The boldest at this table would have trembled.

Nay, frown not, sir, you cannot look me dead.
When Greeks join'd Greeks then was the tug of war!
The labour'd battle sweat, and conquest bled.
Why should I fear to speak a bolder truth
Than e'er the lying priests of Ammon told you
Philip fought men-but Alexander women.

Alex. All envy, spite and envy, by the gods!
Is then my glory come to this at last

To conquer women! Nay, he said the stoutest,
The stoutest here, would tremble at his dangers.
In all the sickness, all the wounds, I bore,

When from my reins the jav'lin's head was cut,
Lysimachus, Hephestion, speak Perdiccas,
Did I once tremble? Oh, the cursed falsehood!
Did I once shake or groan, or act beneath
The dauntless resolution of a king?
Lys. Wine has transported him.

Alex. No, 't is mere malice.

I was a woman too at Oxydrace,

When planting on the walls a scaling ladder
I mounted, spite of showers of stones, bars, arrows,
And all the lumber which they thunder'd down.
When you beneath cry'd out, and spread your arms,
That I should leap among you-did I so?

Lys. Dread sir! the old man knows not what he says,
Alex. Was I woman when, like Mercury,

I leap'd the walls and flew amidst the foe,
And like a baited lion dy'd myself

All over in the blood of those bold hunters;

'Till spent with toil I battled on my knees,

Pluck'd forth the darts that made my shield a forest,
And hurl'd 'em back with most unconquer'd fury,
Then shining in my arms I sunn'd the field,
Mov'd, spoke, and fought, and was myself a war.
Clyt. 'Twas all bravado; for before you leap'd
You saw that I had burst the gates asunder.

Alex. Oh, that thou wert but once more young and vig'rous !

That I might strike thee prostrate to the earth,
For this audacious lie, thou feebled dotard!.
Clyt. I know the reason why you use me thus:
I sav'd you from the sword of bold Rhesaces,
Else had your godship slumber'd in the dust,
And most ungratefully you hate me for it.

Alex. Hence from the banquet: thus far I forgive thee.

Clyt. First try (for none can want forgiveness more) To have your own bold blasphemies forgiv❜n, The shameful riots of a vicious life,

Philotas' murder

Alex. Ha! what said the traitor?

Heph. Clytus, withdraw; Eumenes, force him hence: He must not tarry: drag him to the door.

Clyt. No, let him send me if I must be gone,

To Philip, Atalaus, Calisthenes,

To great Parmenio, and his slaughter'd sons.

Alex. Give me a javelin.

Heph. Hold, mighty sir!

G

Alex. Sirrah off,

Lest I at once strike thro' his heart and thine.

Lys. Oh, sacred sir! have but a moment's patience. Alex. What! hold my arms? I shall be murder'd here,

Like poor Darius by my barb'rous subjects,
Perdiccas, sound our trumpets to the camp;
Call all my soldiers to the court: nay, haste,
For there is treason plotting 'gainst my life,
And I shall perish ere they come to save me.
Where is the traitor?

Clyt. Sure there is none amongst us,
But here I stand-honest Clytus,
Whom the king invited to the banquet.

Alex. Begone to Philip, Atalaus, Calisthenes

And let bold subjects learn by thy example
Not to provoke the patience of their prince.

[Stabs him.

Clyt. The rage of wine is drown'd in gushing blood Oh Alexander ! I have been to blame :

Hate me not after death; for I repent

That I so far have urg'd your noble nature.

Alex. What's this I hear! say on, my dying soldier. Clyt. I should have kill'd myself had I but liv'd To be once sober-Now I fall with honour; My own hands would have brought foul death. Oh, pardon! [Dies. Alex. Then I am lost: what has my vengeance done! Who is it thou hast slain? Clytus ! what was he ? The faithfullest subject, worthiest counsellor,

The bravest soldier, he who sav'd thy life,
Fighting bareheaded at the river Granick,
And now he has a noble recompense;
For a rash word, spoke in the heat of wine,
The poor, the honest Clytus thou hast slain,
Clytus, thy friend, thy guardian, thy preserver !
Heph. Remove the body, it inflames his sorrow.
Alex. None dare to touch him: we must never part.
Cruel Hephestion and Lysimachus,

That had the pow'r, yet would not hold me.

Lys. Dear sir, we did.

Alex. I know ye did; yet held me

Like a wild beast, to let me go again

Oh!

With greater violence.-Oh, ye have undone me! Excuse it not; you that could stop a lion

Could not turn me! ye should have drawn your swords, And barr'd my rage with their advancing points, Made reason glitter in my dazzled eyes

Till I had seen the precipice before me:

That had been noble, that had shown the friend;
Clytus would so have done to save your lives.

Lys. When men shall hear how highly you were urg'd

Alex. No; you have let me stain my rising glory, Which else had ended brighter than the sun. Oh! I am all a blot, which seas of tears And my heart's blood can never wash away! Yet 't is but just I try, and on the point Still reeking hurl my black polluted breast. Heph. Oh, sacred sir I-it shall not-must not be.

Lys. Forgive, dread sir 1-forgive my pious hands, That dare in duty to disarm my master.

Alex. Yes, cruel men! ye now can show your strength :

Here's not a slave but dares oppose my justice,

Yet none had courage to prevent this murder:
But I will render all endeavours vain

That tend to save my life-here will I lie,

[Falls on Clytus. Close to my murder'd soldier's bleeding side; Thus clasping his cold body in my arms

'Till death like his has clos'd my eyes for ever.

Enter PERDICCAS.

Per. Treason foul treason! Hephestion, where 's the king?

Heph. There, by old Clytus' side, whom he hath slain. Per. Rise, sacred sir! and haste to save the queen.

Roxana filled with furious jealousy,

Came with a guard unmark'd; she gain'd the bow'r, And broke upon me with such sudden fury

That all have perish'd who oppos'd her rage.

Alex. What says Perdiccas? is the queen in danger? Per. Haste, sir, or she dies.

Alex. Thus from the grave I rise to save my love: All draw your swords, on wings of lightning move, Young Ammon leads you, and the cause is love. When I rush on sure none will dare to stay; 'Tis beauty calls, and glory leads the way.

[Exeunt.