Thro' all Damascus, that who will depart, Must leave the place this instant--Pass, move on. SCENE II. [Exit. The outside of a Nunnery. Enter EUDOCIA. Eud. Darkness is fled; and yet the morning light Gives me more fears than did night's deadly gloom. Within, without, all, all are foes- -Oh, Phocyas, Thou art perhaps at rest! would I were too! [After a Pause. This place has holy charms; rapine and murder Dare not approach it, but are aw'd to distance. I've heard that even these infidels have spar'd Walls sacred to devotion-World, farewell! Here will I hide me, till the friendly grave Opens its arms, and shelters me for ever! Enter PHOCYAS. [Exit. Pho. Did not I hear the murmurs of a voice This way? -a woman's too!-and seem'd complaining? Hark-No-O torture! Whither shall I turn me ? 'Twas here last night we met. Dear, dear Eudocia ! Might I once more―― [Going out, he meets her. Eud. Who calls the lost. Eudocia ; Sure 'tis a friendly voice! Pho. "Tis she rapture! Eud. Is't possible-my Phocyas! Pho. My Eudocia ! Do I yet call thee mine? Eud. Do I yet see thee? Yet hear thee speak? O how hast thou escap'd From barbarous swords, and men that know not mercy? Pho. I've borne a thousand deaths since our last parting. But wherefore do I talk of death ?-for now, And feel I'm blest beyond the power of change; Eud. Amazement! Friends! O'all ye guardian powers !-Say on -O lead me, Lead me thro' this dark maze of Providence, Pho. Inquire no more-thou shalt know all hereafter Let me conduct thee hence Eud. O whither next? To what far distant home?-But 'tis enough, Say, wilt thou then beguile the passing hours, Pho. Thou heavenly maid! Know, I've once more, wrong'd as I am, even sav'd I fear thou wilt: indeed I have done that, Eud. What dost thou mean? -but for a cause I'll not indulge a thought that thou couldst do And that firm zeal against these foes of Heaven: Thou couldst not save thy life, by means inglorious. Pho. Alas, thou know'st me not-I'm man, frail man, To error born; and who, that's man, is perfect. For thee! had it been lost, 'twere not too much, If I had risk'd my soul to save Eudocia ! Eud. Ha! speak-Oh no, be dumb-it cannot And yet thy looks are chang'd, thy lips grow pale. Eud. O Phocyas! was it well to try me thus ? For while thou fought'st, and fought'st the christian cause, These batter'd walls were rocks impregnable, Pho. No more-I'll tell thee all; I found the wakeful foe in midnight council, Keen for revenge, and hungry after slaughter- F Nay, think of thee expos'd a helpless prey Distrustful of the righteous powers above, That still protect the chaste and innocent: Which threaten'd to have fill'd the streets with blood, Eud. Safe! free! O no-life, freedom, every Turns to a curse, if sought by wicked means! But, alas! "Tis thou hast blasted all my joys for ever, And cut down hope, like a poor, short-lived flower, Never to grow again! Pho. Cruel Eudocia ! If in my heart's dear anguish I've been forc'd Eud. The cause! there is no cause Not universal nature could afford A cause for this. What were dominion, pomp, Firm and unmov'd in the great cause of virtue ? Pho. No more- -thou waken'st in my tortur'd heart The cruel, conscious, worm, that stings to madness! Oh, I'm undone! I know it, and can bear To be undone for thee, but not to lose thee. Eud. Poor wretch !-I pity thee !—but art thou Phocyas, The man I lov'd? -I could have dy'd with thee Will I be made the curst reward of treason, Pho. What league ?-'tis ended-I renounce it- thus [Kneels. I bend to Heaven and thee- -O thou divine, Thy loss in me is worth one drooping tear: Return, return and speak it; say, for ever! [Exit. This day, that may in part redeem what's past! [Exit. |