ills in one.
Now I, if I invite them to run risk
Of life for my advantage, and myself,
Who chiefly profit, run no more than they--
How shall I rouse their love, their ardour so?
But, if some signal, unassisted stroke,
Dealt at my own sole risk, before their eyes,
Announces me their rightful prince return'd--
The undegenerate blood of Heracles--
The daring claimant of a perilous throne--
How might not such a sight as this revive
Their loyal passion tow'rd my father's house,
Kindle their hearts, make them no more a mob,
A craven mob, but a devouring fire?
Then might I use them, then, for one who thus
Spares not himself, themselves they will not spare.
Haply, had but one daring soul stood forth
To rally them and lead them to revenge,
When my great father fell, they had replied!
Alas! our foe alone stood forward then.
And thou, my mother, hadst thou made a sign--
Hadst thou, from thy forlorn and captive state
Of widowhood in these polluted halls,
Thy prison-house, raised one imploring cry--
Who knows but that avengers thou hadst found?
But mute thou sat'st, and each Messenian heart
In thy despondency desponded too.
Enough of this!--Though not a finger stir
To succour me in my extremest need;
Though all free spirits in this land were dead,
And only slaves and tyrants left alive;
Yet for me, mother, I had liefer die
On native ground, than drag the tedious hours
Of a protected exile any more.
Hate, duty, interest, passion call one way;
Here stand I now, and the attempt shall be.

_The Chorus_

Prudence is on the other side; but deeds
Condemn'd by prudence have sometimes gone well.

_Merope_

Not till the ways of prudence all are tried,
And tried in vain, the turn of rashness comes.
Thou leapest to thy deed, and hast not ask'd
Thy kinsfolk and thy father's friends for aid.

_AEpytus_

And to what friends should I for aid apply?

_Merope_

The royal race of Temenus, in Argos----

_AEpytus_

That house, like ours, intestine murder maims.

_Merope_

Thy Spartan cousins, Procles and his brother----

_AEpytus_

Love a won cause, but not a cause to win.

_Merope_

My father, then, and his Arcadian chiefs----

_AEpytus_

Mean still to keep aloof from Dorian broil.

_Merope_

Wait, then, until sufficient help appears.