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Of great exploits by ardent valour done:

But ne'er did fancy's tempest match the truth,
The strong reality of such a storm.

O did I combat but for life alone,

Were Sparta and Euanthe safe spectators,
How gaily should Lysander take the field.-
Euxus draws near-Upon the insect wing
Of a small moment ride th' eternal fates.

Enter Euxus.

Euxus. My fears are vain. The secret is unknown.

But Rhesus is condemn'd to die to-morrow. Lysan. To-morrow! many men will die to-mor

row,

Who are not yet condemn'd.

Euxus. 'Tis true, by heav'n!

Mortal designs and enterprizes rise

On every side. The Ephori resolve

At midnight to surprise the royal band,
And order'd me to hold my troops prepared
Their forces to sustain.

Lysan. 'Tis well! 'tis wondrous well
They urge me now, and point the line of action.
Under the high up-lifted arm of fate

I'll rush, and strike before their blow can fall.
I'll storm the city while they force the camp.
Your troops-

Euxus. Shall join you at the gate. The word? Lysan. Agis. Farewell!-Now I shall save thee, Agis,

Or leave

my blood upon the stones of Sparta.

[Exeunt LYSANDER and EUXUS.

ACT V.

AMPHARES and the Ephori with the Officers, &c. The gate of the prison seen at a distance.

1. Epho. The hour is past.

2. Epho. I fear—

Amph. Silence. He comes.

I hear the steps of wary treading feet.

Enter a Spartan. AGIS following.

Agis. This way conducts not to Amycla's gate. Ah! whither dost thou lead me?

Amph. To thy death.

The Ephori of Sparta have condemn'd thee.

Agis. I am betray'd! What mockery is this Of sacred justice? Lay aside the robes And ensigns of authority prophaned: pomp of magistracy suits not treason.

The

Amph. The licence of thy tongue affronts the

laws,

Where awful rev'rence our high office bears.

Agis. Know ye not this, ye guardians of the laws,

The meanest citizen of Lacedæmon

Without free trial cannot be condemn'd;

Much less your king.

What law have I trans

gress'd?

Point out my crime; produce my bold accusers.

Amph. Thy crime is tyranny.

Agis. Is that my crime?

Had Agis been a tyrant, thou had'st been

His fawning slave, thou enemy of freedom!
Amph. Behold the stubborn spirit of this man :
He breathes his native arrogance, and still
Insults his judges, and avows his crimes.

Agis. Who made you judges of the life of Agis? But you have judged yourselves, and earth, and heav'n,

Know how unjustly. To the gods above,
The sure avengers of a murder'd king,
I make my last appeal. Their messenger
Is on the wing; Lysander comes apace;

And Nemesis directs his righteous sword.

"

Amph. Proceeds this boldness from thy trust in

him?

Thy great avenger is, like thee, a captive,

And under the same mortal sentence lies.
Agis. Ye powers above! Lysander too a captive!
Where was he taken?

Amyh. In the streets of Sparta,

Clad in the servile garment of a Helot.

Agis. Alas! alas! Lysander! O my friend!
Thy love for me, thy generous, fearless love,
Has wrought thy fall. For me thou camest to
Sparta,

And, like the parent bird hov'ring too near
Its captive young, thy noble life is lost!
Forgive these tears, my country! Agis weeps
For thee. Alas! thy brave defender's gone!
O Lacedæmon, thou art fall'n for ever!
Thy bad estate shall every day grow worse;
Successive tyrants shall exhaust thy strength,
Till all thy generous youths have bled in vain ;
At last the consummation of thy woes
Shall come upon thee; some ambitious foe
Shall stretch the iron arm of conquest forth,
And grasp thee in the circle of his empire.
My native land, the kingdom of my fathers,

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