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.
Perhaps at this dead hour Hamilcar's fleet
Rides in the bay.

_Enter PHILOTAS, from the Cavern._

_Phil._ What, ho! brave Arcas! ho!

_Arcas._ Why thus desert thy couch?

_Phil._ Methought the sound
Of distant uproar chas'd affrighted sleep.

_Arcas._ At intervals the oar's resounding stroke
Comes echoing from the main. Save that report,
A death-like silence through the wide expanse
Broods o'er the dreary coast.

_Phil._ Do thou retire,
And seek repose; the duty of thy watch
Is now perform'd; I take thy post.

_Arcas._ How fares
Your royal pris'ner?

_Phil._ Arcas, shall I own
A secret weakness? My heart inward melts
To see that suffering virtue. On the earth,
The cold, damp earth, the royal victim lies;
And while pale famine drinks his vital spirit,
He welcomes death, and smiles himself to rest.
Oh! 'would I could relieve him!

_Arcas._ May no alarm disturb thee. [_Exit._

_Phil._ Some dread event is lab'ring into birth.
At close of day the sullen sky held forth
Unerring signals. With disastrous glare,
The moon's full orb rose crimson'd o'er with blood;
And lo! athwart the gloom a falling star
Trails a long tract of fire!--What daring step
Sounds on the flinty rock? Stand there; what, ho!
Speak, ere thou dar'st advance. Unfold thy purpose:
Who and what art thou?

_Eup._ [_Within._] Mine no hostile step;
I bring no value to alarm thy fears:
It is a friend approaches.

_Phil._ Ha! what mean
Those plaintive notes?

_Eup._ [_Within._] Here is no ambush'd Greek,
No warrior to surprise thee on the watch.
An humble suppliant comes--Alas, my strength
Exhausted quite forsakes this weary frame.

_Phil._ What voice thus piercing thro' the gloom of night--
What art thou? what thy errand? quickly say,
Wherefore alarm'st thou thus our peaceful watch?

_Eup._ [_Within._] Let no mistrust affright thee--

_Enter EUPHRASIA._

Lo! a wretch,
The veriest wretch that ever groan'd in anguish,
Comes here to grovel on the earth before thee,
To tell her sad, sad tale, implore thy aid,