SCENE II.

_Phil._ Strangers, ye seem to bear the Marks of Sorrow, And I perceive your Sentiments and mine Concerning the _Atridæ_, and _Ulysses_, Are both the same: As for his Part, I know His artful, false, disguis’d, deluding Tongue, To Truth and Justice is a perfect Stranger: At which I wonder not, but much admire How braver [16]_Ajax_ cou’d allow such Wrongs.

_Neop._ _Ajax_, my Friend, is dead, or had he Life, I shou’d not thus be made a shameful Prey.

_Phil._ And is the great, the valiant _Ajax_ dead?

_Neop._ He now no longer breathes in Heav’ns fair Light.

_Phil._ Wretched am I--There’s [17]_Diomede_ alive And curs’d _Ulysses_, sprung from [18]_Sisyphus_, And both unworthy of the Breath they draw.

_Neop._ Both live and flourish, both in Pomp appear, Peculiar Fav’rites of the _Grecian_ Host.

_Phil._ Where is my good, my old, my faithful Friend, [19]_Nestor_ of _Pylos_? for he well foresaw Their dark Designs, their base, their treach’rous Deeds.

_Neop._ Loaded with Woes, his only Son is dead, _Antilochus_; the Comfort of his Age.

_Phil._ Two dismal Evils you have told, I hear Them both with much Affliction; O my Heart! What shall I think? The brave are dead and gone; _Ulysses_ lives! who well deserv’d to die.

_Neop._ He wisely fights; but even the wise sometimes Perceive their deepest Counsels overthrown.

_Phil._ Tell me, I pray thee by the Gods, where was Thy Father’s dearest Friend [20]_Patroclus_ then.

_Neop._ Slain with the rest. Observe this one Remark, _Mars_ ever singles out the brave to die; Cowards are safe; he scorns their panting Breast.

_Phil._ I grant it’s true; and for this Cause I shall Enquiry make for one unworthy Wretch, Whose Tongue had Words and Cunning at command, In what Condition’s he?---- ----

_Neop._ ---- ---- ----_Ulysses_ sure You mean; this Character suits none but him.

_Phil._ No. One [21]_Thersites_ clamorous and loud, In spight of Opposition; does he live?

_Neop._ I saw him not, but heard he was alive.

_Phil._ ’Tis like, because no Evil yet is dead. The Gods to me seem Guardians to the base, And take a Pleasure to preserve from Death The false and fraudulent; the just and good They snatch away from hence. What shall we think Of this? or how give Praise to them? who shew So much Regard to wicked Men their Fav’rites.

_Neop._ As for myself, I’ll freely speak my Thoughts, Thou Son of _Pæan_, I resolve to live Remote from _Troy_, and the _Atridæ_ both; Where wicked Men with Pow’r oppress the Good, Where Virtue is destroy’d, and Vice commands. As for my self, I cannot love such Men; And rocky _Scyros_ shall hereafter be My best Content----There shall I joy to live. Now to my Ship I go, dear Son of _Pæan_, Farewel; with all my Soul farewel; and may The Gods remove thy Pain ev’n as thou wilt; For go we must, whenever Heav’n is pleas’d To send a fair and favourable Wind.

_Phil._ And do ye now prepare?---- ----

_Neop._ ---- ---- ----No Time we lose; The moment that the Winds invite, we go.

_Phil._ O! for thy Father’s, and thy Mother’s sake, For all that can be dear to thee at home, I beg, beseech, and pray you not to leave A poor, forsaken, solitary Man, In all the dire Calamities you see; And such as I already have related; But place me any where, in any manner. I know a wretched Burthen that I am, However bear me to the generous Soul; What’s base is hateful; Goodness is his Glory. If I be left behind, it brings Disgrace; But if you take me off, it brings you Honour. If I shall get alive to _Oeta_’s Land, ’Tis but the trouble of one single Day; Then dare to take me, throw me where you please; Or by the Pump, or Stern, or Prow, my Friend, Or any part, where I shall give no Pain. By _Jove_, who over suppliant Men presides, I beg you to consent, my Son; I fall Down prostrate, and in Tears embrace your Knees; A poor, lame, helpless, miserable Man. Ah! leave me not alone, where not a Print Of human Foot is seen; but save me hence; Whether you take me to your native home, Or land me on [22]_Eubea_’s Coast; from thence To [23]_Oeta_ I’ve not far to go; not far To the _Trachinian_ Hills, where [24]_Spercheus_ winds It’s lovely Stream; there let my Father see me. Tho’ long since much I fear he’s dead; for oft By many Passengers I sent, to beg He’d send a Ship to take me safely home; But he is either dead, or they perhaps Slighted my Message; or they pass’d him by. Now is my last Resort, be thou at once Conductor both and Messenger; O save, And have Compassion, and consider well How frail are human Things; how much expos’d To Change! This day the happy Man may be Cast down from all his Joy; then he who stands Without the Storm, shou’d cast a tender Eye On the poor shipwreck’d Man, and bring Relief; ’Tis in the midst of Happiness we shou’d Live on our Guard, for fear of a Surprize.

Chorus. O Prince, for once be kind, Let him Compassion find. He told you all his dreadful Woes, Which Heaven avert from any Friend of mine. Then let the Joy be thine, To make th’ _Atridæ_ know He shall obtain Release from Pain, And ev’ry haughty Foe. Then haste away and hoist your Sails, Make haste to catch the flying Gales, And waft him o’er Unto his native Shore, Lest Heav’n pursues you if my Counsel fails.

Footnote 16:

_Ajax_, the Son of _Telamon_ and _Hesione_, accounted the next Hero to _Achilles_ among the _Greeks_.

Footnote 17:

_Diomede_, Son of _Tydeus_, next in Prowess to _Ajax_. _Homer_ makes him wound _Mars_ and _Venus_.

Footnote 18:

_Sisyphus_, a great Robber in _Attica_, the Grandfather of _Ulysses_.

Footnote 19:

_Nestor._ An experienc’d General and Orator, Son of _Neleus_; So excellent in Wisdom, that _Agamemnon_ said, if he had ten such in his Army, _Troy_ would soon be conquer’d.

Footnote 20:

_Patroclus_, Son of _Menætius_. When he was young having kill’d one of his Playfellows by accident, was forc’d to fly his Country, and go to _Pthia_ in _Thessaly_, where he was receiv’d by _Tydeus_, and bred up with his Son _Achilles_ under _Chiron_: This made him and _Achilles_ such inseparable Companions and Friends.

Footnote 21:

_Thersites._ The most deformed of all the _Greeks_. He is painted by _Homer_ in a most ridiculous Manner.

Footnote 22:

_Eubea_, an Island in the _Ægean_ Sea, now called _Negrepont_.

Footnote 23:

_Oeta_, a Mountain on the Borders of _Thessaly_. _Trachin_ a Town near it, whence the Hills are called _Trachinian_.

Footnote 24:

_Spercheus._ A River which runs with a rapid Course from a Mountain in _Thessaly_.