The Sappho Companion by Margaret Reynolds

Author:Margaret Reynolds
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781446413760
Publisher: Random House

SCENE VIII

PHAON

What do I see? a rival at her feet!

He clasps her hands, devours it with his kisses.

Rouse thee, rash swain, and stand prepar’d to meet

An injur’d lover’s fury!

[Lycidas rushes from behind the bower]

Lyc. Stand there first,

And meet the fury of that injured lover,

Who first has right of vengeance!

Pha. Him I’ve caught

In am’rous dalliance; he shall first be punish’d,

Thee I can scorn at leisure.

[He runs at Sappho, strikes her on the breast, she falls.]

Dor. Stay thee, Phaon,

Ah me! the shepherd swoons. Good Lycidas,

Prevent a deadlier blow.

[Lycidas seizes the crook of Sappho, and stands before the bower to guard it, while Doris kneels and supports her.]

Lyc. Base murderer, pause!

In me behold a man whose firmer arm

Is brac’d to meet thy prowess, vile assassin,

I dare thee to the combat!

Pha. No, poor shepherd,

Thy heart enough is wounded! Hie thee hence:

My wrath shall not assist the scorn of Doris,

Curst with the pang of unsuccessful love,

Go bear away thy woes, and quit the grove.

Where the willows skirt the brook,

Go, and weave a garland green,

Leave thou there thy scrip and crook,

Vent in tears thy jealous spleen:

Heave thou there thy last sad sigh,

Drop into the stream, and die.

Sap. Die, didst thou say? I hop’d I had been dead;

But death, like Phaon, has deceiv’d poor Sappho.

Dor. and Lyc. Sappho!

Pha. Just Heav’ns! it is, it is my Sappho,

And I have wounded her perhaps to death!

Sap. Would to that Heav’n thou hadst! but thou may’st still

Achieve the deed; behold this bruised breast!

O! with thy dagger give a kinder blow,

And I shall be at peace.

Pha. O torture! torture!

Where shall I turn? how hide me from myself?

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