Thomas Noon Talfourd

Name: Ion — Act II
Author: Thomas Noon Talfourd

Ion — Act II (1835)

Summary

“Ion — Act II”, published in 1835, is a work by Thomas Noon Talfourd. It explores elements such as Adrastus, roll'd and blithe.

Quotes from Ion — Act II (Thomas Noon Talfourd)

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ Aloft towards heaven, or to the startled depths
Of forests that afar might share its doom!
So shall the royalty of Argos pass
In festal blaze to darkness! Have ye spoken?
AGENOR.
I speak no more to thee!—Great Jove, look down!
[Shouting without.]
ADRASTUS.
What factious brawl is this?—disperse it, soldiers.
[Shouting renewed—As some of the soldiers are about to march, Phocion rushes in, followed by Ctesiphon, Ion and Medon.]
Whence is this insolent intrusion?
PHOCION.
King! I bear Apollo's answer to thy prayer.
ADRASTUS.
Has not thy travel taught thy knee its duty? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ MEDON.
Be that instant blest
Which made thee truly ours. My son! my son!
'Tis we should feel uplifted, for the seal
Of greatness is upon thee; yet I know
That when the gods, won by thy virtues, draw
The veil which now conceals their lofty birthplace,
Thou wilt not spurn the maid who prized them lowly.
ION.
Spurn her! My father!
[Enter Ctesiphon.]
MEDON.
Ctesiphon!—and breathless—
Art come to chide me to the council?
CTESIPHON.
No;
To bring unwonted joy; thy son approaches.
MEDON.
Thank Heaven! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ ADRASTUS. [to Ion.]
Dost thou see them?
ION.
I do.
ADRASTUS.
By Heaven, he does not change!
If, even now, thou wilt depart and leave
Thy traitorous thoughts unspoken, thou art free.
ION.
I thank thee for thy offer; but I stand
Before thee for the lives of thousands, rich
In all that makes life precious to the brave;
Who perish not alone, but in their fall
Break the far-spreading tendrils that they feed,
And leave them nurtureless. If thou wilt hear me
For them, I am content to speak no more.
ADRASTUS.
Thou hast thy wish then. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ And canst thou find the voice to ask "our pleasure?"
ADRASTUS.
Cease, babbler;—wherefore would ye stun my ears
With vain recital of the griefs I know,
And cannot heal?—will treason turn aside
The shafts of fate, or medicine Nature's ills?
I have no skill in pharmacy, nor power
To sway the elements.
AGENOR.
Thou hast the power
To cast thyself upon the earth with us
In penitential shame; or, if this power
Hath left a heart made weak by luxury
And hard by pride, thou hast at least the power
To cease the mockery of thy frantic revels. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ ADRASTUS.
Yes, slave! alone. He is no assassin!
[Exit Crythes.]
Tell me who thou art.
What generous source owns that heroic blood,
Which holds its course thus bravely? What great wars
Have nursed the courage that can look on death,
Certain and speedy death, with placid eye?
ION.
I am a simple youth, who never bore
The weight of armour,—one who may not boast
Of noble birth or valour of his own. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ CTESIPHON.
Go talk to others if thou wilt;—to me
All argument, save that of steel, is idle.
MEDON.
No more;—let's to the council—there, my son,
Tell thy great message nobly;—and for thee,
Poor orphan'd youth, be sure the gods are just!
[Exeunt.]
Scene III
The great Square of the City. Adrastus seated on a throne; Agenor, Timocles, Cleon, and others, seated as Councillors—Soldiers line the stage at a distance.
ADRASTUS.
Upon your summons, Sages, I am here;
Your king attends to know your pleasure; speak it!
AGENOR.
And canst thou ask? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ MEDON.
Touch him not,—
He is Apollo's messenger, whose lips
Were never stain'd with falsehood.
PHOCION.
Come on, all!
AGENOR.
Surround him, friends! Die with him!
ADRASTUS.
Soldiers, charge
Upon these rebels; hew them down. On, on!
[The soldiers advance and surround the people; they seize Phocion. Ion rushes from the back of the stage, and throws himself between Adrastus and Phocion.]
PHOCION [to Adrastus.]
Yet I defy thee.
ION.
[To Phocion.] ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ A nation's fate lies circled.—King Adrastus!
Steel'd as thy heart is with the usages
Of pomp and power, a few short summers since
Thou wert a child, and canst not be relentless.
Oh, if maternal love embraced thee then,
Think of the mothers who with eyes unwet
Glare o'er their perishing children: hast thou shared
The glow of a first friendship, which is born
Midst the rude sports of boyhood, think of youth
Smitten amidst its playthings;—let the spirit
Of thy own innocent childhood whisper pity!
ADRASTUS.
In every word thou dost but steel my soul. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ Now matters not, since thou art here in joy.
Hast brought the answer of the god?
PHOCION.
I have: Now let Adrastus tremble!
MEDON.
May we hear it?
PHOCION.
I am sworn first to utter it to him.
CTESIPHON.
But it is fatal to him!—Say but that!
PHOCION.
Ha, Ctesiphon!—I mark'd thee not before;
How fares thy father?
ION. [to Phocion.]
Do not speak of him.
CTESIPHON. [overhearing Ion.]
Not speak of him! Dost think there is a moment
When common things eclipse the burning thought
Of him and vengeance?
PHOCION.
Has the tyrant's sword—
CTESIPHON.
No, Phocion ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ ION.
Even while we speak, Adrastus meets his council;
There let us seek him: should ye find him touch'd
With penitence, as happily ye may,
0 give allowance to his soften'd nature!
CTESIPHON.
Show grace to him!—Dost dare?—I had forgot,
Thou dost not know how a son loves a father!
ION.
I know enough to feel for thee ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ Starts into frightful courage, all unlike
The gentle strength its gentle weakness feeds
To make affliction beautiful, and stalks
Abroad, a tearless, an unshuddering thing;—
While Childhood, in its orphan'd freedom blithe,
Finds, in the shapes of wretchedness which seem
Grotesque to its unsadden'd vision, cause
For dreadful mirth that shortly shall be hush'd
In never-broken silence ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Noon Talfourd, Ion — Act II (1835)

“ Resign thy state? Sue to the gods for life,
The common life which every slave endures,
And meanly clings to? No; within yon walls
I shall resume the banquet, never more
Broken by man's intrusion. Councillors,
Farewell!—go mutter treason till ye perish!
[Exeunt Adrastus, Crythes, and Soldiers.]
ION [who stands apart leaning on a pedestal.]
'Tis seal'd!
MEDON.
Let us withdraw, and strive
By sacrifice to pacify the gods!
[Medon, Agenor, and Councillors retire: they leave Ctesiphon, Phocion, and Ion. Ion still stands apart, as wrapt in meditation.]
CTESIPHON.
'Tis well ”

Thomas Noon Talfourd

Summary

Quotes from Ion — Act II (Thomas Noon Talfourd)

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