ACT V. SCENE I.

The Bower of Semiramis.-STATIRA discovered.

BLESS

Statira.

LESS me, ye pow'rs above, and guard my virtue!
Where are you fled, dear shades? where are you fled?
'Twas but a dream, and yet I saw and heard
My royal parents, who, while pious care

Sat on their faded cheeks, pronounc'd with tears,
Tears such as angels weep, this hour my last.
But hence with fear-my Alexander comes,
And fear and danger ever fled from him.
Wou'd that he were here!

For oh, I tremble, and a thousand terrors
Rush in upon me and alarm my heart!

But hark! 't is he, and all my fears are fled :

My life, my joy, my Alexander, comes!

Rox. [Within.] Make fast the gate with all its massy

bars:

At length we 'ave conquered this stupendous height, And reach'd the grove.

Stat. Ye guardian gods defend me!

Roxana's voice! then all the vision's true,

And die I must.

Enter ROXANA.

Rox. Secure the brazen gate.

Where is my rival? 't is Roxana calls,

Stat. And what is she who with such tow'ring pride Would awe a princess that is born above her?

Rox. Behold this dagger!—'t is thy fate Statira!
Behold, and meet it as becomes a queen.
Fain would I find thee worthy of my vengeance;
Here, take my weapon then, and if thou dar'st—
Stat. How little know'st thou what Statira dares!
Yes, cruel woman! yes, I dare meet death
With a resolve at which thy coward heart
Would shrink; for terror haunts the guilty mind;
While conscious innocence, that knows no fear,
Can smiling pass, and scorn thy idle threats.

Rox. Return, fair insolent! return, I say:
Dar'st thou, presumptuous, to invade my rights!
Restore him quickly to my longing arms,
And with him give me back his broken vows,
For perjur'd as he is, he still is mine,
Or I will rend them from thy bleeding heart.
Stat. Alas, Roxana ! 't is not in my pow'r;

I cannot if I would-and oh, ye gods!
What were the world to Alexander's loss!
Rox. Oh, sorceress! to thy accursed charms
I owe the frenzy that distracts my soul;
To them I owe my Alexander's loss:

Too late thou tremblest at my just revenge,
My wrongs cry out, and vengeance will have way.
Stat. Yet think, Roxana, ere you plunge in murder,
Think on the horrors that must ever haunt you;
Think on the furies, those avenging ministers
Of Heaven's high wrath, how they will tear your soul,

All day distract you with a thousand fears;
And when by night thou vainly seek'st repose
They'll gather round and interrupt your slumbers
With horrid dreams and terrifying visions.

Rox. Add still, if possible, superior horrors.
Rather than leave my great revenge unfinish'd
I'll dare 'em all, and triumph in the deed;
Therefore

[Holds up the dagger. Stat. Hold hold, thy hand advanc'd in air : I read my sentence written in thine eyes; Yet oh Roxanal on thy black revenge One kindly ray of female pity beam;

And give me death in Alexander's presence.

Rox. Not for the world's wide empire should'st thou see him.

Fool! but for him thou might'st unheeded live;

For his sake only art thou doom'd to die.
The sole remaining joy that glads my soul
Is to deprive thee of the heart I 'ave lost.

Enter Slave.

Slave. Madam, the king and all his guards are come, With frantick rage they thunder at the gate,

And must ere this have gain'd admittance.

Rox. Hal

Too long l'ave trifled. Let me then redeem
The time mispent, and make great vengeance sure.
Stat. Is Alexander, oh ye gods I so nigh,
And can he not preserve me from her fury?

Rox. Nor he nor heaven shall shield thee from my justice.

Die sorc'ress, die, and all my wrongs die with thee! [Stabs her. Alex. [Without.] Away, ye slaves! stand off-quick

let me fly

With lightning's wings! nor heav'n nor earth shall stop me.

Enter ALEXANDER.

Ha! oh my soul! my queen, my love, Statira!
These wounds are these my promis'd joys?
Stat. Alas!

My only love, my best and dearest blessing!
Would I had died before you enter'd here;
For thus delighted, while I gaze upon thee
Death grows more horrid, and I'm loth to leave thee.

Alex. Thou shalt not leave me-Cruel, cruel, stars! Oh, where's the monster, where 's the horrid fiend, That struck at innocence and murder'd thee!

Rox. Behold the wretch who, desperate of thy love, In jealous madnes gave the fatal blow;

A wretch that to possess once more thy love
Would with the blood of millions stain her soul.

Alex. To dungeons, tortures, drag her from my sight.
Stat. My soul is on the wing: oh come my lord,
Haste to my arms, and take a last farewell.
Thus let me die. Oh! oh!

Alex. Look up my love.

Oh Heaven and will you, will you, take her from me!

Stat. Farewell, my most lov'd lord: ah me! fare

well!

Yet ere I die grant this request.

Alex. Oh speak,

That I may execute before I follow thee!

Stat. Leave not the world till Heaven demands you-Spare

Roxana's life-'Twas love of you that caus'd
The death she gave me. And oh! sometimes think,
Amidst your revels, think on your poor queen:
And ere the cheerful bowl salutes your lips

Enrich it with a tear, and I am happy.

[Dies.

Alex. Yet ere thou tak'st thy flight-She's gone,

she's gone!

All, all is hush'd, no music now is heard;

The roses wither, and the fragrant breath

That wak'd their sweets shall never wake 'em more! Rox. Weep not, my lord! no sorrow can recall her.

Oh turn your eyes, and in Roxana's arms

You'll find fond love and everlasting truth.

Alex. Hence from my sight, and thank my dear Statira

That yet thou art alive.

Rox. Oh, take me to your arms:

In spite of all your cruelty I love you;
Yes, thus I'll fasten on your sacred robe,
Thus on my knees for ever cling around thee,
'Till you forgive me, or 'till death divide us.

Alex. Hence, fury, hence: there's not a glance of thine