Thy son! _Merope_ Ah!... [_She lets the axe drop, and falls insensible._ _AEpytus_ (_awaking_) Who are these? What shrill, ear-piercing scream Wakes me thus kindly from the perilous sleep Wherewith fatigue and youth had bound mine eyes, Even in the deadly palace of my foe?-- Arcas! Thou here? _Arcas_ (_embracing him_) O my dear master! O My child, my charge beloved, welcome to life! As dead we held thee, mourn'd for thee as dead. _AEpytus_ In word I died, that I in deed might live. But who are these? _Arcas_ Messenian maidens, friends. _AEpytus_ And, Arcas!--but I tremble! _Arcas_ Boldly ask. _AEpytus_ That black-robed, swooning figure?... _Arcas_ Merope. _AEpytus_ O mother! mother! _Merope_ Who upbraids me? Ah!... [_seeing the axe_. _AEpytus_ Upbraids thee? no one. _Merope_ Thou dost well: but take.... _AEpytus_ What wav'st thou off? _Merope_ That murderous axe away! _AEpytus_ Thy son is here. _Merope_ One said so, sure, but now. _AEpytus_ Here, here thou hast him! _Merope_ Slaughter'd by this hand!... _AEpytus_ No, by the Gods, alive and like to live! _Merope_ What, thou?--I dream---- _AEpytus_ May'st thou dream ever so! _Merope_ (_advancing towards him_) My child? unhurt?... _AEpytus_ Only by over joy _Merope_ Art thou, then, come?... _AEpytus_ Never to part again. [_They fall into one another's arms. Then_ MEROPE, _holding_ AEPYTUS _by the hand, turns to_ THE CHORUS. _Merope_ O kind Messenian maidens, O my friends, Bear witness, see, mark well, on what a head My first stroke of revenge had nearly fallen! _The Chorus_ We see, dear mistress: and we say, the Gods, As hitherto they kept him, keep him now. _Merope_ O my son! _str._ I have, I have thee ... the years Fly back, my child! and thou seem'st Ne'er to have gone from these eyes, Never been torn from this breast. _AEpytus_ Mother, my heart runs over; but the time Presses me, chides me, will not let me weep. _Merope_ Fearest thou now? _AEpytus_ I fear not, but I think on my design. _Merope_ At the undried fount of this breast, A babe, thou smilest again. Thy brothers play at my feet, Early-slain innocents! near, Thy kind-speaking father stands. _AEpytus_ Remember, to revenge his death I come! _Merope_