But, waking, ftarts upright, in wild furprize,

To feel warm blood glide round him as he lies;
To fee his reeking hands in crimson dy'd,

And a pale corfe extended by his fide:

He views with horror, what mad dreams have done,
And finks, heart-broken, on a murder'd fon.

A C T

A C T

V.

SCENE I.

KING and ANTIGONUS, POSTHUMIUS, meeting.

W

POSTHUMIUS.

E, in behalf of our allies, O King!

Call'd on thee yesterday, to clear thy glory; Nor wonder now that Philip is unjust

To ftrangers, who has murdered his own fon.

If he refus'd not yesterday thy crown,

Though Life and Love both brib'd him to comply.

POSTHUMIUS.

Next time we meet

KING.

Is in the Capitol.-Hafte, fly my kingdom.

POSTHUMIUS.

No longer thine.

KING.

Yes, and proud Rome a province.

[Exit Pofthumius, &c. They brave, they make, they tyrannize o'er kings. The name of king the proftrate world ador'd, Ere Romulus had call'd his thieves together.— But let me paufe.-Not Quintius' hand, or feal?—Doubt and impatience, like thick smoke and fire, Cloud and torment my reason.

ANTIGONUS.

Sir, recall,

And re-examine thofe you fent to Rome:
You took their evidence in hafte and anger.
Torture, if they refuse, will tell the truth.

KING.

Go, ftop the nuptials,. till you hear from me.

[Exit King and Antigonus.

Enter ERIXENE and DELIA, meeting.

DELIA.

Madam, the prince, who fled from threaten'd death,
Attempting his efcape to foreign realms,

Was lately taken at the city gates,

So ftrongly guarded by his father's pow'rs;
And now, confin'd, expects his final doom.
ERIXENE.

Imprison'd, and to die! And let him die.
Bid Dymas' daughter weep-I half forgot

His

His perjur'd infolence.-I'll go and glut
My vengeance. O how just a traitor's death!
And blacker ftill, a traitor to my love.

[Exeunt Erixene and Delia. Scene draws, and fhews Demetrius in prison.

DEMETRIUS.

Thou fubterranean fepulchre of peace!
Thou home of horror! hideous neft of crimes!
Guilt's first fad ftage in her dark road to hell!
Ye thick-barr'd funless paffages for air,

To keep alive the wretch that longs to die!
Ye low-brow'd arches, through whose fullen gloom,
Refound the ceafeless groans of pale despair!
Ye dreadful shambles, cak'd with human blood!
Receive a guest, from far, far other scenes,
From pompous courts, from fhouting victories,
Caroufing feftivals, harmonious bow'rs,
And the foft Chains of heart-diffolving love.
Oh! how unlike to these? heart-breaking load
Of fhame eternal, ne'er to be knock'd off,
O welcome death, no, never but by thee
Nor has a foe done this.-A friend! A father!-
O that I could have dy'd without their guilt.-

[Enter Erixene. Demetrius gazing at her.

So look'd in chaos the first beam of light:
How drives the ftrong enchantment of her eye
All horror hence ! How die the thoughts of death!
ERIXENE.

I knew not my own heart. I cannot bear it.
Shame chides me back; for to infult his woes
Is too fevere; and to condole, too kind.

DEMETRIUS.

Thus I arreft you in the name of mercy,
And dare compel your ftay: Is then one look,

[Going.

One

One word, one moment, a laft moment too,
When I ftand tottering on the brink of death,
A cruel ignominious death, too much

For one that loves like me? A length of years

You may devote to my bleft rival's arms,
I afk but one fhort moment. O permit,
Permit the Dying to lay claim to thee,
To thee, thou dear equivalent for life-
Cruel, relentlefs, marble-hearted maid!
ERIXENE.

Demetrius, you perfift to do me wrong;
For, know, though I behold thee as thou art,
Doubly a traitor, to the ftate and me;

Thy forrow, thy diftrefs, have touch'd my bosom :
I own it is a fault; I pity thee.

Enter OFFICER.

OFFICER.

My Lord, your time is short, and death waits for you. ERIXENE.

Death -I forgive thee from my inmost soul.

DEMETRIUS.

Forgive me? Oh! thou need'it not to forgive;
If impofition had not ftruck thee blind.

Truth lies in ambush yet, but will start up,
And feize thy trembling foul, when mine is fled.
O I've a thousand, thoufand things to fay.
ERIXENE.

And I am come a fecret to disclose,

That might awake thee, wert thou dead already.

OFFICER.

My lord, your final moment is expir'd.

DEMETRIUS and ERIXENE.

One, one short moment more.

DEMETRIUS.