Clyt. "What are you mad? is this a time to plead ! Lys. The properest time; he dares not now be partial, Lest Heaven in justice should avenge my wrongs, And double every pang which he feels now.

Alex. Why dost thou tempt me thus to thy undoing Death thou should'st have were it not courted so: But know, to thy confusion, that my word, Like destiny, admits of no repeal; Therefore in chains shall thou behold the nuptials Of my Hephestion. Guards, take him prisoner.

[The Guards seize Lys.

Lys. Away, ye slaves! I'll not resign my sword, 'Till first l'ave drench'd it in my rival's blood.

Alex. I charge you kill him not; take him alive; The dignity of kings is now concern'd,

And I will find a way to tame this rebel.

Clyt. Kneel-for I see rage lightning in his eyes. Lys. I neither hope nor will I sue for pardon. Had I my sword and liberty again;

Again I would attempt his favourite's heart.

Alex. Hence from my sight, and bear him to a dungeon.

Perdiccas, give this lion to a lion :

None speak for him: fly; stop his mouth; away.

[Exeunt Lys. Per. and Guards.

Clyt. This comes of women-the result of love: 'Tis folly all, 't is frenzy and distraction; Yet were I heated now with wine I doubt

I should be preaching in this fool's behalf.

Alex. Come hither, Clytus, and my friend Hephestion;

Lend me your arms:

I fear betwixt Statira's cruel vows

And fond Roxana's arts your king will fall.
Clyt. Better the race of women were destroy'd,
And Persia sunk in everlasting ruin!

Heph. Look up,my lord, and bend not thus your head, As if you purpos'd to forsake the world,

Which you have greatly won.

Alex. Would I had not;

There's no true joy in such unwieldy fortune.

Eternal gazers lasting troubles make;

All find my spots, but few observe my brightness.
Stand from about me all, and give me air.
Yes, I will shake this Cupid from my soul,
I'll fright the feeble god with war's alarms,
Or drown his power in floods of hostile blood.
Grant me, great Mars! once more in arms to shine,
And break like lightning thro' th' embattled line;
Thro' fields of death to whirl the rapid car,
And blaze amidst the thunder of the war,
Resistless as the bolt that rends the grove;
Or greatly perish like the son of Jove.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

[Exeunt.

An open Court; Trumpets sounding a Dead March; LySIMACHUS led Prisoner; EUMENUS, PERDICCAS, PARISATIS, and Guards.

Parisatis.

STAY, my Lysimachus! a moment stay!
Oh, whither art thou going!-hold a moment!

Unkind thou know'st my life was wrapt in thine,
Why would'st thou then to worse than death expose me?

Lys. Oh, may'st thou live in joys without allay!
Grant it, ye gods! a better fortune waits thee;
Live and enjoy it 't is my dying wish,
While to the grave the lost Lysimachus
Alone retires, and bids the world adieu.

Par. Even in the grave will Parisatis join thee;
Yes, cruel man! nor death itself shall part us :
A mother's power, a sister's softening tears,
With all the fury of a tyrant's frown,

Shall not compel me to outlive thy loss.

Lys. Were I to live 'till nature's self decay'd
This wondrous waste of unexampled love
I never could repay-O Parisatis !

Thy charms might fire a coward into courage,
How must they act then on a soul like mine?
Defenceless and unarm'd I'll fight for thee,
And may perhaps compel th' astonish'd world,
And force the king to own that I deserve thee.
Eumenes, take the princess to thy charge.
Away Perdiccas, all my soul's on fire.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 11.

The Palace. Enter ROXANA and CASSANDER, Rox. Deserted! said'st thou for a girl abandon'd 1 A puny girl, made up of watery elements! Shall she embrace the god of any desires, And triumph in the heart Roxana claims E

Cas. Oh, princess! had you seen his wild despair, Had you beheld him when he heard her vow, Words would but wrong the agonies he felt ; He fainted thrice, and life seem'd fled for ever; And when by our assidious care recall'd, He snatch'd his sword, and aim'd it at his breast; Then rail'd at you with most unheard of curses.

Rox. If I forget it may'st thou, Jove, deprive me Of vengeance, make me the most wretched thing On earth while living, and when dead the lowest Of the fiends.

Cas. Oh, nobly said!

Just is the vengeance which inflames your soul;
Your wrongs demand it—but let reason govern;
This wild rage else may disappoint your aims.
Rox. Away, away, and give a whirlwind room!
Pride, indignation, fury, and contempt,

War in my breast, and torture me to madness.

Cas. Oh think not I would check your boldest

flights:

No-I approve 'em, and will aid your vengeance:
But, princess, let us choose the safest course;
Or we may give our foes new cause of triumph,
Should they discover and prevent our purpose.
Rox. Fear not, Cassander, nothing shall prevent it,
Roxana dooms him, and her voice is fate.
My soul from childhood has aspir'd to empire;
In early nonage I was us'd ro reign
Among my she companions; I despis'd
The trifling arts and little wiles of women,

And taught them with an Amazonian spirit

To win the steed, to chase the foaming boar;

And conquer man, the lawless, charter'd savage.
Cas. Her words, her looks, her every motion, fires

me.

Rox. But when I heard of Alexander's fame,
How with a handful he had conquer'd millions,
Spoil'd all the east, and captive led our queens,
Unconquer'd by their charms,

With heavenly pity he assuag'd their woes,
Dry'd up their tears, and sooth'd them into peace,
I hung attentive on my father's lips,

And wish'd him tell the wondrous tale again.
No longer pleasing were my former sports,
Love had it's turn, and all the woman reign'd:
Involuntary sighs heav'd in my breast,
And glowing blushes crimson'd on my cheek;
Even in my slumbers I have often mourn'd
In plaintive sounds, and murmur'd, Alexander.
Cas. Curse on his name-she doats upon him still.
Rox. At length this conqueror to Zogdia came,
And cover'd o'er with laurels storm'd the city:
But oh, Cassander where shall I find words
To paint th' ecstatic transports of my soul;
When midst the circle of unrivall'd beauties
I saw myself distinguish'd by the hero!
With artless rapture I receiv'd his vows,
The warmest sure that lover ever breath'd

Of fervent love and everlasting truth.

Cas. And need you then be told those times are past!