Who comes to take his fentence on him, death. [Throws off his difguife. I laid him low; and heaven has done me juftice. Spare my Cylene, grant her your protection. Aft. Where will this end? How are my fchemes destroy'd! Fear chills my heart, and guilt lies heavy on me. [Afide. Phra Know you this bold afsaffin? View him well. Hyd. Ay, gaze upon me. Orba. Sure I've feen this man.' Soph. Among the crowd I mark'd this perjur'd wretch, Who charg'd me with ingratitude and treafon : With fury in his looks, and hafty trides ; He fiept before me flrait he rais'd his dagger: Aft. Where fhall I hide me ? how my fears diftract me! Who knows the torment of the guilty wretch, When accufation ftares him in the face? Then all our fpirits fink into defpair, And when we want moft ftrength, then moft it falls us. O horror ! O horror! O difgrace !-I fly from shame. Phra. What fay'st thou? speak again. I barb'rously accus'd him of my crimes; [Exit. That guilt upbraids me; and lask forgiveness. [To Soph. Phra. Whence art thou why this zealous rage. against me? Hyd. I grieve not that I perish'd by his hand; I can't forgive him. Had he ftay'd 'till then, [To Phraortes. Hyd. What you fear to own, I dare reveal: hear then a dying man, Pbra. It is impoffible. Advance, my queen, (Ex. Officers. Whence fprung this hate and malice to Sophernes? [To Hydarnes. Hyd. Afk her. Ifpeak the truth, and know no further. Look on me, tyrant, and obferve my features; Seeft thou not here the lines of brave Lyfamnes? He by thy power was led to fhametul death, His fon now dies, and never has reveng'd him. Enter Aftarbe. brought in by Officers. [Dies. Af. Bring me before the king. Phra. Phra. Perfidious woman! Look on that wretch, who there lies pale and cold; Phra. Aftarbe! hold! Aft. Forgive me! Pbra. Her foul treachery [Stabs herself. My foul detefts. But love will force a tear. [Dies. Phra. Draw near, Cylene. May heav'n bless your loves! [Gives her to Sophernes. Cyl. Shall he then live? My heart o'erflows with joy. Now life is worth accepting, worth defiring, Worth ev'ry with, and ev'ry daily prayer. Phra. By you the royal vestment shall be worn, And, next the king, all honour fhall be paid Το you who fav'd him. Soph. What I did was due ; I've only paid a debt of gratitude: [To Sophernes. What would your bounty more?you've given me all: For in these arms I ev'ry with poffefs. Phra. Life is a voyage, and we with pain and labour Muft weather many a ftorm, to reach the port. Soph. Since 'tis not given to mortals to difcern Their real good and ill; let men learn patience: Let us the toils of adverfe fate fuftain, For through that rugged road our hopes we gain. Spoken by Mrs. OLDFIELD. SHALL authors teaze the town with tragic paffion; know me ? Entranc'd with found fits each feraphic toast: Will Poets ne'er confider what they cost us? To frighten vicious youth with fcenes of bell; Yet there are wives who think heav'n worth their care; But firft they kindly fend their fpoufes there. When you my lover's laft diftrefs behold, Does not each husband's thrilling blood run cold? What's harder than captivity for life? Yet Men, ne'er warn'd, ftill court their own undoing: Who, for that circle, would but venture ruin ? THE |