with a woman's fondest
faith. I watched above thee that no harm should fall; I cheered and
gladdened life for thee, and won the heart I longed for. I knew the
sorrow thou wouldst feel, but tried thy faith by asking thee to
sacrifice thy love and keep thine honor stainless. Here let me offer up
a woman's fondest trust and most undying love. Wilt thou believe, and
pardon mine offence? [_Kneels again before him._]

Con. Not at my feet, Irene!--'tis I who should bend low before thee,
asking thy forgiveness. For all thou hast dared for me; for every
fearless deed; for every loving thought, all I can lay before thee is a
fond and faithful heart, whose reverence and love can never die, but
through the pilgrimage of life shall be as true and tender as when I
gave it to the slave Ione [_embraces_ Irene].

[_Tableau._

CURTAIN.

ION.

NOTE TO ION.

This play was found too uninteresting for presentation, and was left
unfinished, but is here given as a specimen of what the young authors
considered _very fine_ writing.

The drama was, of course, to end well. Cleon, being free, at once
assembles a noble army, returns to conquer Mohammed and release Ion, who
weds the lovely Zuleika, becomes king, and "lives happily forever
after."

CHARACTERS.

Mohammed . . . . . . _The Turk._

Cleon . . . . . . . _Prince of Greece._

Ion . . . . . . . _Son of Cleon._

Adrastus . . . . . . _A Priest._

Hafiz . . . . . . . _Turkish Envoy._

Hassan . . . . . . . _A Slave._

Murad . . . . . . . _A Slave._

Abdallah . . . . . . _A Slave._

Iantha . . . . . . . _Wife of Cleon._

Zuleika . . . . . . _Daughter of Mohammed._

Medon . . . . . . . _A Slave._

Selim . . . . . . . _A Slave._

ION.

SCENE FIRST.

[_Room in the palace of_ Cleon.
Iantha _and_ Adrastus.]

Iantha. How wearily the days wear on, and the heavy hours so fraught
with doubt press like death upon my aching heart. To the youn