The Distrest Mother/Act 4, Scene 1
ACT IV. SCENE I.
Andromache, Cephisa.
Ceph.Blest be the Tomb of Hector, that inspires
These Thoughts: Or is it Hector's self,
That prompts you to preserve your Son? 'Tis he,
Who still presides o'er ruin'd Troy; 'tis he,
Who urges Pyrrhus to restore Astyanax.
These Thoughts: Or is it Hector's self,
That prompts you to preserve your Son? 'Tis he,
Who still presides o'er ruin'd Troy; 'tis he,
Who urges Pyrrhus to restore Astyanax.
Andr.Pyrrhus has said he will: And thou hast heard him
Just now renew the oft-repeated Promise.
Just now renew the oft-repeated Promise.
Ceph.Already in the Transports of his Heart,
He gives you up his Kingdom, his Allies,
And thinks himself o'erpaid for all in you.
He gives you up his Kingdom, his Allies,
And thinks himself o'erpaid for all in you.
Andr.I think I may rely upon his Promise:
And yet my Heart is overcharged with Grief.
And yet my Heart is overcharged with Grief.
Ceph.Why should you grieve? You see he bids Defiance
To all the Greeks: And to protect your Son
Against their Rage, has placed his Guards about him;
Leaving himself defenceless for his sake:
But Madam, think the Coronation Pomps
Will soon demand your Presence in the Temple:
'Tis Time you lay aside these Mourning Weeds,
To all the Greeks: And to protect your Son
Against their Rage, has placed his Guards about him;
Leaving himself defenceless for his sake:
But Madam, think the Coronation Pomps
Will soon demand your Presence in the Temple:
'Tis Time you lay aside these Mourning Weeds,
Andr.I will be there; but first would see my Son.
Ceph.Madam, you need not now be anxious for him:
He will be always with you, all your own,
To lavish the whole Mother's Fondness on him.
What a Delight to train beneath your Eye
A Son, who grows no longer up in Bondage;
A Son in whom a Race of Kings revives?
But Madam, your are sad, and wrapt in Thought,
As if you relish'd not your Happiness.
He will be always with you, all your own,
To lavish the whole Mother's Fondness on him.
What a Delight to train beneath your Eye
A Son, who grows no longer up in Bondage;
A Son in whom a Race of Kings revives?
But Madam, your are sad, and wrapt in Thought,
As if you relish'd not your Happiness.
Andr.Oh I must see my Son once more, Cephisa.
Ceph.Madam, he now will be no more a Captive;
Your Visits may be frequent as you please.
To morrow you may pass the live long Day.———
Your Visits may be frequent as you please.
To morrow you may pass the live long Day.———
Andr.To morrow! Oh Cephisa!———But no more!
Chephisa, I have always found thee faithful:
A Load of Care weighs down my drooping Heart.
Chephisa, I have always found thee faithful:
A Load of Care weighs down my drooping Heart.
Ceph.Oh! that 'twere possible for me to ease you.
Andr.I soon shall exercise thy long-try'd Faith!—
Mean while I do conjure thee, my Cephisa,
Thou take no Notice of my present Trouble;
And, when I shall disclose my secret Purpose,
That thou be punctual to perform my Will.
Mean while I do conjure thee, my Cephisa,
Thou take no Notice of my present Trouble;
And, when I shall disclose my secret Purpose,
That thou be punctual to perform my Will.
Ceph.Madam, I have no Will but yours. My Life
Is nothing, ballanced with my Love to you.
Is nothing, ballanced with my Love to you.
Andr.I thank thee, good Cephisa: my Astyanax
Will recompence thy Friendship to his Mother.
But, come: my Heart's at Ease: Assist me now
To change this sable Habit.———Yonder comes
Hermione: I would not meet her Rage.
Will recompence thy Friendship to his Mother.
But, come: my Heart's at Ease: Assist me now
To change this sable Habit.———Yonder comes
Hermione: I would not meet her Rage.