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
Pronounce him to my ear. That eager hope

Hath won me from the brook before I viewed
My unacquainted self.-But yet it seemed
A most rare change-and methinks the change
Has left the old fascination in my eyes.
Look, here's a shadow of the shape I am-
A dainty shadow !

[She sits down on the bank.

How fair the world seems now myself am fair!
These dewy daffodils! these sweet green trees!
I've coiled about their roots-but now I pluck
Their drooping branches with this perfect hand!
Sure those were Dryades

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
Hath sent in chase of me?—I slight! I scorn thee !
By all the light of day, till this kind hour
I never saw that face!-nor one as fair.

LAMIA.

O fie, fie, fie!—what, have you never met

That face at Corinth ?-turned too oft towards you,
Like the poor maidens that adored Apollo :-
You must have marked it !—

LYCIUS.

Nay, then hear me swear!

By all Olympus and its starry thrones

My eyes have never chanced so sweet a sight,
Not in my summer dreams!

LAMIA.

Enough, enough!-why then I've watched in vain-
Tracked all your ways, and followed like your shadow;
Hung you with blessings-haunted you with love-
And waited on your aspect-all in vain!—
I might as well have spent my loving looks,
Like Ariadne, on the sullen sea,

And hoped for a reflection. Youth, farewell.

LYCIUS.

O not yet-not yet farewell!

Let such an unmatched vision still shine on,
Till I have set an impress in my heart
To cope with life's decay!

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.
My world is yours, and I would have no other.
One earth, one sea, one sky, in one horizon,
Our room is wide enough, unless you hate me.

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,
Or any hinting feature, show dislike.

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,
And all heaven's witnesses be by to hear thee.-

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,
And knows they are sadly true.

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
How this poor figure once was marred and vilified,
How grovelled and debased; contemned and hated
By my own self, because, with all its charms,
It then could hope no favor in your eyes;

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?