Nay, we have seen an hundred common aliments Poly. Oh let us not delay the glorious business! Our wrongs are great, and honour calls for vengeance. Cas. This day exulting Babylon receives The mighty robber—with him comes Roxana, Poly. How bore Statira his revolted love? Thes. No words can paint the anguish it occa- Ev'n Sysigambis wept, while the wrong'd queen, Cas. When the first tumult of her grief was laid, I sought to fire her into wild revenge, And to that end with all the heart I could She'll give him troubles that perhaps may end him, But, see, she comes. Our plots begin to ripen; And with a face of friendship meet the king. [Exeunt. Enter SYSIGAMBIS, STATIRA, and PARISATIS. Stat. Oh for a dagger, a draught of poison, flames ! Swell heart! break, break, thou wretched stubborn thing! Now, by the sacred fire, I'll not be held : Pray give me leave to walk. Sys. Is there no reverence to my person due? Stat. Oh, he's false ! This glorious man, this wonder of the world, Oh! I have heard him breathe such ardent vows Stat. Away, and let me die : Why, Alexander, why would'st thou deceive me! Have I not kiss'd thy wounds with dying fondness, Bath'd them in tears, and bound them with my hair! Par. If man can thus renounce the solemn ties Of sacred love, who would regard his vows? Stat. Regard his vows! the monster! traitor! Oh! I will forsake the haunts of men, converse No more with aught that's human, dwell with dark ness; For since the sight of him is now unwelcome, Then he will talk-good gods! how he will talk! 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 conqueror, my dear lord, my king! Stat. Oh! fear not that, already have I weigh'd it. Stat. Why, let him come; all eyes wili gaze with rapture, All hearts will joy to see the victor pass, Stat. I swear, and Heaven be witness to my vow! Never from this sad hour, never to see, And when I break it- [Kneels. Stat. May I again be perjur'd 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 treacherous world; There from man's sight will I conceal my woes, Nor prayers nor tears shall my resolves controul, [Exeunt. ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I. A Triumphal Arch at the Entrance into Babylon. A Symphony of warlike Music. Enter ALEXANDER, in a Triumphal Car drawn by BLACK SLAVES; Trophies and Warlike Ensigns in Procession before him: CLYTUS, HEPHESTION, LYSIMACHUS, CAPTIVES, GUARDS, and ATTEND ANTS. See the conquering hero comes, See the godlike youth advance, Heph. Hail, son of Jove! great Alexander, hail! Alex. Rise all; and thou, my second self, my friend, Oh, my Hephestion! raise thee from the earth: 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. I know thou lov'st thy Alexander more Lys. Now for my fate! I see that death awaits me-yet I'll on. Dread sir! I cast me at your royal feet. Alex. Rise, my Lysimachus; thy veins and mine From the same fountain have deriv'd their streams; Rise to my arms, and let thy king embrace thee. Is not that Clytus? Clyt. Your old faithful soldier. Aler. Clytus, thy hand-thy hand, Lysimachus; Thus doubly arm'd, methinks, I stand tremendous as the Lybian god, Who, while the priests and I quaff'd sacred blood, Lys. When fame invites, and Alexander leads, Clyt. Perish the soldier, inglorious and despis'd, Who starts from either when the king cries-On |