r cause with Greece,
And mitigate your fate.

_Dio._ Presumptuous slave!
My rage is up in arms;--by Heav'n, she dies.

_Enter EVANDER, from the Tomb._

_Eva._ Horror! forbear!--Thou murd'rer, hold thy hand!
The gods behold thee, horrible assassin!
Restrain the blow; it were a stab to Heav'n;
All nature shudders at it!--Will no friend
Arm in a cause like this a father's hand?
Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! Evander
Prostrate and groveling on the earth before thee!
He begs to die:--exhaust the scanty drops
That lag about his heart;--but spare my child.

_Dio._ Evander!----Do my eyes once more behold him?--
May the fiends seize Philotas! Treach'rous slave!
'Tis well thou liv'st; thy death were poor revenge
From any hand but mine. [_Offers to strike._

_Eup._ No, tyrant no; [_Rushing before EVANDER._
I have provok'd your vengeance; through this bosom
Open a passage; first on me, on me
Exhaust your fury. Ev'ry pow'r above
Commands thee to respect that aged head:
His wither'd frame wants blood to glut thy rage:
Strike here; these veins are full; here's blood enough;
The purple tide will gush to glad thy sight.

_Dio._ Amazement blasts and freezes ev'ry pow'r!
Ha! the fierce tide of war [_A flourish of Trumpets._
This way comes rushing on.

[_Goes to the Top of the Stage._

_Eup._ [_Embracing EVANDER._] Oh! thus, my father,
We'll perish thus together.

_Dio._ Bar the gates;
Close ev'ry passage, and repel their force.

_Eva._ And must I see thee bleed? Oh, for a sword!
Bring, bring me daggers!

_Eup._ Ha!

_Dio._ Guards, seize the slave,
And give him to my rage.

_Eva._ [_Seized by the GUARDS._] Oh!
Inhuman villains!

_Eup._ Now, one glorious effort!--

_Dio._ Let me despatch; thou traitor, thus my arm--

_Eup._ A daughter's arm, fell monster, strikes the blow.
[_Stabs DIONYSIUS._
Yes, first she strikes; an injur'd daughter's arm
Sends thee devoted to th' infernal gods. [_He falls._

_Dio._ May curses blast thy arm! May Aetna's fires
Convulse the land; to its foundation shake
The groaning isle! May civil discord bear
Her flaming brand through all the realms of Greece;
And the whole race expire in pangs like mine! [_Dies._

_Eup._ Behold, all Sicily behold!--The point
Glows with the tyrant's blood. Ye slaves, [_To the GUARDS._] look there;
Kneel to your rightful king: the blow for freedom
Gives you the rights of men! And, oh, my father,
My ever honour'd sire, it give