O Laias, Laias, let the heart speak here—
Shall I not greet her? shall I not leap forth?
[Polyphontes comes forth, following Merope.
LAIAS.
Not so! thy heart would pay its moment's speech
By silence ever after, for, behold!
The King (I know him, even through many years)
Follows the approaching Queen, who stops, as call'd.
No lingering now! straight to the city I;
Do thou, till for thine entrance to this house
The happy moment comes, lurk here unseen
Behind the shelter of thy father's tomb;
Remove yet further off, if aught comes near.
But, here while harboring, on its margin lay,
Sole offering that thou hast, locks from thy head;
And fill thy leisure with an earnest prayer
To his avenging Shade, and to the Gods
Who under earth watch guilty deeds of men,
To guide our vengeance to a prosperous close.
[Laias goes out. Polyphontes, Merope, and the Chorus come forward. As they advance, Æpytus, who at first conceals himself behind the tomb, moves off the stage.
POLYPHONTES. (To THE CHORUS.)
Set down your pitchers, maidens, and fall back!
Suspend your melancholy rites awhile;
Shortly ye shall resume them with your Queen.—
(To MEROPE.)
I sought thee, Merope; I find thee thus,
As I have ever found thee; bent to keep,
By sad observances and public grief,
