Part 4
_Neop._ Tho’ you be wise you talk like one that’s mad.
_Ul._ But you do neither think or act with Wisdom.
_Neop._ _Justice surpasses Wisdom----I am just._
_Ul._ How are you just, when what’s acquir’d by me, You now return without my Leave?--
_Neop._ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----But I, ’Tis plain, was guilty of a horrid Crime.
_Ul._ Do you not dread the _Grecian_ Army, Friend?
_Neop._ When Justice sides with me I dread it not; Nor shall I ever by thy Pow’r be sway’d.
_Ul._ I shall not with the _Trojans_ fight, but thee.
_Neop._ Happen what will---- ---- ----
_Ul._ ---- ---- ----You see my Right Hand fixt Upon the Handle of my Sword---- ----
_Neop._ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----I do; And am no less prepar’d to fight than you.
_Ul._ Well, Sir--I’ll let the Army know your Mind, And they will find a way to punish you.
_Neop._ You’re wise indeed, if always thus you act; You never will have any Cause to grieve---- Thou Son of _Pæan_, _Philoctetes_, come And leave thy lonesome craggy Habitation.
_Phil._ What Clamour’s this I hear disturbs my Cave? Why do ye call me out? For what, my Friends? Alas! some Evil sure. What brought you here? Is it to add Misfortunes to Misfortunes?
_Neop._ Confide in me, and listen to my Words.
_Phil._ So you dissembled once before when you Prov’d false, and robb’d me of my faithful Bow.
_Neop._ I don’t dissemble now; but tell me whether You here intend to stay, or sail with us.
_Phil._ Hold--not one Word--you speak them all in vain.
_Neop._ You’re so resolv’d---- ---- ----
_Phil._ ---- ----More fixt than Words can tell.
_Neop._ All my Design was to perswade you hence; But since I find that my Proposal’s vain, And much afflicts your Mind, I shall desist.
_Phil._ All that you say is vain, and you shall never Gain the Affection of my Heart; for you Basely betray’d me of my Life. And now, Thou worst of Men, worst Son of the best Father, You come with your Advice, whom most I hate. May the _Atridæ_ perish, and may you And your Companion, subtle, false _Ulysses_.
_Neop._ Curse us no more, but here receive your Bow.
_Phil._ How say you! sure I’m not deceiv’d again.
_Neop._ No. By the Pow’r of sacred _Jove_ you’re not.
_Phil._ How grateful is thy Speech, if this be true!
_Neop._ It shall be true in Fact; here stretch thy Hand, And be Possessor of thy Arms again.
_Ul._ This I forbid----I call the Gods to witness. In the _Atridæ_’s Name, and all the Army.
_Phil._ Whose Voice is this, my Son? is’t not _Ulysses_?
_Ul._ ’Tis I for certain, and I’ll take thee hence. Whether _Achilles’_ Son consents or no.
_Phil._ You shall not triumph long, if once I take This Arrow, and direct it at thy Breast.
_Neop._ O shoot him not----I beg thee lay it down.
_Phil._ Restrain me not----My dearest Son let go.
_Neop._ I will not---- ---- ----
_Phil._ ----You have hindred me from killing An Enemy---- ---- ----
_Neop._ ----’Tis neither good for you nor me.
_Phil._ Thus much I’d have thee know, the _Grecian_ Chiefs Are Cowards all; but valiant in their Tongues.
_Neop._ ’Tis true--But now you’ve got your Bow, your Anger Ceases of Course, and all Complaints of me.
_Phil._ I grant they do; and O my Son! you’ve shewn The noble Race from whence you sprung, not from The subtle _Sisyphus_; but from _Achilles_, Famous among the Living, and the Dead.
_Neop._ Thy Praises of my Father, and my self, Transport me much; but hear what I advise. _Whatever Lot by Heav’n’s assign’d to us We must with humble Patience bear, ’tis fixt, And once decreed must be unalterable._ Those who submit to voluntary Woes Deserve not our Forgiveness, or Compassion. You are grown fierce with Anger, and won’t hear The Counsel of a Friend; for tho’ he comes With true Benevolence to set thee right; You spurn his Admonitions, and you deem Him as your greatest Foe. But still I’ll speak; And call great _Jove_ to witness what I say. Then hear the Sequel--print it in thy Mind-- And be convinc’d this Wound, which frets thee so, Was Heav’n’s Decree; because you did approach The Guard of _Chrysa_, that same hidden Viper, Which watches the uncover’d Temple there. And know, thou never shalt enjoy Release From grievous Pain, while that all-seeing Sun Rises in th’ Eastern Clime, and sets again, Except you go a Voluntier to _Troy_; Where we shall have the Sons of _Æsculapius_ To work thy Cure, and _Troy_ shall be subdu’d By these thy Arrows, and by my Assistance. How I’m inform’d of this be pleas’d to hear---- We have a _Trojan_ Prophet taken Pris’ner, One _Helenus_, who says all this must be Fulfill’d, and he’s a Prophet of undoubted Credit; Nay more, he says this very Summer will The Fate of _Troy_ determine; if ’tis false He does declare his Life shall be the Forfeit. Now you’re assur’d of this, consent and come; It is a noble Prize, that you alone Of all the _Greeks_ shou’d be esteem’d the bravest; And next to have Release from all thy Pains; To gain a Conquest over _Troy_, that shall Bring you the greatest Glory Man can gain.
_Phil._ Detested Life! why am I here preserv’d! Why not transmitted to the Shades below! What shall I do? How shall I now suspect His Truth, who’s so benevolent to me? But grant I yield; How then shall I behold The Light of Heav’n? To whom shall I appeal? Ye shining Orbs above, that view all things, How will ye bear to see me go, and join The Sons of _Atreus_, who were once my Ruin? Or join with all-destroying false _Ulysses_? ’Tis not the past that frets my anxious Soul, But the sad Prospects of my Grief’s to come; For they whose Minds are pregnant still with Evils, Pour forth a num’rous Brood, they never fail. I wonder more at you for this, who ought Never to think of _Troy_, when such Disgrace Befel you there, robb’d of your Father’s Armour, Which was adjudg’d to curss’d _Laertes’_ Son, And _Ajax_ turn’d aside; methinks you shou’d Use all your Pow’r to hinder me from going; Sure after such Affronts you cannot go To join in their Designs; and force me hence; But sacred keep your Oath, and steer us home; And there at _Scyros_ pass your Life in Peace; Let all those Wretches die as they deserve. Thus will you doubly please your aged Sire, And me, and equal Thanks from both receive; Thus you’ll escape a foul Surmise, nor be Suppos’d a Fav’rer of such wicked Men.
_Neop._ All that you say is well. But still I wou’d Entreat you to obey the Gods and me; Sail with your Friend, and leave this hated Shore.
_Phil._ What! to the Land of _Troy_! to _Atreus’_ Sons! And with this bleeding Foot, which oft reminds me What barb’rous Treatment I from them receiv’d.
_Neop._ It is my best Advice; for there you’ll find A full Discharge of all the Pains you feel.
_Phil._ What’s this you say? what’s the Advice you give?
_Neop._ ’Tis what will bring Advantage to us both.
_Phil._ Don’t you disgrace the Gods in saying this?
_Neop._ No. But I rather their Commands fulfil.
_Phil._ For the _Atridæ_ do you speak, or me?
_Neop._ I am your Friend--and I shall say no more.
_Phil._ Where is your Friendship, when you thus betray And give me up unto my Enemies?
_Neop._ My Friend, be humbler in Adversity.
_Phil._ I know you well, you now contrive my Ruin.
_Neop._ Not I----But this I’ll say----You’re much mistaken.
_Phil._ I don’t mistake, that I was here expos’d By the _Atridæ_, and by all the _Greeks_.
_Neop._ Your Foes are now your Friends, and come to save you.
_Phil._ I never will consent to go to _Troy_.
_Neop._ What shall I do! since you reject my Counsel, I can with Ease desist; and say no more; But leave you to your Choice to live in Pain.
_Phil._ Then give me leave to do what suits me best, And as you pledg’d your Right-hand’s Faith to do it, Conduct me home, my Son, without delay; And think no more of _Troy_;----I’ve griev’d enough.
_Neop._ Since ’tis your Will we go----
_Phil._ ---- ---- ----O gen’rous Word!
_Neop._ Then let us move----
_Phil._ ---- ----As well as Pains allow.
_Neop._ How shall I shun the Fury of the _Greeks_?
_Phil._ Let that be not thy Care----
_Neop._ ---- ---- ----But what if they Shou’d come and work my Country’s Overthrow!
_Phil._ Then I am there----
_Neop._ ---- ----But how can you assist.
_Phil._ I have the Arrows here of _Hercules_.
_Neop._ What do you say?---- ----
_Phil._ ----I’ll drive them from thy Country.
_Neop._ If this you’ll do--march on--adore the Earth.
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SCENE V.
_Enter the Ghost of_ HERCULES.
_Her._ O Son of _Pæan_, move not hence, before You hear my Words, and you yourself shall own You do not only hear, but see me too; ’Tis for your sake I leave my Heav’nly Mansion, Here to impart _Jove_’s Will; ’tis on his Errand I come, to stop the Journey you intend; Thy Bus’ness is my Counsel to obey. Then first I shall of my own Fate inform thee; How many Labours, Toils, and Pains, I pass’d, Immortal Glory to obtain; which now You may behold in me; ’tis destin’d too That you thro’ Danger’s Path arrive at Fame. With this Prince, going to the Town of _Troy_, The first Advantage you shall find, will be A Freedom from Disease; and next, the _Greeks_ Shall well distinguish you the first in Valour, _Paris_ to slay, the Author of their Woes, With these my fatal never-failing Arrows. And _Troy_ shall sink by them; the richest Spoils Be thine, by full Consent of all the _Greeks_; These to thy Native _Oeta_ thou shalt send Unto thy Father _Pæan_. All the Spoils, Which from the _Grecian_ Army you shall take, Bear them unto my Pile, and there erect A Monument to this my faithful Bow. Son of _Achilles_, this Advice be thine---- You must not think to conquer _Troy_ without His Help; or _Philoctetes_ without your’s; But, like two Lyon’s Whelps, each other’s Aid Engage; one Moment don’t ye part asunder. To cure thy Wounds, I’ll _Æsculapius_ bring To _Troy_, which must a second time submit To these my Arrows; But remember this---- _When you the Conquest gain, return your Thanks To Heav’n for your Success; for _Jove_ regards Religious Rites above all human Acts. Religion, which attends departing Souls, Whether we live or die, is still immortal._
_Phil._ O Voice desirable to me, tho’ long Unheard! I shall not disobedient be.
_Neop._ To the same Counsel I with Joy subscribe.
_Her._ Haste then and hoist your Sails; the Winds are fair.
_Phil._ Off then I go; but let me thus express My last farewel, it is a Debt I owe. My little Cave, wherein I dwelt so long; Ye wat’ry Nymphs, which tread the verdant Meads; Ye stormy Sounds that break upon the Shore, Which often did convey your frothy Dews Upon my Head, as in my Cave I lay, And loudly of the Tempest’s Rage complain’d, ’Till the _Hermean_ Promontory rung. Ye Springs, from whose delicious Streams I drank, I leave ye all; beyond my Hopes I leave you; To thee, dear _Lemnos_, I must bid farewel, Which in the Ocean’s swelling Bosom liest; Grant us a lucky Voyage hence; and land Our Ship in Safety where the Fates decree; And where our Friends direct; where Heav’ns great King, Who conquers all, commands that we shou’d go.
Chorus. Then let us leave the _Lemnian_ Shore, And all together sail; The Nymphs who guide the Seas implore To send a prosp’rous Gale.
FINIS.
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Transcriber’s Notes
This file uses _underscores_ to indicate italic text. In the original printed text, the Argument and all verse passages were printed in italic text, with upright text used for emphasis. For the sake of readability, in those passages _underscores_ are used only for the emphasized (upright) text. New original cover art included with this ebook is granted to the public domain.
In some cases, two short lines of dialogue were printed on the same line in the printed play; each of these has been moved to its own line. The following changes and corrections have been made:
• Dedication: Supplied missing period after phrase “some Traces of the Author’s Genius.” • p. 6: Capitalized and formatted heading “Strophe” to match other occurrences. • p. 13: Added comma after “Sigeum” in note 11. • p. 21: Supplied missing period after speaker “Neop.” before phrase “Do they intend / By Force of Arms.” • p. 40: Replaced “Friendip” with “Friendship” in phrase “To shew my Friendship for thee still.” • p. 43: Supplied missing period after speaker “Neop.” before phrase “Tho’ you be wise you talk like one that’s mad.” • p. 47: Replaced “Souls” with “Soul” in phrase “’Tis not the past that frets my anxious Soul.”