The Athenian captive. A tragedy. In five acts / By Thomas Noon Talfourd. First acted at Covent Garden theatre, April 28, 1838.

  • Talfourd, Thomas Noon, 1795-1854
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Athenian captive. A tragedy. In five acts / By Thomas Noon Talfourd. First acted at Covent Garden theatre, April 28, 1838. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    With which I may not palter. I may seem To-day to wear the look of yesterday,— A shrivell’d, doting, peevish, weak old man. Who may endure some winters more to strip A leaflet daily from him, till he stands So bare of happiness, that Death hath scarce An art to make him nakeder. My soul Begins its solemn whispers of adieu To earth’s too sweet companionship. Yet, hark ! It is Creusa’s footstep ; is’t not, priest ? Is not my child approaching us ? • f 1PHITUS. Afar I see the snowy foldings of a robe Wave through the column’d avenue ; thy sense Is finer than the impatient ear of youth, That it should catch the music of a step So distant and so gentle. CREON. If thou wert A father, thou wouldst know a father’s love ’Mid nature’s weakness, for one failing sense Still finds another sharpen’d to attend Its finest ministries. Unlike the pomps That make the dregs of life more bitter, this Can sweeten even a king’s. [Creusa passes across the stage behind Creon, bearing offerings.]