A scimitar. This, and of solid gold Will soon be ours: look round your Syrian frontiers! See in how many towns our hoisted flags And last view Aiznadin, that vale of blood! Herb. Presumptuous men! What though you yet can boast successful guilt, Is conquest only your's? Or dare you hope That you shall still pour on the swelling tide, Like some proud river that has left its banks, Nor ever know repulse? Eum. Have you forgot! Not twice seven years are past since e'en your prophet, Bold as he was, and boasting aid divine, Pho. Where is the treasure of my soul!- Behold me here impatient, like the miser The shining heaps which he still fears to lose. Eud. Welcome, thou brave, thou best deserving lover! How do I doubly share the common safety, Pho. Not yet, Eudocia; 'tis decreed by Heaven Eud. False flattering hope! Vanished so soon!—alas, my faithful fears Eud. Is the truce ended? Must war, alas! renew its bloody rage, Pho. Think for whose sake danger itself has charms. Dismiss thy fears; the lucky hour comes on, And soldiers, kindled into sudden fury, Did I say if I must, I will; the cause Eud. May blessings still attend thy arms!- I've caught the flame of thy heroic ardour! Pho. The honours and rewards, which thou hast named, Are bribes too little for my vast ambition. 3 B SCENE 1.-The Governor's Palace. Enter EUMENES and HERBIS. Eum. I know thy friendly fears; that thou and I Herb. STILL I must say, 'twas wrong, 'twas Damascus, nay perhaps the empire too, wrong, Eumenes, And mark the event! Eum. What could I less? You saw 'Twas vain to oppose it, whilst his eager valour, Impatient of restraint Herb. His eager valour! His rashness, his hot youth, his valour's fever ! Wants to be breathed in some new enterprize?- Eum. You forget. 'Twas not my voice alone; you saw the people (And sure such sudden instincts are from Heaven!) Rose all at once to follow him, as if One soul inspired them, and that soul was Pho I took you for Eumenes, and I thought Herb. Nay, who's forgetful now? Eum. I could curse the giddy changeful slaves, But that the thought of this great hour's event True, if we're beaten, who shall answer that? Owed its deliverance to a boy.Why, be it, So that he now return with victory; 'Tis honour greatly won, and let him wear it. Yet I could wish I needed less his service. Were Eutyches returned Herb. [Aside.] That, that's my torture. I sent my son to the emperor's court, in hopes His merit at this time might raise his fortunes; But Phocyas-curse upon his forward virtues !— Is reaping all this field of fame alone, Or leaves him scarce the gleanings of a harvest. Eum. See, Artamon with hasty strides return ing. He comes alone O friend, thy fears were just. Art. Joy to Eumenes! Art. The sun Is set in blood, and from the western skies Art. He is, and crowned with triumph. Eum. What noise is that? Herb. The people worshipping their new divinity. Shortly they'll build him temples. Eum. Tell us, soldier, Since thou hast shared the glory of this action, Tell us how it began. Art. At first the foe Seemed much surprised; but, taking soon the alarm, Gathered some hasty troops, and marched to meet us. The captain of these bands looked wild and fierce, His head unarmed, as if in scorn of danger, The battle joined, and through the barbarous host, Fight, fight, and paradise! was all the cry. The Saracens soon broke their ranks and fled; The slaughter had been double hold! The hero comes, -But, be Enter PHOCYAS, EUMENES meeting him. The welcome news has reached this place before thee. How shall thy country pay the debt she owes thee? Pho. By taking this as earnest of a debt Which I owe her, and fain would better pay. Her. In spite of envy I must praise him too. [Aside. Phocyas, thou hast done bravely, and 'tis fit To rust at home, and sicken with inaction? This Herbis is a foul old envious knave. Pho. [Looking on it.] 'Tis to Eumenes. O Phocyas, Herbis, Artamon! my friends! Well dost thou bid the voice of triumph sound ther; And say, Eumenes, dost thou not perceive And should be freely shared. Pho. True-Generous minds Redoubled feel the pleasures they impart. For me, if I've deserved by arms or counsels, By hazards gladly sought, and greatly prospered, Whate'er I've added to the public stock, With joy I see it in Eumenes' hands, And wish but to receive my share from thee. Eum. I cannot, if I would, withhold thy share. What thou hast done is thine, the fame thy own; And virtuous actions will reward themselves. Pho. Fame-What is that, if courted for herself? Less than a vision; a mere sound, an echo, Her cheated lovers; lost and heard by fits, A real beauty; yet with weary steps dame, May we not then expect the dower she brings Eum. Well-ask that dowry; say, can Da- | To be a very tame obedient father. mascus pay it? Her riches shall be taxed: name but the sum, Her merchants with some costly gems shall grace thee; Nor can Heraclius fail to grant thee honours, By trash, by sordid gold, to venal virtue? As for the emperor, if he owns my conduct, Eum. Eudocia! Phocyus, I am yet thy friend, And therefore will not hold thee long in doubt. Thou must not think of her. Pho. Not think of her? My life, my soul! She animates my being, Eum. Forbear-What need a herald Thou hast already taught my child her duty. Hast thou not found her a most ready scholar? Pho. I am sorry that Eumenes thinks- Sorry for what? Then thou dost own thou'st wronged me! That's somewhat yet-Curse on my stupid blindness! For had I eyes I might have seen it sooner. Pho. It was with pride I own it-'twas Eudocia, I have served thee in serving her, thou knowest it, And thought I might have found a better treat Impossible! Oh, rather let me walk SCENE II.-The Garden. Eud. Why must we meet by stealth, like guilty lovers! But 'twill not long be so-What joy it will be as, come; This gentle season is a friend to love; And now, methinks, I could with equal passion, Meet thine, and tell thee all my secret soul. Enter PHOCYAS. He hears me-O my Phocyas!-What-not answer! Art thou not he; or art some shadow?- Pho. I am indeed a shadow-I am nothingEud. What dost thou mean?—for now I know thee, Phocyas. Pho. And never can be thine! It will have vent O barbarous, cursed--but hold I had forgot it was Eudocia's father! -O generous maid! Pho. Dost thou fear !—Alas, Then thou wilt pity meThou hast charmed down the rage that swelled my heart, And choaked my voice-now I can speak to thee. And yet 'tis worse than death what I have suffered; It is the death of honour! Yet that's little; 'Tis more, Eudocia, 'tis the loss of thee! Eud. Hast thou not conquered? What are all these shouts, This voice of general joy, heard far around? What are these fires, that cast their glimmering light Against the sky? Are not all these thy triumphs? Pho. O name not triumph! Talk no more of conquest! It is indeed a night of general joy, Pho. Yes; How wilt thou hereafter But I have done and now thou hast my story, Is there a creature so accurst as Phocyas? Eud. And can it be? Is this then thy reward? O Phocyas! never wouldst thou tell me yet That thou hadst wounds; now I must feel them too. For is it not for me that thou hast borne this? What else could be thy crime?-Wert thou a traitor, Had'st thou betrayed us, sold us to the foe Pho. Would I be yet a traitor, I have leave; Nay, I am dared to it with mocking scorn. My crime indeed was asking thee; that only Has cancelled all, if I had any merit! The city now is safe, my service slighted, And I discarded, like an useless thing, Nay, bid begone- -and, if I like that better, Seek out new friends, and join yon barbarous host. Alone am grateful to this wondrous man! And show, without a blush, how much I love. Pho. Then I am rich again! [Embracing her. Even to distraction !-vows thee to his bed; Nay, threatened force, if thou refuse obedience. Eud. Force! threatened force! my father where is nature? Is that, too, banished from his heart!-O then No home, but am henceforth an out-cast orphan; |