"Could he so soon grow artful in dissembling? "Ah! without doubt his thoughts inspir'd his tongue, "And all his soul receiv'd a real love.

"Perhaps new graces darted from her eyes,

66 Perhaps soft pity charm'd his yielding soul,

"Perhaps her love, perhaps her kingdom charm'd him;

..

Perhaps alas! how many things might charm him! "Lady. Wait the success: it is not yet decided. "Ism. Not yet decided! did not Lycon tell us "How he protested, sigh'd, and look'd, and vow’d? "How the soft passion languish'd in his eyes ?" Ay, no, he loves, he doats on Phædra's charms. Now, now he clasps her to his panting breast, "Now he devours her with his eager eyes," Now grasps her hands, and now he looks, and vows The dear false things that charm'd the poor Ismena. He comes; be still, my heart; the tyrant comes, Charming, though false, and lovely in his guilt.

HIPPOLITUS enters.

Hip. Why hangs that cloudy sorrow on your brow? Why do you sigh? why flow your swelling eyes? Those eyes that us'd with joy to view Hippolitus.

Ism. My lord, my soul is charm'd with your success. You know, my lord, my fears are but for you, For your dear life; and since my death alone Can make you safe, that soon shall make you happy. "Yet had you brought less love to Phædra's arms,

66

My soul had parted with a less regret ;

"Blest if surviving in your dear remembrance.”"

Hip. Your death! " my love! my marriage! and

Hear me,

to Phædra!"

Ismena.

Ism. No, I dare not hear you.

But though you've been thus cruelly unkind,
Though you have left me for the royal Phædra,
Yet still soul o'er-runs with fondness tow're's you;
Yet still I die with joy to save Hippolitus.

my

Hip. Die to save me! could I outlive Ismena?

Ism. Yes, you'd outlive her in your Phædra's arms, And may you there find ev'ry blooming pleasure! Oh, may the gods show'r blessings on thy head! "May the gods crown thy glorious arms with conquest, "And all thy peaceful days with sure repose!" May'st thou be blest with lovely Phædra's charms, And for thy ease forget the lost Ismena! "Farewell, Hippolitus."

Hip. Ismena, stay,

Stay, hear me speak; or by th' infernal powers
I'll not survive the minute you depart.

Ism. What would you say? ah! don't deceive my
weakness.

Hip. Deceive thee! why, Ismena, do you wrong me? Why doubt my faith O lovely, cruel maid!

Why wound my tender soul with harsh suspicion ?
Oh, by those charming eyes, by thy dear love,
I neither thought nor spoke, design'd nor promis'd,
To love, or wed the queen.

Ism. Speak on, my lord,

My honest soul inclines me to believe thee;

And much I fear, and much I hope I've wrong'd thee. Hip. Then thus. I came and spake, but scarce of

love;

The easy queen
receiv'd my faint address
With eager hope and unsuspicious faith.
Lycon with seeming joy dismiss'd my guards:

My gen'rous soul disdain'd the mean deceit,
But still deceiv'd her to obey Ismena.

Ism. Art thou then true? thou art. Oh, pardon me? Pardon the errors of a silly maid,

Wild with her fears, and mad with jealousy;

For still that fear, that jealousy was love.

Haste then, my lord, and save yourself by flight; "And when your absent, when your godlike form "Shall cease to chear forlorn Ismena's eyes,

"Then let each day, each hour, each minute, bring "Some kind remembrance of your constant love; "Speak of your health, your fortune, and your friends, (For sure those friends shall have my tenderest

wishes)

"Speak much of all; but of thy dear, dear love,

66

Speak much, speak very much, but still speak on.” Hip. Oh! thy dear love shall ever be my theme; Of that alone I'll talk the live-long day; But thus I'll talk, thus dwelling in thy eyes, Tasting the odours of thy fragrant bosom. Come then, to crown me with immortal joys, Come, be the kind companion of my flight, Come, haste with me to leave this fatal shore. The bark before prepar'd for my departure

D

Expects its freight: an hundred lusty rowers
Have wav'd their sinewy arms, and call Hippolitus;
The loosen'd canvass trembles with the wind,

And the sea whitens with auspicious gales.

"Ism. Fly then, my lord, and may the gods protect thee!

"Fly, ere insidious Lycon work thy ruin; "Fly, ere my fondness talk thy life away; "Fly from the queen.

Hip. But not from my Ismena.

Why do you force me from your heav'nly sight, "With those dear arms that ought to clasp me to thee? "Ism. Oh, I could rave for ever at my fate ! "And with alternate love and fear possess'd,

"Now force thee from my arms, now snatch thee to my breast,

"And tremble till you go, but die till you return. "Nay, I could go. Ye gods, if I should go, "What would Fame say? if I should fly alone "With a young lovely prince that charm'd my soul? "Hip. Say you did well to fly a certain ruin, "To fly the fury of a queen incens'd,

"To crown with endless joys the youth that lov'd you. "Oh! by the joys our mutual loves have brought, "By the blest hours I've languish'd at your feet, "By all the love you ever bore Hippolitus,

"Come fly from hence, and make him ever happy. "Ism. Hide me, ye pow'rs! I never shall resist.

Hip. Will you refuse me? can I leave behind me "All that inspires my soul, and chears my eyes?