Arthur Murphy

“ Arcas. The gloom of night sits heavy on the world;
And o'er the solemn scene such stillness reigns, [Pg 17]
As 'twere a pause of nature; on the beach
No murmuring billow breaks; the Grecian tents
Lie sunk in sleep; no gleaming fires are seen;
All Syracuse is hush'd; no stir abroad,
Save ever and anon the dashing oar,
That beats the sullen wave. And hark!—Was that
The groan of anguish from Evander's cell,
Piercing the midnight gloom?—It is the sound
Of bustling prows, that cleave the briny deep. ”

“ Point at my breast, and thirst for regal blood?
G. Off. We sought thy life. I am by birth a Greek.
An open foe in arms, I meant to slay
The foe of human kind. With rival ardour
We took the field; one voice, one mind, one heart;
All leagu'd, all covenanted: in yon camp
Spirits there are who aim, like us, at glory.
Whene'er you sally forth, whene'er the Greeks
Shall scale your walls, prepare thee to encounter
A like assault. By me the youth of Greece
Thus notify the war they mean to wage. ”

“ Sends thee devoted to th' infernal gods.
[He falls.
Dio. May curses blast thy arm! May Ætna's fires
Convulse the land; to its foundation shake
The groaning isle! May civil discord bear
Her flaming brand through all the realms of Greece;
And the whole race expire in pangs like mine!
[Dies.
Eup. Behold, all Sicily behold!—The point
Glows with the tyrant's blood. Ye slaves, [To the Guards.] look there;
Kneel to your rightful king: the blow for freedom
Gives you the rights of men! And, oh, my father,
My ever honour'd sire, it gives thee life! ”

“ Incidents arise progressively from each other, till the last great incident of all, fills every mind with enthusiasm in the cause of virtue and justice—in the joy of an empire made free by the overthrow of its tyrant. ”

“ Shall Euphrasia's voice
Be hush'd to silence, when a father dies?
Shall not the monster hear his deeds accurst?
Shall he not tremble, when a daughter comes,
Wild with her griefs, and terible with wrongs;
Fierce in despair, all nature in her cause
Alarm'd and rous'd with horror?
Melanthon come; my wrongs will lend me force;
The weakness of my sex is gone; this arm
Feels tenfold strength; this arm shall do a deed
For Heav'n and earth, for men and gods to wonder at!
This arm shall vindicate a father's cause.
ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I.
A wild romantic Scene amidst overhanging Rocks ”

“ I fear to ask it, where is virtuous Phocion?
Eup. Fled from the tyrant's pow'r.
Eva. And left thee here
Expos'd and helpless?
Eup. He is all truth and honour:
He fled to save my child.
Eva. My young Evander!
Your boy is safe, Euphrasia?—Oh! my heart!
Alas! quite gone; worn out with misery;
Oh! weak, decay'd old man!
Eup. Inhuman wretches!
Will none relieve his want? A drop of water
Might save his life; and even that's deny'd him.
Eva. These strong emotions—Oh! that eager air—
It is too much—assist me; bear me hence ”

“ Entreat no more; the soul of Dionysius
Is ever wakeful; rent with all the pangs
That wait on conscious guilt.
Mel. But when dun night——
Phil. Alas! it cannot be: but mark my words.
Let Greece urge on her general assault.
Despatch some friend, who may o'erleap the walls,
And tell Timoleon, the good old Evander
Has liv'd three days, by Dionysius' order,
Lock'd up from ev'ry sustenance of nature,
And life, now wearied out, almost expires.
Mel. If any spark of virtue dwell within thee,
Lead me, Philotas, lead me to his prison.
Phil. The tyrant's jealous care hath mov'd him thence. ”

“ My old fond heart runs o'er; it aches with joy.
Eup. Alas! too much you over-rate your daughter;
Nature and duty call'd me—Oh! my father,
How didst thou bear thy long, long suff'rings? How
Endure their barb'rous rage?
Eva. My foes but did
To this old frame, what Nature's hand must do.
In the worst hour of pain, a voice still whisper'd me,
"Rouse thee, Evander; self-acquitting conscience [Pg 36]
"Declares thee blameless, and the gods behold thee." ”

“ So meanly of my Phocion?—Dost thou deem him
Poorly wound up to a mere fit of valour,
To melt away in a weak woman's tear?
Oh! thou dost little know him; know'st but little
Of his exalted soul. With gen'rous ardour [Pg 44]
Still will he urge the great, the glorious plan,
And gain the ever honour'd bright reward,
Which fame entwines around the patriot's brow,
And bids for ever flourish on his tomb,
For nations freed, and tyrants laid in dust.
Dio. By Heav'n, this night Evander breathes his last. ”

“ Call on Evander lost;—
And cruel gods, and cruel stars invoking,
Stand on the cliff in madness and despair.
Phil. By Heav'n,
My heart in pity bleeds.
No other fear assails this warlike breast.
I pity your misfortunes; yes, by Heav'n,
My heart bleeds for you.—Gods! you've touch'd my soul!
The gen'rous impulse is not giv'n in vain.
I feel thee, Nature, and I dare obey.
Oh! thou hast conquer'd.—Go, Euphrasia, go,
Behold thy father.
Eup. Raise me, raise me up ”

“ To-morrow's sun sees him a breathless corse.
Dio. Curse on his ling'ring pangs! Sicilia's crown
No more shall deck his brow; and if the sand
Still loiter in the glass, thy hand, my friend,
May shake it thence.
Phil. It shall, dread sir; that task
Leave to thy faithful servant.
Dio. Oh! Philotas,
Thou little know'st the cares, the pangs of empire.
The ermin'd pride, the purple that adorns
A conqueror's breast, but serves, my friend, to hide
A heart that's torn, that's mangled with remorse.
Each object round me wakens horrid doubts ”

“ Vengeance awaits thy guilt, and this good sword
Thus sends thee to atone the bleeding victims
This night has massacred.
Cal. [Holding Dionysius's Arm.] My liege, forbear;
Her life preserv'd may plead your cause with Greece,
And mitigate your fate.
Dio. Presumptuous slave!
My rage is up in arms;—by Heav'n, she dies.
Enter Evander, from the Tomb.
Eva. Horror! forbear!—Thou murd'rer, hold thy hand!
The gods behold thee, horrible assassin!
Restrain the blow; it were a stab to Heav'n; [Pg 56]
All nature shudders at it!—Will no friend
Arm in a cause like this a father's hand? ”

“ Arcas. The grey of morn breaks thro' yon eastern clouds.
'Twere time this interview should end: the hour
Now warns Euphrasia hence: what man could dare,
I have indulg'd—Philotas!—ha! the cell
Left void!—Evander gone!—What may this mean?
Philotas, speak.
Enter Philotas.
Phil. Oh! vile, detested lot,
Here to obey the savage tyrant's will,
And murder virtue that can thus behold
Its executioner, and smile upon him. ”

“ All follow Philotas, except Phocion.
Phoc. Satisfy my doubts; how fares Euphrasia?
Mel. Euphrasia lives, and fills the anxious moments
With every virtue. Wherefore venture hither?
Why with rash valour penetrate our gates?
Phoc. Could I refrain? Oh! could I tamely wait
Th' event of ling'ring war? With patience count
The lazy-pacing hours, while here in Syracuse
The tyrant keeps all that my heart holds dear ”

“ The men's characters have been all sacrificed by the author to the valour of the woman—he has made his female do the deed of a man, and his best man perform the act of a child.
[Pg 5] Though Evander ranks as the first male character in this play, no actor likes to appear in the part. He would rather be inferior, and less infirm.
As Mr. Murphy had much theatrical experience as well as taste, it is astonishing that the personage most talked of, most praised, and by far the most perfect character in the whole drama, should never make his appearance! ”

“ I only wake to misery.
Phil. How didst thou gain the summit of the rock?
Eup. Give me my father; here you hold him fetter'd; [Pg 19]
Oh! give him to me——If ever
The touch of nature throbb'd within your breast,
Admit me to Evander. In these caves
I know he pines in want; let me convey
Some charitable succour to a father.
Phil. Alas, Euphrasia! 'would I dare comply!
Eup. It will be virtue in thee. Thou, like me,
Wert born in Greece:—Oh! by our common parent—
Nay, stay; thou shalt not fly; Philotas, stay;—
You have a father too; think, were his lot
Hard as Evander's ”

“ Go with my child, torn from this matron breast,
This breast that still should yield its nurture to him,
Fly with my infant to some happier shore,
If he be safe, Euphrasia dies content.
Till that sad close of all, the task be mine
To tend a father with delighted care, [Pg 13]
To smooth the pillow of declining age,
See him sink gradual into mere decay,
On the last verge of life watch ev'ry look,
Explore each fond unutterable wish,
Catch his last breath, and close his eyes in peace.
Mel. I would not add to my afflictions; yet
My heart misgives; Evander's fatal period——
Eup. ”

“ Phil. Yon lamp will guide thee thro' the cavern'd way.
Eup. My heart runs o'er in thanks; the pious act
Timoleon shall reward; the bounteous gods,
And thy own virtue shall reward the deed.
[Goes into the Cave.
Phil. Prevailing, powerful virtue!—Thou subdu'st
The stubborn heart, and mould'st it to thy purpose.
'Would I could save them!—But tho' not for me
The glorious pow'r to shelter innocence,
Yet for a moment to assuage its woes,
Is the best sympathy, the purest joy
Nature intended for the heart of man,
When thus she gave the social gen'rous tear.
[Exit.
[Pg 21]
SCENE II. ”

“ Scene III.
The Inside of the Temple.
A Monument in the Middle.
Euphrasia, Erixene, and Female Attendants.
Eup. Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins,
Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altar
Clasp on our knees?
Erix. Alas, the horrid tumult
Spreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry side
The victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches,
In wild confusion rise. Once more descend
Eudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter.
Eup. Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit,
Perhaps for the last time, a mother's urn. ”

“ Phoc. By Heav'n I will; [Pg 33]
My breath shall wake his rage; this very night
When sleep sits heavy on the slumb'ring city,
Then Greece unsheaths her sword, and great revenge
Shall stalk with death and horror o'er the ranks
Of slaughter'd troops a sacrifice to freedom!
But first let me behold Euphrasia.
Mel. Hush
Thy pent-up valour: to a secret haunt
I'll guide thy steps; there dwell, and in apt time
I'll bring Euphrasia to thy longing arms.
Phoc. Oh! lead me to her ”

“ There is a splendour of decoration, a glow of martial action, events of such deep interest, and, above all, a moral of such excellent tendency, which concludes the performance, that its attraction can readily be accounted for, without the slightest imputation upon the judgment of the public. ”

“ And I will bless thee for it.
Dio. From a Greek
Torments have wrung the truth. Thy husband, Phocion—
Eup. Oh! say, speak of my Phocion.
Dio. He; 'tis he [Pg 43]
Hath kindled up this war; with treacherous arts
Inflam'd the states of Greece; and now the traitor
Comes with a foreign aid to wrest my crown.
Eup. And does my Phocion share Timoleon's glory?
Dio. With him invests our walls, and bids rebellion
Erect her standard here.
Eup. Oh! bless him gods! ”

“ Phil. Dispel thy fears;
Phocion will bring relief; or should the tyrant
Assault their camp, he'll meet a marshall'd foe.
Let me conduct thee to the silent tomb.
Eup. Ah! there Evander, naked and disarm'd,
Defenceless quite, may meet some ruffian stroke.
Phil. Lo here's a weapon; bear this dagger to him.
In the drear monument, should hostile steps
Dare to approach him, they must enter singly;
This guards the passage; man by man they die.
There may'st thou dwell amidst the wild commotion.
Eup. Ye pitying gods, protect my father there!
[Exeunt.
[Pg 53]
SCENE II.
The Citadel. ”

“ And will you then refuse, when thus the gods
Afford a refuge to thee?
Eva. Oh! my child,
There is no refuge for me.
Eup. Pardon, sir:
Euphrasia's care has form'd a safe retreat;
There may'st thou dwell; it will not long be wanted.
Soon shall Timoleon with resistless force,
Burst yon devoted walls.
Eva. Timoleon!
Eup. Yes.
The brave Timoleon, with the pow'r of Greece;
Another day shall make this city his.
Eva. Timoleon come to vindicate my rights! [Pg 28]
Oh! thou shalt reign in Sicily! my child
Shall grace her father's throne. Indulgent Heaven! ”

“ His sov'reign will commands thee to repair
This moment to his presence.
Eup. Ha! what means
The tyrant?—I obey. [Exit Calippus.] And, oh! ye pow'rs,
Ye ministers of Heaven, defend my father;
Support his drooping age; and when anon
Avenging justice shakes her crimson steel,
Oh! be the grave at least a place of rest;
That from his covert, in the hour of peace,
Forth he may come to bless a willing people,
And be your own just image here on earth.
[Exit.
[Pg 39]
ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I.
Enter Dionysius, Calippus, &c. ”

“ The popular story, from which the fable of this tragedy is produced, and the surprising event in the last scene—where a woman performs that which a whole army has in vain attempted—together with the powerful acting of Mrs. Barry in the part of Euphrasia, rendered this play greatly attractive when it was first performed; and as those causes of attraction still remain, or rather, an improvement is introduced by Mrs. Siddons's appearance in the Grecian Daughter, the play is still of use to the theatre. ”

“ But now ordain'd, is mockery to Heav'n.
'Tis vain, 'tis fruitless; then let daring guilt
Be my inspirer, and consummate all.
Where are those Greeks, the captives of my sword,
Whose desperate valour rush'd within our walls,
Fought near our person, and the pointed lance
Aim'd at my breast?
Phil. In chains they wait their doom.
Dio. Give me to see 'em; bring the slaves before me. [Pg 31]
Phil. ”

“ Yet it was but modesty and respect in the author, not to bring so magnanimous a hero on the scene, to speak bad poetry.
The great tragic dramatist, Otway, wrote miserable comedies: Let it be no disgrace to Murphy that he has written an indifferent tragedy. By the merit of his comic scenes, his tragic ones are perhaps judged, and in the comparison lose half their value.
[Pg 6]
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
[Pg 7]
THE GRECIAN DAUGHTER. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I.
Enter Melanthon and Philotas. ”