Phil. Do thou retire,
And seek repose; the duty of thy watch
Is now perform'd; I take thy post.
Arcas. How fares
Your royal pris'ner?
Phil. Arcas, shall I own
A secret weakness? My heart inward melts
To see that suffering virtue. On the earth,
The cold, damp earth, the royal victim lies;
And while pale famine drinks his vital spirit,
He welcomes death, and smiles himself to rest.
Oh! 'would I could relieve him!
Arcas. May no alarm disturb thee.
Phil. Some dread event is lab'ring into birth.
At close of day the sullen sky held forth
Unerring signals. With disastrous glare,
The moon's full orb rose crimson'd o'er with blood;
And lo! athwart the gloom a falling star
Trails a long tract of fire!—What daring step
Sounds on the flinty rock? Stand there; what, ho!
Speak, ere thou dar'st advance. Unfold thy purpose:
Who and what art thou?
Eup. [Within.] Mine no hostile step;
I bring no value to alarm thy fears:
It is a friend approaches.
Phil. Ha! what mean
Those plaintive notes?
Eup. [Within.] Here is no ambush'd Greek,
No warrior to surprise thee on the watch.
An humble suppliant comes—Alas, my strength
Exhausted quite forsakes this weary frame.
Phil. What voice thus piercing thro' the gloom of night—
What art thou? what thy errand? quickly say,
Wherefore alarm'st thou thus our peaceful watch?
Eup. [Within.] Let no mistrust affright thee—