And how shall I be grateful? Thou'rt a princess-
Think not, Mandane, this a sudden start,
1 flash of love, that kindles and expires:

Long have I weigh'd it: since I parted hence,
No night has pass'd but this has broke my rest,
And mix'd with ev'ry dream. My fair, I wed thee
In the maturest counsel of my soul.

Mand. Oh, gods, I tremble at the rising storm!
Where can this end?

Myr. And do you then despise me?

Mand. My lord, I want the courage to accept

What far transcends my merit, and for ever
Must silently upbraid my little worth.

[Aside.

Myr. Have I forsook myself, foregone my temper,

Headlong to all the gay delights of youth,
And fall'n in love with virtue most severe ?
Turn'd superstitious to make thee my friend?
Gods! have I struggled through the pow'rful reasons
That strongly combated my fond resolves?
Was wealth o'erlook'd, and glory of no weight,
My parent's crown forgot, and my own conquests,
And all to be refus'd; to sooth your pride,
And make my rival sport?

Mand. With patience hear me ;

Nor let my trust in Myron prove my ruin.
Myr. Distraction! Art thou marry'd?

Mand. Oh!

[Kneels.

Myr. My heart foretold it-Ah, my soul! Auletes

Y

Aul. Madam, 'tis prudent in you to withdraw.

[Swoons.

[Exit Mandane.

Myr. I do not live-I cannot bear the light! Where is Mandane? But I would not know : She is not mine. Yet though not mine in love, Revenge, my just revenge, may overtake her. Oh, how I hate her! Let me know her faults. Did the proud maid insult me in distress, And smile to see me gasping? Speak, Auletes, Did she not sigh? Sure she might pity me, Though all her love is now another's right. Aul. She sigh dand wept; but I remov'd her from you. Myr. It was well done. Yet I could gaze for ever.

And did she sigh, and did she drop a tear ?

The tears she shed for me are surely mine;
And shall another dry them on those cheeks,
And make them an excuse for greater fondness?
Shall I assist the villain in his joys?

No, I will tear her from him.

1

I'd grudge her beauties to the gods that gave them. Aul. My Lord, have temper.

Myr. And another's passion

Warm on that lip! another's burning arms
Strain'd round the lovely waist for which I die,
And she consenting, wooing, growing to him!
What golden scenes, when absent did I feign!
What lovely pictures did I draw in air!

What luxury of thought and see my fate!
Shall then my slave enjoy her, and I languish
In my triumphal car, my foot on purple,
And o'er my head a canopy of gold;

Fate in my nod, and monarchs in my train?

D

1

What if I stab him? No; she will not wed
His murderer. I never form'd a wish,
But full fruition taught me to forget it.
And am I lessen'd by my late success?
And have I lost my conquest? Fly, Auletes,
And tell her

Aul. What, my Lord?
Myr. No, bid her

Aul. Speak.

Myr. I know not what. My heart is torn asunder, Aul. Retire, my Lord, and recompose yourself;

The Queen approaches. Ha! her bosom swells,

[Exit Myron,

Her pale lip trembles, a disorder'd haste
Is in her steps; her eyes shot gloomy fires!
When Myris is in anger, happy they

She calls her friends.

QUEEN enters,

Queen. Auletes, where's the King?
Aul. At council, Madam.

[Exit Aul,

Queen. Let him know I want him.
Base! to forget to whom he owes a crown !
Fool! to provoke her rage whose hand is red

In her own brother's blood!

BUSIRIS and PHERON enter.

Bus. Horrid conspiracy!

Pher. This night was destin'd for the bloody deed.

Bus. Mistaken villains! if they wish my death, They should, in prudence, lay their weapons by. So jealous are the gods of Egypt's glory, I cannot die while slaves are arm'd against me. Haste, Pheron, to the dungeon, plunge them down Far from the hopes of day; there let them lie Banish'd this world, while yet alive, and groan İn darkness and in horror; let double chains Consume the flesh of Memnon's loaded limbs, Till death, shall knock them off. A king's thy friend, Nay, more, Busiris. Go, let that suffice. [Exit. Pher. Queen. My Lord, your thought's engag'd. Bus. Affairs of state

Detain'd me from my Queen.

Queen. The world may wait!

I've a request, my Lord.

Bus. Oblige me with it.

Queen. Will you comply?
Bus. My Queen, my pow'r is yours.
Queen. Your Queen?

Bus. My Queen.

Queen. Indeed, it should be so.

Then sign these orders for Amelia's death.
He starts, turns pale, he's sinking into earth!
Enough; begone, and fling thee at her feet ;
Doat on my slave, and sue to her for mercy.
Go, pour forth all the folly of thy soul;
But bear in mind, thou giv'st not of thy own;
Thou giv'st that kindness which I bought with bloed,
Nor shall I lose unmov'd.

Bus. I wish, my Queen,
This still had slept a secret for thy sake;
But since thy restless jealousy of soul
Has been so studious of its own disquiet,
Support it as you may. I own I've felt

Amelia's charms, and think them worth my love.

Queen. And dar'st thou bravely own it too! Oh,

insult!

Forgetful man! 'tis I then owe a crown!.
Thou hadst still grovell'd in the lower world,
And view'd a throne at distance, had not I

Told thee thou wert a man, and (dreadful thought!)
Through my own brother cut thy way to empire;
But thou might'st well forget a crown bestow'd;
That gift was small; I listen'd to thy sighs,

And rais'd thee to my bed.

Bus. I thank you for it.

'The gifts you made me were not cast away;
I understand their worth. Husband and king
Are names of no mean import; they rise high
Into dominion, and are big with pow'r.-
Whate'er I was, I now am King of Egypt,
And Myris, Lord.

Queen, I dream! Art thou Busiris?
Busiris, that has trembled at my feet,
And art thou now my Jove with clouded brow,
Dispensing fate, and looking down on Myris ?
Dost thou derive thy spirit from thy crimes?
'Cause thou hast wrong'd me, therefore dost thou

threaten,