But, oh, incredible wonder! Unlooked-for happiness! Lausus, eluding the bounds of the furious animal, struck him a mortal wound and his sword was drawn reeking from the lion`s heart. He fell amid torrents of blood spat forth from the foaming jaws. The universal alarm now changed into triumph, and the people replied to Mezentius` doleful cries only by shouts of admiration and joy. These shouts recalled Lydia to life: she opened her eyes and saw Lausus at Mezentius` feet, holding in one hand the bloody dagger, and in the other his dear and faithful Phanor.
“It is I,” said he to his father, “I alone who am culpable. Phanor`s crime was mine: it was rrty duty to explain it. I forced him to resign his place, and was about’to kill myself if he refused. I live, I owe my life to him, and if your son be still dear to you, you owe your son to him, but if your vengeance is not appeased, our days are in your hands. Strike, we will perish together, our hearts have sjvorn it.” Lydia, trembling at this discourse, viewed Mezentius with suppliant eyes, overflowing with tears.
Jealousy and revenge
The tyrant`s cruelty could not withstand this trial. The cries of Nature and the voice of remorse put to silence jealousy and revenge. He remained for a long time immovable and dumb, casting by turns looks of trouble and confusion on the culprits before him, looks in which love, hatred, indignation, and pity succeeded to one another. All trembled around the tyrant. Lausus, Phanor, Lydia, and a multitude innumerable waited with terror the first words that he was to pronounce.
He submitted at last, in spite of himself, to that virtue whose ascendancy overpowered him, and passing of a sudden with impetuous violence from rage to tenderness, he threw himself into his son`s arms. “Yes,” said he, “I pardon thee, and I pardon also thy friend. Live, love one another; but there remains one sacrifice more for me to make thee, and thou hast just now rendered thyself worthy of it. Receive it, then,” said he with a new effort; “receive this hand, the gift of which is dearer to thee than life. It is thy valor which has forced it from me; it is that alone could have obtained it.”
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