LYCIDAS. -Would that treacherous boy Have forc'd thy virtue to his brutal joy? DIONE. Raifing herself on her arm. Breaks not Evander's voice along the glade? PARTHENIA. O tremble, fhepherd, for thy rafh offence, DIONE Into what mifchiefs is the lover led, Who calls down vengeance on his perjur'd head! And may, unknown, unwept, Dione bleed ! [Afidé. LYCIDAS. What horrors on the guilty mind attend! His confcience had reveng'd an injur'd friend, Did not the smooth-tongu'd boy perfidious prove, DIONE. O let him ne'er this bleeding victim know; That wound would pierce my foul with double pain. PARTHENIA. How did his faithful lips (now pale and cold) LYCIDAS. Was he thus faithful? thus to friendship true? Alexis, fpeak; unclose those lids again. [Afide Flings himself on the ground near Dione, See at thy feet the barbarous villam kneel! 'Tis Lycidas who. grafps the bloody fteel, Thy once-lov'd friend.-Yet, ere I ceafe to live, Canft thou a wretched penitent forgive? DIONE. When low beneath the fable mould I reft, May a fincerer friendship share thy breast! Let Let o'er my grave the leveling plough-share pass, LYCIDAS. [Dies. O cruel fhepherdefs, for love of thee [To Parthenia. This fatal deed was done. SCENE THE LAST. LYCIDAS, PARTHENIA, LAURA. LAURA. -Alexis flain! LYCIDAS. Yes. 'Twas I did it. See this crimson stain! No rival fhepherd is before thee laid; Of Of thy once dear Dione? With wan care Dione ! LYCIDAS. LAURA. -There pure conftancy lies dead!'' LYCIDAS. May heaven shower vengeance on this perjur'd head 1~ As the dry branch that withers on the ground, So, blafted be the hand that gave the wound! Off; hold me not. This heart deferves the ftroke; 'Tis black with treachery. Yes: the vows are broke [Stabs himself. Which I fo often swore. Vain world, adieu I LAURA. To-morrow shall the funeral rites be paid, PARTHENIA. There shall the yew her fable branches spread, LAURA. [Dies. From thence shall thyme and myrtle fend perfume, PARTHENIA. Come, Laura, let us leave this horrid wood, Where streams the purple grafs with lovers' blood; VOL. II. U Come Come to my bower. And, as we forrowing go, With heart-relieving tears.— LAURA. [Pointing to Dione. -Unhappy maid! Hadft thou a parent's just command obey'd, CONTENTS |