You mean to take advantage of my state, But you, the nobles, an inglorious race, Base as the dastard and unarmed Helots, With foreign arms and mercenary aid, Bore down the people and opprest your prince, Whom death delivers. Agis shall not see The last convulsions of expiring Freedom; For in the first he dies. Amph. We'll hear no more Of these invectives.-Bear him to the place Of execution. Officers, advance And do your duty. Off. This is not our duty. Amph. What! Off. Murder of a king is not our duty. Amph. Mutinous slaves! for you I'll find a time. -Sir. [To AGIS. Agis. Touch me not, for uncompell'd I go To meet my destiny. Weep not for me. [To an Officer. O! thou whose nature suits not thy employment, Weep not for me! I would not change conditions With these bad men. I shall not feel the woes That thou and all must feel, the woes of Sparta! O! might my death avail my much-loved country, I'd die as joyful then, as fearless now. Amph. Magistrates of Sparta! This painful work of necessary justice Will quickly end the troubles of the state. Your faithful zeal and service will reward. Manent AMPHARES and the Spartan who entered with AGIS. Amph. Haste to the Thracian captain, and require him To send his prisoner Lysander hither. [Exit Spartan. Agis removed, and turbulent Lysander, Enter Messenger from the Dungeon. Mess. The executioners refuse their office: Whilst Agis lives. Let thy good sword fulfil Mess. Shall it, my lord? I am your instrument, and bind myself By this bold deed still faster to your fortunes. [Exit.. Amph. Ye sons of bold ambition, learn of me: Trust not the survey of another's eye: Your dangerous voyage needs a pilot's care, Who never quits the helm. Enter Spartan. Spar. We are betray'd. Lysander Amph, What of him? Speak-faulter not. Amph. Whither? With whom?-Eternal Gods! gates I saw, and entering search'd the empty tower. Amph. That traitor Euxus-Now let me resolve, And quickly too. Spar. The people are alarm'd, And gather to their tribes! Amph. Curst be their tribes! The deed is done already. Yet I have One pledge of value. Spar. Agesistrata Amph. This hour she dies. I've sent a trusty slave To end her woes. But the Athenian maid, 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 |