Amintor! Thou hast touch’d a life,
The very name of which had power to chain
Up all my rage, and calm my wildest wrongs.

Evad. ’Tis done; and since I could not find a way
To meet thy love so clear as through his life,
I cannot now repent it.

Amin. Couldst thou procure the gods to speak to me,
To bid me love this woman, and forgive,
I think I should fall out with them. Behold,
Here lies a youth whose wounds bleed in my breast,
Sent by his violent fate, to fetch his death
From my slow hand: And, to augment my woe,
You now are present, stain’d with a king’s blood,
Violently shed. This keeps night here,
And throws an unknown wilderness about me.

Asp. Oh, oh, oh!

Amin. No more; pursue me not.

Evad. Forgive me then,
And take me to thy bed. We may not part.

[Kneels.

Amin. Forbear! Be wise, and let my rage go this way.

Evad. ’Tis you that I would stay, not it.

Amin. Take heed;
It will return with me.

Evad. If it must be,
I shall not fear to meet it: take me home.

Amin. Thou monster of cruelty, forbear!

Evad. For heaven’s sake, look more calm: thine eyes are sharper
Than thou canst make thy sword.

Amin. Away, away!
Thy knees are more to me than violence.
I am worse than sick to see knees follow me,
For that I must not grant. For Heaven’s sake stand.

Evad. Receive me, then.

Amin. I dare not stay thy language;
In midst of all my anger and my grief,
Thou dost awake something that troubles me,
And says,“I loved thee once.” I dare not stay;
There is no end of woman’s reasoning.

[Leaves her.

Evad. Amintor, thou shalt love me now again:
Go; I am calm. Farewell, and peace for ever!
Evadne, whom thou hat’st, will die for thee.

[Kills herself.

Amin. I have a little human nature yet,
That’s left for thee, that bids me stay thy hand.

[Returns.

Evad. Thy hand was welcome, but it came too late.
Oh, I am lost! the heavy sleep makes haste.

[She dies.

Asp. Oh, oh, oh!