Part 22 (2/2)

Cleon. Bright hopes call me hence. Life, love, fame, beckon me away.

[Ha.s.san _looks in_.]

Ha.s.san. The promised hour hath well-nigh gone. Prepare, young Greek; we must away.

Ion. A moment more. [_Exit_ Ha.s.san.] Father, time wanes. Once more I do entreat thee,--go!

Cleon. Heaven grant I choose aright! Come Ion, we will forth together.

[Ion _folds the cloak about_ Cleon; _gives him the ring_.] Come, let us go.

Ion. Nay, but one can pa.s.s forth. Thou goest. I await the morning here.

Cleon. Then do I tarry also. Nay, Ion, I will not go hence without thee.

Ion. Then all is lost. Father, thy stay can nought avail me. It cannot save, and thou wilt but sacrifice thine own priceless life.

Cleon. Then fly with me; let me bear thee to thy mother. Alone, I will not go.

Ion. I cannot go; a vow doth bid me stay,--a vow that nought shall tempt me from the camp to-night; and when did a Greek e'er break his plighted word?

Cleon. If thine honor bid thee stay, thy father will not tempt thee hence; but he may stay and suffer with thee the fate of the faithful [_throws off the mantle_].

Ion. Oh, my father, do not cast from thee the priceless boon of liberty.

Think of thy broken-hearted wife, thy faithful followers, thy unconquered foes; think, Father, of thy country calling on thee for deliverance. What were my worthless life weighed 'gainst her freedom.

And what happier fate for a hero's son than for a hero's sake to fall!

Cleon. Thou true son of Greece! Mayst thou yet live to wield a sword for thine oppressed land, and gird with laurels that brow so worthy them.

[Ha.s.san _enters_.

Ha.s.san. No longer may I stay: thine hour is past.

Ion. I come,--yet one moment more, good Ha.s.san; it is my last. [_Exit_ Ha.s.san.] Once more, my father, do I entreat thee,--go. Thou dost forget a guardian spirit watcheth over me, and the power that led me hither may yet accomplish my deliverance. If nought else can move thee, for my sake go, and win for me that freedom mine honor doth now forbid me to seek.

Break not my heart, nor let me plead in vain.

Cleon. My boy, for thy dear sake do I consent. I _will_ earn thy deliverance bravely, as a soldier should; and thy dear image shall be to me the star that leads me on to victory.

Ion [_joyfully_]. Away! Ha.s.san will guide thee past the guards. Then fly,--and Heaven guide thee, O my father! [Ion _again shrouds_ Cleon _in the mantle, concealing his chains in the thick folds_.] Thus m.u.f.fle thy tell-tale fetters, that no sound may whisper to the Turks there walks a Greek under the free heavens forth to freedom.

Cleon. My Ion, one last embrace! G.o.d grant 'tis not our last on earth!

Bless thee, thou true young heart! Heaven guard thee!

[Ha.s.san _enters in haste_.

Ha.s.san. Art ready? We must depart. [Cleon _bows his head and follows_.

Ion _rushes after, looking from the tent_.]

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