SERIOUS AND SENTIMENTAL. 211 XXXV.-FROM ION.-Talfourd. ADRASTUS, KING OF ARGOS-MEDON, HIGH PRIEST OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO-ION, A FOUNDLING, PROTECTED BY MEDONCTESIPHON, CASSANDER, NOBLE ARGIVE YOUTHS-CYRTHES, CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD-AGENOR, SAGE OF ARGOS. Scene 1.-The royal Chamber. Adrastus on a couch, asleep. (Enter Ion, with a knife.) lon. Why do I creep thus stealthily along With trembling steps? Am I not armed by Heaven To execute its mandate on a king Whom it hath doomed? And shall I falter now, While every moment that he breathes may crush As if some happy thoughts of innocent days By the high judgment of supernal Powers, Wake, Adrastus ! Collect thy spirits, and be strong to die! Adrastus. Who dares disturb my rest? Guards! Soldiers! Recreants! Where tarry ye? This bold intruder? Why smite ye not to earth Ha! no weapon here! But a sad instrument in Jove's great hand, Adras. Villains! does no one hear? Ion. Vex not the closing minutes of thy being Adras. Ion. It is most true, Thou sparedest my life, and therefore do the gods Seem the chance forfeit of some single sin, Adras. I have none on earth. If thou hast courage, end me! If I am, Hope nothing from my weakness; mortal arms, Adras. No; strike at once; my hour is come in thee And, kneeling thus, submit me to his power. (Kneels.) Adras. No; let me meet thy gaze; For breathing pity lights thy features up Into more awful likeness of a form Which once shone on me;-and which now my sense As if to bless thee-and I bless thee too, Death's gracious angel!-Do not turn away. Ion. Gods! to what office have ye doomed me !-Now! (Ion raises his arm to stab Adrastus, who is kneeling, and gazes steadfastly upon him. The voice of Medon is heard without, calling, "Ion! Ion!" Ion drops his arm.) Adras. Be quick, or thou art lost! (As Ion has again raised his arm to strike, Medon rushes in, behind him.) Medon. Lon, forbear. Behold thy son, Adrastus! (Ion stands for a moment stupified with horror, drops the knife, and falls senseless.) Adras. What strange words Are these, which call my sense from the death They were composed to welcome? Son! 'tis false I had but one-and the deep wave rolls o'er him! Medon. That wave received, instead of the fair nursling, One of the slaves who bore him from thy sight In wicked haste to slay ;-I'll give thee proofs. Adras. Great Jove, I thank thee!-raise him gently-proofs ! Are there not here the lineaments of her Who made me happy once-the voice, now still, (Ion, reviving, sinks on one knee, before Adrastus.) Ion. Father! (Noise without.) Medon. The clang of arms! Ion. (Starting up.) They come ! they come ! They who are leagued with me against thy life. Here let us fall! Adras. I will confront them yet. Within I have a weapon which has drank A traitor's blood ere now ;--there will I wait them : (Exeunt Adrastus and Ion, as into an inner chamber.) Medon. Have mercy on him, gods, for the dear sake Of your most single-hearted worshiper. (Enter Ctesiphon, Cassander, and others.) Ctesiphon. What treachery is this?--the tyrant fled, And Ion fled too!-Comrades, stay this dotard, While I search in yonder chamber. Medon. Spare him, friends, Spare him to clasp awhile his new-found son; Cte. Father! yes That is indeed a name to bid me spare : Let me but find him, gods! (Rushes into the inner chamber.) Medon. (To Cassander and the others.) Had ye but seen What I have seen, ye would have mercy on him. (Cyrthes enters with soldiers.) Ha! Soldiers! hasten to defend your master; That way-(As Cyrthes is about to enter the inner chamber, Clesiphon rushes from it with a bloody dagger, and stops them.) Cte. It is accomplished; the foul blot Is wiped away. Shade of my murdered father, Look on thy son, and smile! Cyrthes. Whose blood is that? It cannot be ! It cannot be the king's ! Cte. Think'st thou, foul minion of a tyrant's will, He was to crush, and thou to crawl forever? Cyr. Wretch! thy life shall pay The forfeit of this deed. (Cyrthes and soldiers seize Ctesiphon.) (Enter Adrastus, mortally wounded, supported by Ion.) Here let me rest ; Adras. In this old chamber did my life begin, And here I'll end it. Cyrthes! thou has timed To gaze upon my parting. Cyr. Here is the traitor! Adras. To avenge thee ; Set him free, at once: Why do ye not obey me? Ctesiphon, I gave thee cause for this ;-believe me now, That thy true steel has made thy vengeance sure; And as we now stand equal, I will sue For a small boon-let me not see thee more. Cte. Farewell! (Exit.) Adras. (To Cyrthes and Soldiers.) Why do ye tarry here? Begone! still do ye hover round my couch? If the commandment of a dying king I do adjure ye, leave us! (Exeunt all but Ion and Adrastus.) How is it with thee now? Adras. Well; very well; Avenging Fate hath spent its utmost force Against me; and I gaze upon my son, With the sweet certainty that nought can part us Till all is quiet here. How like a dream, Seems the succession of my regal pomps, Since I embraced thy helplessness! To me The interval hath been a weary one: How hath it passed with thee? lon. But that my heart Hath sometimes ached for the sweet sense of kindred, I had enjoyed a round of happy years, As cherished youth e'er knew. Adras. I bless the gods |