DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. APOLLONIUS, a philosopher, a sophist, tutor to LYCIUS. Lycrus, a young man of noble birth, pupil to APOLLONIUS. MERCUTIUS, CURIO, young wild gallants of Corinth. GALLO, and others, JULIUS, brother to Lycius. DOMUS (pro tempore), butler to LAMIA. PICUS (pro tempore), steward to LAMIA. LAMIA, an Enchantress, by nature a Serpent, but now under the disguise of a beautiful woman. THE SCENE IS IN OR NEAR CORINTH. LAMIA; A ROMANCE. A mossy Bank with Trees, on the high Road near Corinth. Enter LAMIA. LAMIA. HERE I'll sit down and watch; till his dear foot Hath won me from the brook before I viewed [She sits down on the bank. How fair the world seems now myself am fair! That with such glancing looks peeped through the green To gaze upon my beauty. [Lorus enters and passes on without noting her. Lycius! sweet Lycius !-what, so cruel still! What have I done thou ne'er wilt deign a look, But pass me like a worm? '' LYCIUS. Ha! who art thou? [Looking back. O goddess, (for there is no mortal tint, No line about thee lower than divine,) What may that music mean, thy tuneful tongue LAMIA. O fie, fie, fie!—what, have you never met That face at Corinth ?-turned too oft towards you, LYCIUS. Nay, then hear me swear! By all Olympus and its starry thrones My eyes have never chanced so sweet a sight, LAMIA. Enough, enough!-why then I've watched in vain- And hoped for a reflection. Youth, farewell. LYCIUS. O not yet-not yet farewell! Let such an unmatched vision still shine on, I must soon hie me to my elements; But take your pleasure at my looks till then. LYCIUS. You are not of this earth, then? LAMIA. Of this earth? Why not? And of this same and pleasant isle. Hate you! LYCIUS. [Sadly LAMIA. Then you may wish to set the stars between us, The dim and utter lamps of east and west. So far you'd have me from you. LYCIUS. Cruel Syren! To set your music to such killing speech. Look if my eyes turn from you-if my brows, Nay, hear my lips LAMIA. If they will promise love Or talk of it; but chide, and you will kill me! LYCIUS. Then, love, speak forth a promise for thyself, LAMIA. Hold, hold! I'm satisfied. You'll love me, then? LYCIUS. With boundless, endless love. LAMIA. Ay, give me much on't-for you owe me much, I'll swear it, if you will. Jove heard the words, LYCIUS. And this for me! LAMIA. Ay, sweet, and more. A poor, fond wretch, I filled The flowers with my tears; and lay supine In coverts wild and rank-fens, horrid, desolate ! "Twould shock your very your very soul if you could see And so I hid it, With toads and newts, and hideous shiny things, Under old ruins, in vile solitudes, Making their haunts my own. LYCIUS. 'Tis strange and piteous.-Why, then, you maddened? |