Herb. [Aside.] Heaven, I thank thee! "Twas even beyond my hopes. Eum. But where is Sergius? Mess. The letter, fasten'd to an arrow's head, Was shot into the town. Eum. I fear, he's taken O Phocyas, Herbis, Artamon! my friends! [Exeunt HERBIS and ARTAMON. Pho. And may succeeding days prove yet more happy! Well dost thou bid the voice of triumph sound Eum. The blessings, Heaven bestows, are freely And should be freely shar'd. Pho. True--Generous minds With joy I see it in Eumenes' hands, And wish but to receive my share from thee. What thou hast done is thine, the fame thy own; Pho. Fame-What is that, if courted for herself? Less than a vision ; a mere sound, an echo, That calls with mimic voice, thro' woods and la. byrinths, Her cheated lovers; lost and heard by fits, A real beauty; yet with weary steps, Thro' rugged ways, by long, laborious service, Her riches shall be tax'd, name but the sum, Nor can Heraclius fail to grant thee honours, Pho. And can Eumenes think I would be brib'd By trash, by sordid gold, to venal virtue ! What! serve my country for the same mean hire, I have ambition-yet the vast reward That swells my hopes, and equals all my wishes, Eum. Eudocia ! Phocyas, I am yet thy friend, Pho. Not think of her! Impossible. She's ever present to me, And kindles up my thoughts to worthy actions. Eum. Forbear--What need a herald, My choice has destin'd her to Eutyches ? Pho. And has she then consented to that choice? Eum. Has she consented !-What is her consent? Is she not mine? Pho. She is and, in that title, Even kings with envy may behold thy wealth, menes, Shall she, by being thine, be barr'd a privilege Eum. Who has told thee so? I'd force her to be happy. Pho. That thou canst not. What happiness subsists in loss of freedom? Eum. 'Tis well, young man-Why then, I'll learn from thee To be a very tame, obedient father. Thou hast already taught my child her duty. Pho. It was with pride I own it-'twas Eudocia. Eum. O no-say on, that thou hast sav'd Damascus ; Is it not so ? -Look o'er her battlements, See if the flying foe have left their camp! Why are our gates yet clos'd, if thou hast freed us? Tis true, thou'st fought a skirmish--What of that? Had Eutyches been present- Why wilt thou urge my temper with that trifler? Thou arrogantly wouldst usurp dominion, And that our fortunes hang upon thy sword; Pho. Spurn'd and degraded !-Proud, ungrateful man! Am I a bubble then, blown up by thee, And toss'd into the air, to make thee sport? Like a dumb ghost, and burst my heart in silence. [Exit. D SCENE II. The Garden. Enter EUDOCIA. Eud. Why must we meet by stealth, like guilty lovers? But 'twill not long be so -What joy 'twill be To own my hero in his ripen'd honours, And hear applauding crowds pronounce me blest! come; This gentle season is a friend to love; And now methinks I could with equal passion, Enter PHOCYAS. He hears me- -O my Phocyas !-What-not an swer! Art thou not he; or art some shadow-Speak. Pho. I am indeed a shadow-I am nothing Eud. What dost thou mean? For now I know thee Phocyas. Pho. And never can be thine! It will have vent-O barbarous, curst-but hold- O, could I too forget how he has us'd me ! Pho. Dost thou fear?--Alas, |