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The fragrant violet or opening rose,

Are half so sweet as Alexander's breath.

Then he will talk-good Gods how he will talk! He speaks the kindest words, and looks such things, Vows with such passion, and swears with such a grace, That it is heaven to be deluded by him!

Sys. Her sorrows must have way.

Stat. Roxana then enjoys my perjur'd love, Roxana clasps my monarch in her arms, Dotes on my conq'ror, my dear lord, my king! Oh, 't is too much! by Heaven I cannot bear it! She clasps him all-she, the curst happy sheI'll die, or rid me of the burning torture! Hear me bright god of day! hear ev'ry god! Sys. Take heed, Statira, weigh it well my child, Ere desp❜rate love enforces you to swear.

Stat. Oh! fear not that, already have I weigh'd it,
And in the presence here of Heaven and
you,
Renounce all converse with perfidious man.
Farewell ye, coz'ners of our easy sex !
And thou, the falsest of the faithless kind,
Farewell for ever! Oh, farewell! farewell!
If I but mention him the tears will flow!

How could'st thou, cruel! wrong a heart like mine,
Thus fond, thus doting, ev'n to madness, on theel
Sys. Clear up thy griefs, thy Alexander comes,
Triumphant in the spoils of conquer'd India;
This day the hero enters Babylon.

Stat. Why, let him come; all eyes will gaze with rapture,

All hearts will joy to see the victor pass,

All but the wretched, the forlorn Statira.

Sys. Wilt thou not see him then?

Stat. I swear, and heaven be witness to my vow!

Never from this sad hour, never to see

Nor speak, no, nor, if possible, to think

Of Alexander more.

And when I break it

Sys. Do not ruin all.

This is my vow,

[Kneels.

Stat. May I again be perjured and deluded!
May furies rend my heart! may lightnings blast me!
Sys. Recall, my child, the dreadful imprecation.
Stat. No, I will publish it through all the court,
Then to the bowers of great Semiramis
Retire for ever from the treach'rous world;
There from man's sight will I conceal my woes,
And seek in solitude a calm repose;

Nor prayers nor tears shall my resolves controul,
Nor love itself, that tyrant of the soul.

ACT II. SCENE 1.

[Exeunt.

A Triumphal Arch.-Enter CASSANDER and POLY.

PERCHON.

Cassander.

He comes, the headlong Alexander comes;

The gods forbid him Babylon in vain;

In vain do prodigies foretel his fall:

Attended by a throng of scepter'd slaves
This rapid conq'ror of the ravag'd globe
Makes his appearance, and defies the danger.

Poly. Why all this noise-ye partial powers declare-
These starts of nature, at a tyrant's doom?
Is Alexander of such wondrous moment

That heaven should feel the wild alarms of fear,
And fate itself become a babbler for him?
Cas. Cas'd in the very arms we saw him wear
The spirit of his father haunts the court
In all the majesty of solemn sorrow :
The awful spectre fix'd his eyes upon me,

Wav'd his pale hand-and threatful shook his head,
Groan'd out forbear-and vanish'd from my view.
A fear till then unknown possess'd my soul,

And sick'ning nature trembled at the sight!

Poly. Why should you tremble ?-Had the yawning earth

Laid all the tortures of the damn'd before me

My soul, unskaken in her firm resolve;

Would brave those tortures and pursue the tyrant.
Cas. Yes, Polyperchon, he this night shall die;
Our plots in spite of prodigies advance ;
Success attends us.-Oh, it joys my soul

To deal destruction like the hand of Heaven,
Felt while unseen!

Poly. The Persians all dissatisfied appear,
Loudly they murmur at Statira's wrongs,
And fiercely censure Alexander's falsehood.

Cas. I know he loves Statira more than life;
And when he hears the solemn vow she made,
The oath that bars her from his sight for ever,
Remorse and horror will at once invade him,
Rend his wreck'd soul, and rush him into madness.
Poly. Of that anon-the court begins to thicken;
From ev'ry province of the wide-spread earth
Ambassadors in Babylon are met;

As if mankind had previously agreed

To compliment the tyrant's boundless pride,
And hold a solemn synod of the world,
Where Alexander like a god should dictate.

Cas. We must away or mingle with the crowd.
Adore this god till apt occasion calls

To make him what he would be thought-immortal.

[Exeunt.

A Symphony of Warlike Music. Enter CLYTUS and ARISTANDER, in his Robes.

Arist. Haste, rev'rend Clytus, haste and stop the king.

Clyt. Already is he enter'd, and the throng
Of princes that surround him is so great
They keep at distance all that would approach.

Arist. Were he encircled by the gods themselves

I must be heard, for death awaits his stay.

Clyt. Then place yourself within his trumpet's

sound;

Shortly he'll appear.

[Exeunt.

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Enter ALEXANDER in a Triumphal Car drawn by Block Slaves, Trophies and Warlike Ensigns in Procession before him; CLYTUS, HEPHESTION, LY SIMACHUS, ARISTANDER, Captives, Guards, and attendants.

See the conq'ring hero comes,

Sound the trumpet beat the drums;
Sports prepare, the laurel bring,
Sports of triumph to him sing.
See the godlike youth advance,
Breathe the flute and lead the dance;
Myrtle, wreath, and roses twine

To deck the hero's brow divine.

Heph. Hail, son of Jove great Alexander! hail. Alex Rise all; and thou my second selt, my friend, Oh, my Hephestion! raise thee from the earth! Come to my arms, and hide thee in my heart; Nearer, yet nearer, else thou lov'st me not.

Heph. Not love my king bear witness all ye powers, And let your thunder nail me to the centre, If sacred friendship ever burn'd more brightly! Immortal bosoms can alone admit

A flame more pure, more permanent, than mine. Alex. Thou dearer to me than my groves of laurel, I know thou lov'st thy Alexander more

Than Clytus does the king.

Lys. Now for my fate!

I see that death awaits me-yet I'll on.
Dread sir! I cast me at your royal feet.

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