COV. Thither let us depart, and speedily.
JUL. I cannot go: I live not in the land
I have reduced beneath such wretchedness:
And who could leave the brave, whose lives and fortunes
Hang on his sword?
COV. Me thou canst leave, my father;
Ah yes, for it is past; too well thou seest
My life and fortunes rest not upon thee.
Long, happily--could it be gloriously! -
Still mayst thou live, and save thy country still!
JUL. Unconquerable land! unrivalled race!
Whose bravery, too enduring, rues alike
The power and weakness of accursed kings -
How cruelly hast thou neglected me!
Forcing me from thee, never to return,
Nor in thy pangs and struggles to partake!
I hear a voice--'tis Egilona--come,
Recall thy courage, dear unhappy girl,
Let us away.
SECOND ACT: THIRD SCENE.
EGILONA enters.
EGI. Remain, I order thee.
Attend, and do thy duty: I am queen,
Unbent to degradation.
COV. I attend
Ever most humbly and most gratefully
My too kind sovereign, cousin now no more;
Could I perform but half the services
I owe her, I were happy for a time;
Or dared I show her half my love, 'twere bliss.
EGI. Oh! I sink under gentleness like thine.
Thy sight is death to me; and yet 'tis dear.
The gaudy trappings of assumptive state
Drop at the voice of nature to the earth,
Before thy feet--I cannot force myself
To hate thee, to renounce thee; yet--Covilla!
Yet--oh distracting thought! 'tis hard to see,
Hard to converse with, to admire, to love -
As from my soul I do, and must do, thee -
One who hath robbed me of all pride and joy,
All dignity, all fondness.
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