DRAMATIC SCENES. 301 



ANT. There spoke, at once, the Hero, and the Son. 



DKM. To close To thee,* I grant, some thanks are due; 

 Not for thy kindness, but malignity : 

 Thy characters my friend, tho' THOU my foe : 

 For, say, whose temper promises most guilt ? 

 Perseus, importunate, demands my death : 

 I do not ask for HIS : Ah ! no ; I feel 

 Too pow'rful nature pleading for him HERB : 

 But, were there no fraternal tie to bind me, 

 A son of Philip must be dear to me. 

 If you, my FATHER, had been angry with me, 

 An tLDER brother, a less AWFUL parent, 

 HE should assuage you, HE should intercede, 

 Soften my failings, and indulge my youth: 

 But my asylum drops its character ; 

 I find not there my rescue, but my ruin. 



PERSEUS, f His bold assurance 



KING. Do not interrupt him ; 



But let thy brother finish his defence. 



DEM.J O Perseus! how I tremble as 1 speak! 

 Where is a brother's voice, a brother's eye ? 

 Where is the melting of a brother's HEART ? 

 Where is our awful father's dread command? 

 Where a DEAR, DYING MOTHER'S last request? 

 FOBGOT, SCORN'D, HATED, TRODDEN under foot ! 

 Thy heart, how dead to ev'ry call of nature ! 

 UNSON'D! UXBROTHER'D! nay, UNHUMANIZ'D! 

 Far from affection, as thou'rt near in blood ! 

 Oh! Perseus! Perseus! But my heart's too full. 



KING. Suppurt him. 



PERSEUS. || Vengeance overtakes his crimes. 



KING. No more ! 



ANT.** See, from his hoary brow he wipes the dew, 

 Which agony wrings from him. 



KiNG.ft Oh ! m y friend, 



These boys at strife, like ^Etna's struggling flames, 

 Convulsions cause, and make a mountain shake ; 



* To Perseus. t With a contemptuous sneer. 



J Exceedingly affected. He here falls on Antigonus. 



U In a malicious tone. ** In reference to the King. 



ff Turning to Dymas with much internal emotion. 

 K 5 



