Which veering winds still blow about the world?

I will not think so! Yet, alas! the while
I see and feel presages that alarm.

If they prove true, if man is like the leaf,
Which falling from the tree revives no more,
I shall be shortly dust, that will not hear
Euanthe weep, nor see the shame of Sparta!
Now I'm a living man, my mind is free,
And, whilst I live and breathe, by heaven I'll act
As if I were immortal.

Enter RHESUS and Euxus.

Rhe. See where he stands! behold him, O my brother!

The bravest and the best of human kind.
Opprest with grief and shame, and fatal love,
Indignant virtue but augments his pain.
Will not my Euxus give his aid to heave
This noble vessel from the rock it beats on ?-

[Goes up to LYSANDER.

My lord! my leader! Oh!

Lysan. My faithful Rhesus!

Comest thou to share the ruin that Lysander
Has brought upon himself, his prince, his country?

Rhe. I come more eager and more proud to share Thy present fortune, than thy former glory. Alas, my lord! 'twould make a stranger weep, To see the chief, whom conquest crown'd to-day, A captive.

Lysan. Rhesus, thou hast named the least
Of my calamities. I could endure,

With Spartan fortitude, my own disasters;
Bear to be hurled from meridian glory,
And, like a fallen star, be seen no more:
But, oh! the king!-and desolate Euanthe!
Rhe. Do not despair.

Lysan. Thou art my only hope,

This day thy generous brother saved my life;
At his request I yielded up my sword,
Else had Lysander like a soldier fall'n.
Thou art my friend in noble perils proved.
My fate, the fate of Sparta, and of Agis,
Is in the hands of Euxus-

Rhe. Ah! my brother!

Eux. O chief of Sparta! Euxus is distrest On every side. Thy virtue, thy misfortunes, Have touch'd my heart: but here in trust I stand. Would I had never seen the walls of Sparta!

Lysan. The Gods, the guardian Gods of Lace

dæmon,

Have brought you hither to preserve a people,
And save from traitors' hands the best of kings.
Although at first you rashly drew the sword
In blind obedience to a leader's will,
The gallant Euxus will not sure persist
In error known, in manifest injustice.
Thy trade is war, brave soldier; this is not
An office for thy sword.

Eux. True are thy words;

I was indeed deceived, and came not here
To mix in Sparta's strife; but honour now-

Rhe. I will not hear thee plead so bad a cause.

Is there a bond in nature like the tie

Which binds the hearts of brothers? And will Euxus,

From vain ideas of fidelity

To that detested traitor, false Amphares,

His brother murder?

Eux. No.

Rhe. Then let thy arms

Defend Lysander. By our country's Gods
I swear, and by our warlike father's soul,

Whose well-beloved son thou ever wert,

That with the Spartan chief thy brother dies. Lysan. Might you not favour the escape of

Agis?

The guards are Thracians.

Eux. I might favour thine.

My power extends not to the guards of Agis.

Rhe. And wilt thou not?

Eux. Command thyself, my brother.

Rhe. How canst thou hesitate?

Eux. I must beware;

Inferior in command to bold Rhinalces,
And ever view'd by him with jealous eyes.
Whilst I deliberate, no time is lost.

The light of day suits not with your designs;
Before the night comes on, I will determine.

Lysan. 'Tis almost night, the sun hath left the

heavens,

And doubtful twilight ushers in the gloom.

Perhaps the enemies of Agis wait

The darkness of the night to cover deeds
They dare not act by day. This night I dread

Rhe. The Ephori have sent a herald forth, Charged with some solemn menace, and command To stop the army's march.

Lysan. If they obey,

The fane of Juno guards the king no more!
Eternal Gods! how wretched is Lysander !

From me that herald should have heard his answer.
Cannot my Rhesus find one gallant Spartan

To bear my orders to the royal band

To storm the city?

Rhe. I myself will bear

These orders to the camp.

Lysan. Another task,

More difficult and dangerous, is thine.

Assume the arms and vesture of thy country,
And through the Thracians win thy way to Agis.
Rhesus, the generous spirit of that prince

Is of a nature that excludes all fear,
Consideration, and respect of self:

On earth he acts as if he were a god,
Immortal, and incapable of harm.

Think how the artful falsehood of Amphares
May operate on such a royal mind,

Enter a Thracian.

Thra. The Spartan lord draws near.

Eux. Amphares comes.