ACTUS SECUNDUS
97
JASON.
Nay, brother.
is sorrow
The voice was: ‘‘ The end
'»
THESEUS.
Ye heard not, O dull-witted! Unto me
(Alone of all ye wise) the great voice
came,
‘““The Gates of Hell
prevail.”
shall not in = all
CASTOR.
I heard, ‘‘ Regret not thy mortality !
Love conquers death !”
POLLUX.
But I, ‘‘ Regret not thou
Thine immortality! Love conquers life !””!
ORPHEUS.
A partial wisdom to a partial ear.
JASON.
But what speech came to thee ?
ORPHEUS.,
I heard no voice.
ARGUS.
What means this? Here’s my labour thrown
away,
My skill made jest of, all my wage de-
stroyed
At one fell stroke.
JASON.
What? Is the Argo burnt?
1 Pollux being immortal, and Castor mortal,
at the former’s request Zeus allowed them to
pool their fates, and live alternate days in
Hades and Olympus.
VOL, II.
ARGUS.
Burnt! Should I then complain? The
ship is finished.
JASON.
The Goddess, furious at
Argus,
Hath frenzied thee with some delusion.
thine absence,
HERACLES,
Calm !
Control thy madness! I am sorry now
My pungent wit so shamed his arrogance
As made him seem to scorn Athena.
ARGUS.
Thou!
The good ship
Where’s my daily wage?
But see me, I am ruined.
Is finished !
JASON.
Be sure
I pay thee treble if thy tale be true.
ARGUS,
Ay! treble nothing! I shall buy a palace.
JASON.
‘Treble thine utmost wish.
ARGUS,
Two evils then
Thou pilest on one good! But come and
see !
[Zhe Argo ts discovered.
CHORUS OF HEROES.
By Wisdom framed from ancient days
The stately Argo stands above ;
Too firm to fear, too great to praise,
The might of bright Athena’s love!
Oh! ship of glory! tread the foam,
And bring our guerdon from its home!
G