DIONE. No. To prevent it, is beyond thy power; PARTHENIA. Can I this burthen of thy foul relieve, And calm thy grief? Plight me thy word, and to that word be just; PARTHENIA. That fwain (who would my liberty control, O live, O live, nor leave him by misfortune prest: 'Tis fhameful to desert a friend distrest. DIONE. Alas! a wretch like me no lofs would prove, PARTHENIA. Why hides thy bofom this myfterious grief? DIONE. What profits it to touch thy tender breaft, If Laura right direct the dark fome ways, DIONE. Let not a tear for me roll down thy cheek. O would my throbbing fighs my heart-ftrings break! Why was my breast the lifted ftroke deny'd? Muft then again the deathful deed be try'd? Yes. "Tis refolv'd. [Snatches the dagger from Parthenia. PARTHE PARTHENIA. Ah, hold; forbear, forbear! LYCIDAS. Methought Diftrefs with fhrieks alarm'd my ear. PARTHENIA. Strike not. Ye gods, defend him from the wound! LYCIDAS. Yes. 'Tis Parthenia's voice, I know the found. Die, villain, die; and feek the fhades below. [Lycidas fnatches the dagger from Dione, and ftabs her. DIONE. Whoe'er thou art, I blefs thee for the blow. LYCIDAS. Since Heaven ordain'd this arm thy life fhould guard, O hear my vows! be love the just reward. PARTHENIA. Rather let vengeance, with her swiftest speed, LYCIDAS, LYCIDAS, -Would that treacherous boy Have forc'd thy virtue to his brutal joy? DIONE. [Raifing herself on her arm. PARTHENIA. O tremble, fhepherd, for thy rath offence, DIONE. Into what mifchiefs is the lover led, Who calls down vengeance on his perjur'd head! And may, unknown, unwept, Dione bleed! [Afide. LYCIDAS. What horrors on the guilty mind attend! His confcience had reveng'd an injur'd friend, Did Did not the fmooth-tongu'd boy perfidious prove, DIONE. O let him ne'er this bleeding victim know; That wound would pierce my foul with double pain. PARTHENIA. How did his faithful lips (now pale and cold) LYCIDAS. Was he thus faithful? thus, to friendship true? Alexis, fpeak; unclose those lids again. [Afide. Flings himself on the ground near Dione. See at thy feet the barbarous villain kneel! 'Tis Lycidas who grafps the bloody iteel, Thy once-lov'd friend.-Yet, ere I ceafe to live, Canft thou a wretched penitent forgive? DIONE. When low beneath the fable mould I reft, May a fincerer friendship share thy breast! I Let |