_Dio._ Here will I mock their siege; here stand at bay, And brave them to the last. _Cal._ Our weary foes Desist from the pursuit. _Dio._ Tho' all betray me, Tho' ev'ry god conspire, I will not yield. If I must fall, the temple's pond'rous roof, The mansion of the gods combin'd against me, Shall first be crush'd, and lie in ruin with me. Euphrasia here! Detested, treach'rous woman! For my revenge preserv'd!--By Heaven, 'tis well; Vengeance awaits thy guilt, and this good sword Thus sends thee to atone the bleeding victims This night has massacred. _Cal._ [_Holding DIONYSIUS'S Arm._] My liege, forbear; Her life preserv'd may plead your cause with Greece, And mitigate your fate. _Dio._ Presumptuous slave! My rage is up in arms;--by Heav'n, she dies. _Enter EVANDER, from the Tomb._ _Eva._ Horror! forbear!--Thou murd'rer, hold thy hand! The gods behold thee, horrible assassin! Restrain the blow; it were a stab to Heav'n; All nature shudders at it!--Will no friend Arm in a cause like this a father's hand? Strike at this bosom rather. Lo! Evander Prostrate and groveling on the earth before thee! He begs to die:--exhaust the scanty drops That lag about his heart;--but spare my child. _Dio._ Evander!----Do my eyes once more behold him?-- May the fiends seize Philotas! Treach'rous slave! 'Tis well thou liv'st; thy death were poor revenge From any hand but mine. [_Offers to strike._ _Eup._ No, tyrant no; [_Rushing before EVANDER._ I have provok'd your vengeance; through this bosom Open a passage; first on me, on me Exhaust your fury. Ev'ry pow'r above Commands thee to respect that aged head: His wither'd frame wants blood to glut thy rage: Strike here; these veins are full; here's blood enough; The purple tide will gush to glad thy sight. _Dio._ Amazement blasts and freezes ev'ry pow'r! Ha! the fierce tide of war [_A flourish of Trumpets._ This way comes rushing on. [_Goes to the Top of the Stage._ _Eup._ [_Embracing EVANDER._] Oh! thus, my father, We'll perish thus together. _Dio._ Bar the gates; Close ev'ry passage, and repel their force. _Eva._ And must I see thee bleed? Oh, for a sword! Bring, bring me daggers! _Eup._ Ha! _Dio._ Guards, seize the slave, And give him to my rage. _Eva._ [_Seized by the GUARDS._] Oh! Inhuman villains! _Eup._ Now, one glorious effort!-- _Dio._ Let me despatch; thou traitor, thus my arm-- _Eup._ A daughter's arm, fell monster, strikes the blow. [_Stabs DIONYSIUS._ Yes, first she strikes; an injur'd daughter's arm Sends thee devoted to th' infernal gods. [_He falls._ _Dio._ May curses blast thy arm! May Ætna's fires Convulse the land; to its foundation shake The groaning isle! May civil discord bear Her flaming brand through all the realms of Greece; And the whole race expire in pangs like mine! [_Dies._