Enter PERDICCAS.

Per. O horror! horror! dreadful and portentous ! Alex. How now Perdiccas! whence this exclamation? Per. As Meleager and myself this morn Led forth the Persian horse to exercise, We heard a noise as of a rushing wind ; When suddenly a flight of baleful birds, Like a thick cloud, obscur'd the face of Heaven; On sounding wings from diff'rent parts they flew, Encount'ring met, and battled in the air

Their talons clash'd, their beaks gave mighty blows, And showers of blood fell copious from their wounds. Alex. Tho' all the curtains of the sky were drawn, And the stars wink, young Ammon shall go on. While my Statira shines I cannot stray,

Love lifts his torch to light me on my way,

And her bright eyes create another day.

Lys. Vouchsafe, dread sir! to hear my humble suit;

A prince entreats it.

Alex. A soldier asks it-that the noblest claim. Lys. For all the services my word has done Humbly I beg the Princess Parasitas.) Parisatis Alex. Lysimachus, no more-it is not wellMy word, you know, was to Hephestion given: How dare you then

Lys. At your command to scale th' embattled wall, Or fetch the gore-dy'd standard from the foe, When has Hephestion flown with warmer zeal ? When did he leave Lysimachus behind?

These I have done, for these were in my power;

But when you charge me to renounce my love,
And from my thoughts to banish Parisatis,
Obedience there becomes impossible,
Nature revolts, and my whole soul rebels.

Alex. It does, brave sir!-Now hear me and be dumb:

When by my order curst Calisthenes

Was as a traitor doom'd to live in torments,

Your pity sped him in despite of me;
Think not I have forgot your insolence,
No, tho' I pardon'd it-Yet if again
Thou dar'st to cross me with another crime;
The bolts of fury shall be doubled on thee.
In the mean time-think not of Parisatis,
For if thou dost-by the immortal Ammon
I'll not regard the blood of mine thou shar❜st,
But use thee as the vilest Macedonian.

Lys. I knew you partial ere I mov'd my suit;
Yet know it shakes not my determin'd purpose:
While I have life and strength to wield a sword
I never will forego the glorious claim.

Alex. Against my life! ha! traitor, was it so ? 'Tis said that I am rash, of hasty humour; But I appeal to the immortal gods

If every petty, poor, provincial lord

Had temper like to mine? My slave, whom I
Could tread to clay, dares utter bloody threats!
Clyt. Forgive, dread sir! the frantic warmth of love;
The noble prince, I read it in his eyes,

Would die a thousand deaths to serve his king,

And justify his loyalty and truth.

Lys. I meant his minion there should feel my arm : Love claims his blood, nor shall he live to triumph In that destruction that awaits his rival.

Alex. I pardon thee for my old Clytus' sake;
But if once more thou mention thy rash love,
Or dar'st attempt Hephestion's precious life;
I'll pour such storms of indignation on thee
Philotas' rack, Calisthenes' disgrace,

Shall be delight to what thou shalt endure.
Clyt. My lord, the aged queen, with Parisatis,
Come to congratulate your safe arrival.

Enter SYSIGAMBIS and PARISATIS.

Alex. Oh thou, the best of women, Sysigambis!
Source of my joy, blest parent of my lovel
Sys. In humble duty to the gods and you
Permit us, sir, with gratitude to kneel.
Thro' you the royal house of Persia shines,
Rais'd from the depth of wretchedness and ruin,
In all the splendor of imperial greatness.

Alex. To meet me thus was generously done;
But still there wants to crown my happiness
That treasure of my soul, the dear Statira !
Had she but come to meet her Alexander
I had been blest indeed.

Clyt. Now who shall dare

To tell him of the queen's vow?

Alex. How fares

My love?-Ha! neither answer me! all silent!
A sudden horror, like a bolt of ice,

Shoots to my heart, and 'numbs the seat of life.

Heph. I would relate it, but my courage fails me. Alex. Why stand you all as you were rooted here? What I will none answer? my Hephestion silent! If thou hast any love for Alexander,

If ever I oblig'd thee by my care.

When thro' the field of death my eye has watch'd

thee,

Resolve my doubts, and rescue me from madness.
Heph. Your mourning queen has no disease but grief,
Occasion'd by the jealous pangs of love :

She heard, dread sir! (for what can 'scape a lover)
That you, regardless of your vows, at Susa,
Had to Roxana's charms resign'd your heart,
And revell'd in the joys you once forswore.

Alex. I own the subtle sorceress in my riot,
My reason gone, seduc'd me to her bed,
But when I wak'd I shook the Circe off,
Tho' the enchantress held me by the arm,
And wept and gaz'd with all the force of love;
Nor griev'd I less for that which I had done
Than when at Thais' suit, enrag'd with wine,
I set the fam'd Persepolis on fire.

Heph. Your queen, Statira, in the rage of grief,
And agony of deperate love, has sworn

Never to see your majesty again.

Alex. Oh, madam has she has Statira sworn

Never to see her Alexander more?

Impossible! she could not, would not, swear it.
Is she not gentle as the guileless infant;
Mild as the genial breezes of the spring,
And softer than the melting sighs of love?

Par. With sorrow, sir, I heard the solemn vow, My mother heard it, and in vain adjur'd her By every tender motive to recall it.

Sys. Put with that fierceness she resents her wrongs, Dwells on your fault, and heightens the offence, That I could wish your majesty forget her.

Alex. Ha! could you wish me to forget Statira!
The star which brightens Alexander's life,
His guide by day and goddess of his nights!
I feel her now, she beats in every pulse,

Throbs at my heart, and circles with my blood!

Sys. Have patience, son, and trust to Heaven and me; If my authority has any influence

I will exert it, and she shall be your's.

Alex. Haste, madam, haste, if you would have me live;

Fly, ere for ever she abjure the world,

And stop the sad procession: [Exit Sys.] and Parisatis,
Hang thou about her, wash her feet with tears—

Nay haste; the breath of gods, and eloquence
Of angels go along with you.

Oh my heart!

[Exit Par.

Lys. Now let your majesty who feels the pangs Of disappointed love, reflect on mine.

Alex. Hal