Thou destroyest me!

_The Chorus_

How?

_Merope_

Whispering hope of a life
Which no stranger unknown,
But the faithful servant and nurse,
Whose tears warrant his truth,
Bears sad witness is lost.

_The Chorus_

Wheresoe'er men are, there is grief. _ant._ 1.
In a thousand countries, a thousand
Homes, e'en now is there wail;
Mothers lamenting their sons.

_Merope_

Yes----

_The Chorus_

Thou knowest it?

_Merope_

This,
Who lives, witnesses.

_The Chorus_

True.

_Merope_

But is it only a fate
Sure, all-common, to lose
In a land of friends, by a friend,
One last, murder-saved child?

_The Chorus_

Ah me! _str._ 2.

_Merope_

Thou confessest the prize
In the rushing, thundering, mad,
Cloud-enveloped, obscure,
Unapplauded, unsung
Race of calamity, mine?

_The Chorus_

None can truly claim that
Mournful preeminence, not
Thou.

_Merope_

Fate _gives_ it, ah me!

_The Chorus_

Not, above all, in the doubts,
Double and clashing, that hang----

_Merope_

What then? _ant._ 2.
Seems it lighter, my loss,
If, perhaps, unpierced by the sword,
My child lies in his jagg'd
Sunless prison of rock,
On the black wave borne to and fro?

_The Chorus_

Worse, far worse, if his friend,
If the Arcadian within,
If----

_Merope_ (_with a start_)

How say'st thou? within?...

_The Chorus_

He in the guest-chamber now,
Faithlessly murder'd his friend.

_Merope_

Ye, too, ye, too, join to betray, then
Your Queen!

_The Chorus_

What is this?

_Merope_

Ye knew,
O false friends! into what
Haven the murderer had dropp'd?
Ye kept silence?

_The Chorus_

In fear,
O loved mistress! in fear,
Dreading thine over-wrought mood,
What I knew, I conceal'd.

_Merope_

Swear by the Gods henceforth to obey me!

_The Chorus_

Unhappy one, what deed
Purposes thy despair?
I promise; but I fear.

_Merope_

From the altar, the unavenged tomb,
Fetc