To end her woes.

But the Athenian maid,

Her I'll bear off in spite of frowning fortune.
Go to the turret, and conduct her hither.

[Exit Spartan.

Manet AMPHARES.

Amph. Malignant powers! or blind unerring
Fate,

This is your work: now you assert your empire.

Enter Messenger.

Mess. My lord, the troops of Euxus have revolted.

Rhinalces visited this night each post,

And near Amycla's gate some Thracians met, Whose leader, question'd, answer'd with his sword. Amph. By heaven and earth, Lysander! Ha! proceed.

Mess. The sudden onset, and the cloud of night, The traitors favour'd; some escaped our swords, But many more in the sharp combat fell.

Amph. Did their fierce leader fall?

Mess. Above the rest

Conspicuous he fought; at him each sword

Was pointed. If he fell not on the spot,
Sure he received wounds that must fatal prove.
Amph. Confirm me that, and I will mock at

fate.

Command my troops, that in the Forum watch, To join Rhinalces. I myself will follow.

[Exit Messenger.

Enter EUANTHE.

How beautiful she is! Should he survive,
Those charms divine he never shall enjoy.
Euan. Why hast thou call'd me hither, to afflict
And torture me with spectacles of woe?

[The Gate of the Prison opens, and

AMPHARES' Slave advances.

Eternal powers! why yawn yon dreadful gates?
And from what horrid deed stalks yonder villain?
Mess. Thy orders are obey'd. He lives no more.
Euan. Barbarian monster! hast thou kill'd Ly-
sander?-

But I will not reproach thee, nor complain
To the regardless gods. My doom is past;
There is one only refuge for Euanthe.
Once more I follow where Lysander leads,

Where murder and Amphares cannot come

To part us more.

[She runs towards the Dungeon. Aм

PHARES seizes her.

Amph. Some other season choose.

There is no leisure now for lamentation.
Forthwith conduct her to the Arcadian gate:

There with the horsemen wait.

Enter Messenger.

Mess. My lord, my lord,

The royal band by Thracian Euxus led

[Shout. Amph. My enemy prevails.-This way with me.

My steps pursue, or by the Gods of Hell!— Euan. I will not leave this place. Draw forth

thy sword,

And try if death can terrify despair.

Amph. Drag her along.

Again the foe draws near.

[Shout.

[Shout from the other side, “Agis and

Liberty!"

Amph. I am encompast; yet I'll mar their

triumph.

[Runs at EUANTHE with his sword.

Enter LYSANDER, followed by RHESUS.

Lysan. Infernal dog, turn and behold Lysander ! Fly, Rhesus, to the king. Traitor accurst!

[Exit RHESUS.

1

Down, down, to Tartarus; thére, villain, howl. [AMPHARES falls.

Euan. Amazing powers! alive! victorious! oh! Lysan. And have I come to save thee, O Euanthe! But oh! I fear I come too late for Agis, The dungeon-mouth is open.

Tell me, Rhesus.

Enter RHESUS.

Rhe. The king is murder'd, in yon vault he lies. Lysan. My prince! my friend! thy goodness, and thy virtue,

Thy clemency, thy mildness, have undone thee !!
Fatal to nations is the dread example!

Hence monarchs, who with iron sceptre rule,
Will justify their treatment of mankind;
And virtuous princes, born in evil times,
Will hesitate to stem corruption's tide,
Lest they should be like Agis overwhelm'd.

Amph. He who preferr'd Lysander to Amphares,

Has paid me with his life. My dying hand Hath sow'd the seeds of discord and distraction.

Peace ne'er shall dwell in Sparta. Plagues on

plagues

Shall rise to curse you, as

Lysan. Thy soul is curst.

There the fell spirit of Amphares fled
In imprecations. Prophet of disasters,
Upon the dismal banks of Acheron,

[Dies.

Amidst the wailing ghosts, still curse thy country, And end a speech the damn'd will hate to hear. Behold the mother of our murder'd king.

Enter AGESISTRATA and Euxus.

Ages. Alas! I need not ask the fate of Agis: Your looks, your silence say, I have no son! Yet speak to me, for I can hear the worst, I have been long familiar with affliction;

I am the widow of the sire of Agis.

Lysan. There lies the bloody author of his death,

Slain by my hand.

Ages. Alas, alas! my son!

Oft has my anxious mind this hour foreseen,

And warn'd thee oft. But thou the danger scorn'd,