If my authority has any influence,

I will exert it, and she shall be yours.

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

Fly, ere for ever she abjure the world,

And stop the sad procession: [Exit SYSIGAMBIS.] 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. [Exit PARISATIS.

Oh my heart!

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

Alex. Ha!

Clyt. What are you mad? Is this a time to plead?

Lys. The prop'rest time; he dares not now be partial,

Lest Heav'n, in justice, should avenge my wrongs, And double ev'ry pang which he feels now.

Alex. Why dost thou tempt me thus to thy undoing?

Death thou shouldst 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 LYSIMACHUS. Lys. Away, ye slaves! I'll not resign my sword, Till first I've 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.

Exit LYSIMACHUS, PERDICCAS, and GUARDS. Clyt. This comes of women-the result of love; Yet were I heated now with wine, I doubt

I should be preaching in this fool's behalf.

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

Lend me your arms; for I am sick o'the sudden.
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!

Hephes. Look up, my lord, and bend not thus your head,

As if you purpos'd to forsake the world,
Which you have greatly won.

Aler. 'Would I had not;

There is 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 pow'r in floods of hostile blood.
Grant me, great Mars, once more in arms to shine,
And break, like lightning, thro' the 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.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

A Square before the Palace.

Trumpets sounding a Dead March; LYSIMAChus led Prisoner; EUMENES, PERDICCAS, PARISATIs, and GUARDS.

Par. 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 wouldst 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-'tis 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 pow'r, a sister's soft'ning 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 II.

A Pavilion.

Enter ROXANA and CASSANder.

Rox. Deserted! saidst thou? for a girl abandon'd!

A puny girl, made up of watry elements!
Shall she embrace the god of my desires,
And triumph in the heart Roxana claims ?
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
And blackest of the fiends.

Cas. Ch, 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 them, 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.

Rr. 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 non-age I was us'd to 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. Cus. 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,
While, like a god, unconquer'd by their charms,
With heavenly pity he assuag'd their woes,
Dried up their tears, and sooth'd them into peace,
I hung attentive on my father's lips,

And wish'd him tell the wond'rous tale again.
No longer pleasing were my former sports,
Love had its turn, and all the woman reign'd;
Involuntary sighs heav'd in my breast,
And glowing blushes crimson'd on my cheek
Ev'n 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 a 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 nast!