Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold Part 59

Thou dost well: but take....

_aepytus_

What wav'st thou off?

_Merope_

That murderous axe away!

_aepytus_

Thy son is here.

_Merope_

One said so, sure, but now.

_aepytus_

Here, here thou hast him!

_Merope_

Slaughter'd by this hand!...

_aepytus_

No, by the G.o.ds, alive and like to live!

_Merope_

What, thou?--I dream----

_aepytus_

May'st thou dream ever so!

_Merope_ (_advancing towards him_)

My child? unhurt?...

_aepytus_

Only by over joy

_Merope_

Art thou, then, come?...

_aepytus_

Never to part again.

[_They fall into one another's arms. Then_ MEROPE, _holding_ aePYTUS _by the hand, turns to_ THE CHORUS.

_Merope_

O kind Messenian maidens, O my friends, Bear witness, see, mark well, on what a head My first stroke of revenge had nearly fallen!

_The Chorus_

We see, dear mistress: and we say, the G.o.ds, As. .h.i.therto they kept him, keep him now.

_Merope_

O my son! _str._ I have, I have thee ... the years Fly back, my child! and thou seem'st Ne'er to have gone from these eyes, Never been torn from this breast.

_aepytus_

Mother, my heart runs over; but the time Presses me, chides me, will not let me weep.

_Merope_

Fearest thou now?

_aepytus_

I fear not, but I think on my design.

_Merope_

At the undried fount of this breast, A babe, thou smilest again.

Thy brothers play at my feet, Early-slain innocents! near, Thy kind-speaking father stands.

_aepytus_

Remember, to revenge his death I come!

_Merope_

Ah ... revenge! _ant._ That word! it kills me! I see Once more roll back on my house, Never to ebb, the accurst All-flooding ocean of blood.

_aepytus_

Mother, sometimes the justice of the G.o.ds Appoints the way to peace through shedding blood.

_Merope_

Sorrowful peace!