Had reached his ears: But when my tongue unfolded Oh how the tears cours'd plenteous down his cheeks! In fpeechless tranfport! Yet he foon bethought him But I with prayers (Oh pardon, if they err'd) Had wing'd his way, where the thick underwood Was age a match for youth? CHORUS. Maiden, enough; Better perchance for us, if he were captive; But in the justice of their caufe, and heav'n, Do Mona's fons confide. BARD, CHORUS, ELIDURUS, EVELINA. BARD. Druid, the rites Are finish'd, all fave that which crowns the reft, And which pertains to thy bleft hand alone; For that he kneels before thee. CHORUS. CHORUS.. - bTake him hence, ofta We may not truft him forth to fight our cause, odwod ELIDUR U Santa on ba Now by ANDRASTE's throne CHORUS. Nay, fwear not, youth, The tie is broke, that held thy fealty: Thy brother's fled. ELIDUR US. Fled! CHORUS. To the Romans fled; Yes, thou haft caufe to tremble. ELIDUR U S. Ah, VELLINUS! Does thus our love, does thus our friendship end! The victim of thy crimes! 1 It may be fpeedy. I would fain bé dead," The ftars in yon blue arch, these woods, these caverns, The vision of a vision. If he's fled, I ought to hate this brother. CHORUS. Yet thou dost not. ELIDURUS. But when astonishment will give me leave, Perchance I fhall.-And yet he is my brother, And he was virtuous once. Yes, ye vile Romans, Yes, I muft die, before my thirfty sword Drinks one rich drop of vengeance. Yet, ye robbers, Yet will I curfe you with my dying lips : 'Twas you, that ftole away my brother's virtue. CHORU S. Now then prepare to die. ELIDURUS. I am prepar❜d. Yet, fince I cannot now (what most I wish'd) By By manly prowefs guard this lovely maidení Vess to Permit that on your holieft earth I kneel, And pour one fervent prayer for her protection. Allow me this, for tho' you think me false, The Gods will hear me. EVELINA. I can hold no longer! Oh Druid, Druid, at thy feet I fall: Yes, I must plead, (away with virgin-blushes) CHORU S. Virgin, arife. His virtue hath redeem'd him, Now thou art fully purg'd. Now rise restor'd Hence then, my fon, Hie thee, to yonder altar, where our Bards Shall arm thee duly both with helm and sword For warlike enterprise.. [Exit Elidurus. CARACTACUS. CARACTACUS, CHORUS, ARVIRAGUS, EVELINA. CARACTACUS. "Tis true, my fon, Bold are their bearings, and I fear me not Were here to join them; we would teach thefe wolves, That vengeance 'waits them ere they rob our altars. That fram'd their phalanx. We but wait thy bleffing To lead them 'gainst the foe. CHORU S. CARACTACUS! Behold this fword: The fword of old BELINUS, Lo, I unsheath it, King; Fwave it o'er thee; Flow N |