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Rh But shall preserve his country. When I first Came to the throne of Thebes, I served it well; And, as I mounted, now I shall descend In glory: honor shall attend my fall: I leave my country, kingdom, children, all. Then hear me now, hear my last parting words; A king you must have; let him be my choice; Take Philoctetes: he is generous, noble, Virtuous, and brave; his father was a king, And he the friend of Hercules; let him Succeed me: I must hence.—Go, search out Phorbas; Bid him not fear, but come this moment hither, I must bequeath him something; he deserves it: I'll take my farewell as a monarch ought. Go, bring the stranger to me—stay ye here.

Ha! is it thou, my much-loved Icarus! The faithful guardian of my infant years, Favorite and friend of Polybus, my father, What brought thee hither?

Polybus is dead.

Alas? my father!

'Twas what we expected; For he had filled the measure of his days, And died in good old age; these eyes beheld it.