' amazing height
Sunk midst the watry vales, and shun'd the sight;
While from her shatter'd masts the rude winds bear
Sails, cords and streamers, wildly thro' the air.

The Shepherd thus, ah! faithless cruel sea,
Thus Delia smil'd, and thus she did betray.
Caught by the pleasing views, I left the shore,
And gave my peace to seas untry'd before;
But soon, too soon the pleasing prospects fled,
And swelling waves and tempests did succeed.
Witness, ye groves, and eke, ye pow'rs divine,
How oft she's sworn her faithless heart was mine.
Now, fir'd by female pride, she scorns the truth,
And gives to wealthy Ageon her youth.

He's rich in num'rous flocks, scarce knows his store,
My love is all, nor can I boast of more.

How oft I've led her thro' the shady grove, While both our souls seem'd join'd in mutual love! Ah! then the Sirens softness grac'd her tongue, While quiv'ring on the pleasing sounds I hung,

Such were the sounds which 'woke the slumb'ring shade,
Such were the sounds which rais'd her from the dead!
Such were the sounds of Amphion's charming lyre,
And such the music of the heav'nly quire!

How oft when seated by the chrystal flood,
Pleas'd would we captivate the finny brood!
There in the floating mirror would I trace
Each striking beauty of her angel face,
Her cheek embellish'd with the rosy die,
Her ruby lip, and heav'nly sparkling eye,

"Til some rude wind would o'er the surface pass,
And envious snatch the beauteous mimic face.
How great the change! - and then he starting spy'd
Her body floating on the boist❜rous tide.

And by the charmer's side the wild waves bore, Still link'd in death, Ageon to the shore.

But, oh! how fill'd with terror at the sight! His eyes were veil'd in endless shades of night. Cold was her breast, quick fleeting life had fled, And on her faded cheeks the rose lay dead. Fix'd like a figur'd stone awhile he stood, And gave the tear with anguish to the flood; Then frantic clasp'd her midst the briny lave, And dash'd with anger each intruding wave: He eager prest her lips, now pale and wet, But for his warmth a deadly coldness met; Tho' once with ruby lustre bright they shone, Their glow was lost, and all their sweetness gone. Now welcome death, the lovesick Shepherd cry'd, And fainting on her clay-cold bosom dy'd.

SONG

I

When in Celia's heavn❜ly Eye

Soft inviting Love I spy,

Tho' you say 'tis all a cheat,

I must clasp the dear deceit.

2

Why should I more knowledge gain,
When it only gives me pain?
If deceiv'd I'm still at rest,
In the sweet Delusion blest.

THE TRIALS OF VIRTUE

[From "The Prince of Parthia" 1]

ACT IV, SCENE VII.

ARSACES, BARZAPHERNES, AND GOTARZES.

BARZAPHERNES. At length we've forc'd our entrance
O my lov❜d Prince! to see thee thus, indeed,
Melts e'en me to a woman's softness; see

My eyes o'erflow Are these the ornaments
For Royal hands? rude manacles! oh shameful!
Is this thy room of state, this gloomy goal?
Without attendance, and thy bed the pavement?
But, ah! how diff'rent was our parting last!
When flush'd with vict'ry, reeking from the slaughter,
You saw Arabia's Sons scour o'er the plain
In shameful flight, before your conqu'ring sword;
Then shone you like the God of battle.

Welcome!

ARSACES.
Welcome my loyal friends! Barzaphernes!
My good old soldier, to my bosom thus!
Gotarzes, my lov'd Brother! now I'm happy.
But, say, my soldier, why these threatning arms?
Why am I thus releas'd by force? my Father,
I should have said the King, had he relented,
He'd not have us'd this method to enlarge me.
Alas! I fear, too forward in your love,
You'll brand me with the rebel's hated name.

BARZAPHERNES. I am by nature blunt the soldier's manner. Unus'd to the soft arts practis'd at courts.

[1 Arsaces, Prince of Parthia, returned from his victory over the Arabians to find himself hated by his younger brother Vardanes, who was jealous both of his triumphs in war, and of his success in winning the love of Evanthe. Before the opening of this scene, Vardanes has persuaded King Artabanus to imprison Arsaces on a false suspicion, and has then caused the murder of the king, and taken Evanthe prisoner. These proceedings Vardanes thinks to keep secret until he has killed Arsaces and usurped the kingdom; but intelligence has been carried to Barzaphernes, Arsaces's Lieutenant-General, who has hastened to the relief of the Prince.]

Nor can I move the passions, or disguise
The sorr'wing tale to mitigate the smart.
Then seek it not: I would sound the alarm,
Loud as the trumpet's clangour, in your ears;
Nor will I hail you, as our Parthia's King,
'Til you've full reveng'd your Father's murther.
ARSACES. Murther?-good heav'n!

BARZAPHERNES. The tale requires some time;
And opportunity must not be lost;

Your traitor Brother, who usurps your rights,

Must, ere his faction gathers to a head,

Have from his brows his new-born honours torn.

ARSACES. What, dost thou say, murther'd by Vardanes?

Impious parricide! - detested villain!

Give me a sword, and onward to the charge,
Stop gushing tears, for I will weep in blood,
And sorrow with the groans of dying men.

Revenge! revenge! oh! - all my soul's on fire!

GOTARZES. 'Twas not Vardanes struck the fatal blow, Though, great in pow'r usurp'd, he dares support

The actor, vengeful Lysias; to his breast

He clasps, with grateful joy, the bloody villain;
Who soon meant, with ruffian wiles, to cut
You from the earth, and also me.

ARSACES.

Just heav'ns!

But, gentle Brother, how didst thou elude

The vigilant, suspicious, tyrant's craft.

GOTARZES. Phraates, by an accident, obtain❜d] The knowledge of the deed, and warn'd by him I bent my flight toward the camp, to seek Protection and revenge; but scarce I'd left

The city when I o'ertook the General.

BARZAPHERNES. 'Ere the sun 'rose I gain'd th' intelligence: The soldiers when they heard the dreadful tale, First stood aghast, and motionless with horror.

Then suddenly, inspir'd with noble rage,

Tore up their ensigns, calling on their leaders
To march them to the city instantly.

I, with some trusty few, with speed came forward,
To raise our friends within, and gain your freedom.
Nor hazard longer, by delays, your safety.
Already faithful Phraates has gain'd

A num'rous party of the citizens;

With these we mean t'attack the Royal Palace,
Crush the bold tyrant with surprize, while sunk
In false security; and vengeance wreck,

'Ere that he thinks the impious crime be known.
ARSACES. O parent being, Ruler of yon heav'n!
Who bade creation spring to order, hear me.
What ever sins are laid upon my soul,

Now let them not prove heavy on this day,

To sink my arm, or violate my cause.

The sacred rights of Kings, my Country's wrongs,
The punishment of fierce impiety,

And a lov'd Father's death, call forth my sword. —

Now on; I feel all calm within my breast,
And ev'ry busy doubt is hush'd to rest;
Smile heav'n propitious on my virtuous cause,
Nor aid the wretch who dares disdain your laws.

END of the FOURTH ACT.

ACT V, SCENE I.

The PALACE.

The Curtain rises, slowly, to soft music, and discovers Evanthe sleeping on a Sofa; after the music ceases, Vardanes enters.

VARDANES. Now shining Empire standing at the goal, Beck'ns me forward to increase my speed;

But, yet, Arsaces lives, bane to my hopes,

Lysias I'll urge to ease me of his life,

Then give the villain up to punishment.

The shew of justice gains the changeling croud.
Besides, I ne'er will harbour in my bosom

Such serpents, ever ready with their stings