Death’s rage, I to this temple will return
And force thee hence, or with the vital drops
That warm my heart the sacred pavement stain.
[Exit with Sosthenes.
SCENE VII.
olympia.
[Alone.
Ah, wretch! ’tis he that causes my alarms!
Wherefore, Cassander, should I weep for you?
Is it so hard our duty to perform?
The blood from whence I sprung shall o’er my mind
Rule with despotic sway. By nature’s voice
I’ll be directed, by her power I swear
To sacrifice my sentiments to you.
Far different oaths I at this altar made,
Gods, you received them, and your clemency
Approved the passion which inspired my soul.
My state your power has changed, then change my heart,
Give me a virtue suited to my woe.
Pity a soul by ruthless passion torn,
Which must its nature or its faith forego.
Whilst yet obscure, I lived in perfect bliss,
The world forgetting in captivity;
Both to my parents and myself unknown.
Ruin to my illustrious name I owe,
At least I’ll strive to merit it. Cassander
I must forsake, must fly thee; can I hate?
How little power has woman o’er her heart!
Weeping, I tear the wound that rankles there,
And whilst my hand, with trembling, seeks the dart,
I plunge it deeper, make the wound more wide.
SCENE VIII.
olympia, the hierophants, Attendants.
olympia.
Pontiff, where go you? Oh! protect the weak:
You tremble, and your eyes with tears o’erflow.
the hierophants.
I grieve, unhappy Princess! at your lot.
olympia.
Since I am forlorn, afford me then thy aid.
the hierophants.
With resignation to their heavenly will
Expect protection from the gods alone.
olympia.
Alas! what words are these!—
the hierophants.
—O daughter dear!
The widow of great Alexander.—
olympia.
—Gods!
Has aught befallen my mother? quickly speak.
the hierophants.
All’s lost, both kings roused up to furious rage,
Trampling on law, and armed against the gods,
Within this temple’s consecrated porch,
Their troops spurred on to murder and to rage.
Blood flowed on every side, with sword in hand,
To you Cassander cut himself a path.
I marched against him, having no defence
But laws neglected and offended gods.
Your mother in despair his fury met—
She thought him master of the shrine and you.
Tired of such horrors, tired of such black deeds,
She seized the knife with which we victims slay,
And plunged it in those loins wherein you found
The source of life and of calamity.
olympia.
I die! Support me—is she yet alive?
the hierophants.
Cassander’s with her, he laments her fate,
And even presumes to offer her relief,
To second those whose virtuous hands assist her.
He raves, himself he blames, throws down his arms,
Her feet embraces, bathes them with his tears.
Hearing his cries, her dying eyes she opes,
And looks upon him as a monster fierce
Come to deprive her of life’s poor remains,
By the same hand which she had escaped before;
She makes an effort weak to raise herself,
Then falls again and gasps for her last breath:
Cassander and the light she hates alike,
Then opening with regret her half-closed eyes,
Go, says she to me, hapless minister
Of a sad shrine profaned with human gore,
Console Olympia, she her mother loves,
Tell her it is my pleasure that she wed
Antigones, he will avenge my death.
olympia.
I’ll go and near her die; now hear me gods,
Accompany my steps and close my eyes.
the hierophants.
Intrepid courage to your ills oppose.
olympia.
Perhaps I soon may show to proud mankind,
That courage may inspire the female mind.
ACT V.
SCENE I.
antigones, hermas.
hermas.
[In the porch.
Vengeance is vain, compassion now should speak,
A hapless rival is not worth your hate.
Fly from this dire abode; Olympia, sir,
Is lost both to Cassander and yourself.
antigones.
Is then Statira dead?—
hermas.
—Cassander’s fate
Has made him fatal to the conqueror’s race.
Statira sinking with a load of woe,
Expires with horror in her daughter’s arms.
Tender Olympia stretched upon the corpse,
Seems scarcely to retain the breath of life.
The priests and priestesses dissolved in tears,
Increase their griefs by mixing them