194 DRAMATIC SCENES. 



The King appears seated. Dymas stands by the side of the King. 

 The King's manner is naturally most dignified, but his peculiar 

 position, in being the judge between his sons, requires the tone of 

 voice to be most solemn, and expressive of the feelings which must 

 necessarily liarass and distress his mind. 



KING. Bring forth the prisoners. 

 Strange trial this ! Here sit I to debate, 

 Which vital limb to lop, nor that to save, 

 But render wretched life more wretched still. 

 What see I, but heaven's vengeance in my SONS ? 

 THEIR guilty scourge for MINE. Tis thus heav'n writes 

 Its awful meaning, plain in human deeds. 

 And language leaves to man. 



Enter PEBSEUS and DEMETRIUS in chains, from opposite sides . Perseus 

 followed by Pericles, and Demetrius by Antigonus. 



DYMAS. *Dread Sir, your sons. 



KING, fl have no sons, and that I ever had 

 Is now my HEAVIEST CURSE. And yet, what care, 

 What pains, I took to curb their rising rage ! 

 How often have I rang'd through history 

 To find examples for their private use ? 

 The Theban brothers did I set before them 

 What blood ! what desolation ! but in vain! 

 For thee, Demetrius, did I go to ROME 

 And bring thee patterns thence of brothers' love ; 

 The Quintti and the Scipios. But in vain ! 

 If I'm a monarch, where is your obedience ? 

 If I'm a father, where's your duty to me 1 

 If old, your veneration due to years ? 

 But I have wept, and you have sworn, in vain ! 

 I had your ear, and enmity your heart. 

 How was this morning's counsel thrown away ! 

 How happy is your mother in the grave ! 

 She, when she bore you, suffered less. Her pangs, 

 Her pungent pangs throb thro' the father's heart. 



DEM. jYou can't condemn me, Sir, to worse than this. 



KING. Than what, thou young deceiver ? While I live, 



* In the most respectful manner. f With intense feeling. 



I Much affected. In a severe tone. 



