Ilyssus. ILYSSUS MEETING CREUSA. FROM HIS TRAGEDY OF CREUSA. Persons.-Creusa, llyssus. PLEASE you, great queen, In yon pavilion to repose, and wait Th' arrival of the king. Creusa. Lycea,-Phorbas, What youth is this? There's something in his eyes, Ilyssus, gracious queen, The priests and virgins call me. Creusa. Ha! Ilyssus! That name's Athenian. Tell me, gentle youth, Art thou of Athens then? I never knew a mother's tender cares, Nor heard th' instructions of a father's tongue. Creusa. How cam'st thou hither? That fatal time recals a scene of woe Let me not think.-Were there no marks to shew From whom or whence thou wert? Ilyssus. I have been told An osier basket, such as shepherds weave, Creusa. Unhappy child! But more, O ten times more unhappy they Ilyssus. O great queen, Had those from whom I sprung been form'd like thee, Had they e'er felt the secret pangs of nature, They had not left me to the desart world So totally expos'd. I rather fear I am the child of lowliness and vice, And happy only in my ignorance. -Why should she weep? O if her tears can fall How is that people blest where she presides How has thy mind been form'd ? Ilyssus. In that, great queen, I never wanted parents. The good priests And pious priestess, who with care sustain'd My helpless infancy, left not my youth 'Tis true, had taught the same, but not with half That force and energy; conviction's self Dwelt on Aletes' tongue. Creusa. Was that the good man's name? Ilyssus. For Aletes, said'st thou ? It is, great queen, To adore high heaven, yet he lives, and guides me by his counsels. Some things he taught me, which but ill agree With my condition here. Creusa. What things were those? Ilyssus. They were for exercise, and to confirm My growing strength. And yet I often told him The exercise he taught resembled much What I had heard of war. He was himself A warrior once. Creusa. And did those sports delight thee? Ilyssus. Great queen, I do confess, my soul mix'd with them. Whene'er I grasp'd the osier-platted shield, I felt I know not what of manhood in me. Creusa. Did the good man observe, and blame thy ardour? Ilyssus. He only smil'd at my too forward zeal; Nay, seem'd to think such sports were necessary To soften, what he call'd, more rig'rous studies. Creusa. Suppose when I return to Athens, youth, Thou should'st attend me thither! would'st thou trust To me thy future fortunes? Ilyssus. O most gladly! -But then to leave these shades where I was nurs'd The servant of the god, how might that seem? And good Aletes too, the kind old man Of whom I spake ?—But wherefore talk I thus, You only throw these tempting lures to try Th' ambition of my youth.-Please you, retire. Creusa. Ilyssus, we will find a time to speak More largely on this subject; for the present Let all withdraw and leave us. Youth, farewel, I see the place, and will retire at leisure. Lycea, Phorbas, stay. Ilyssus. (Aside.) How my heart beats! She must mean something sure. Tho' good Aletes doubts. [Exit. VARIETY. A TALE FOR MARRIED PEOPLE. A GENTLE maid, of rural breeding, And call'd each clown she saw, a faun! The human heart's minutest clue; Yet shrewd observers still declare, (To shew how shrewd observers are) VOL. VI. |