ariance with their
uncle and ex-guardian, Theras, were reigning at Sparta.

* * * * *

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA

LAIAS, _uncle of_ AEPYTUS, _brother of_ MEROPE.
AEPYTUS, _son of_ MEROPE _and_ CRESPHONTES.
POLYPHONTES, _king of_ MESSENIA.
MEROPE, _widow of_ CRESPHONTES, _the murdered king of_ MESSENIA.
THE CHORUS, _of_ MESSENIAN _maidens_.
ARCAS, _AN OLD MAN OF_ MEROPE'S _household_.
MESSENGER.
GUARDS, ATTENDANTS, etc.

_The Scene is before the royal palace in_ STENYCLAROS, _the capital of_
MESSENIA. _In the foreground is the tomb of_ CRESPHONTES. _The
action commences at day-break._

MEROPE

LAIAS. AEPYTUS.

_Laias_

Son of Cresphontes, we have reach'd the goal
Of our night-journey, and thou see'st thy home.
Behold thy heritage, thy father's realm!
This is that fruitful, famed Messenian land,
Wealthy in corn and flocks, which, when at last
The late-relenting Gods with victory brought
The Heracleidae back to Pelops' isle,
Fell to thy father's lot, the second prize.
Before thy feet this recent city spreads
Of Stenyclaros, which he built, and made
Of his fresh-conquer'd realm the royal seat,
Degrading Pylos from its ancient rule.
There stands the temple of thine ancestor,
Great Heracles; and, in that public place,
Zeus hath his altar, where thy father fell.
Southward and west, behold those snowy peaks,
Taygetus, Laconia's border-wall;
And, on this side, those confluent streams which make
Pamisus watering the Messenian plain;
Then to the north, Lycaeus and the hills
Of pastoral Arcadia, where, a babe
Snatch'd from the slaughter of thy father's house,
Thy mother's kin received thee, and rear'd up.--
Our journey is well made, the work remains
Which to perform we made it; means for that
Let us consult, before this palace sends
Its inmates on their daily tasks abroad.
Haste and advise, for day comes on apace.

_AEpytus_

O brother of my mother, guardian true,
And second father from that hour when first
My mother's faithful servant laid me down,
An infant, at the hearth of Cypselus,
My grandfather, the good Arcadian king--
Thy part it were to advise, and mine to obey.
But let us keep that purpose, which, at home,
We judged the best; chance finds no better way.
Go thou into th