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.

[Exit AGIS, guarded,

Amph. Atone your insolence by prompt obe

dience,

Or death's your portion.

[To an Officer.

[Exeunt with AGIS.

Manent AMPHARES, &c.

Amph. Magistrates of Sparta! This painful work of necessary justice Will quickly end the troubles of the state. Leonidas, who owes his crown to you, Your faithful zeal and service will reward. [Exeunt Ephori.

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,
Like snow along the shore, their army melts.

Enter Messenger from the Dungeon.

Mess. The executioners refuse their office :
Sacred they hold the person of a king,—
A Spartan king descended from the gods.

Amph. Again those fables of the villain priests Rise up to thwart me. Now, my trusty servant, Approve thy faith, and win my lasting favour. Each instant of delay is big with peril

Whilst Agis lives. Let thy good sword fulfil
The sentence of the law, and thy own tongue
Shall name the recompense.

Mess. Shall it, my lord?

I am your instrument, and bind myself

By this bold deed still faster to your fortunes.

2

[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.
Spar. Is fled.

Amph. Whither? With whom?-Eternal Gods!
Spar. The guards have set him free; the open

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,
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

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,