And stoop to thee, thou moving piece of earth! Poly. The bow'rs of great Semiramis are made The scene of love; Perdiccas holds the guard. Cas. Now is your time, while Alexander revels, And the whole court re-echoes with his riot, To end her, and with her to end your fears. Give me but half the Zogdian slaves that wait you And deem her dead; nor shall a soul escape That serves your rival to disperse the news. Rox. By me they die, Perdiccas and Statira; Hence with thy aid, I neither ask nor want it, But will myself conduct the slaves to battle. Were she to fall by any arm but mine, Well might she murmur and arraign her stars; 'Tis life well lost to die by my command. Rival, rejoice, and pleas'd resign thy breath; Bear him this vial-it contains a poison Poly. I know its power, for I have seen it try'd; The soul consents to leave her joyless home, And seeks for ease in worlds unknown to this. Cas. Now let us part: with Thessalus and Philip Haste to the banquet- At his second call Let this be given him, and it crowns our hopes. [Exeunt. The Palace. SCENE II. ALEXANDER, PERDICCAS, CASSAN DER, POLYPERCHON, EUMENES, discovered at a Banquet, &c. [A flourish of Trumpets. Alex. To our immortal health and our fair queen's: All drink it deep; and while the bowl goes round Mars and Bellona join to make us music; A thousand bulls be offer'd to the sun, White as his beams; speak the big voice of war; [Flourish of Trumpets. Enter CLYTUS, HEPHESTION, and LYSIMACHUS bloody. Clyt. Long live the king I long live great Alexander! And conquest crown his arms with deathless laurels, Propitious to his friends, and all he favours. Alex. Did I not give command you should Lysimachus? Heph. Dread sir! you did. Alex. What then Portend these bloody marks? Heph. Ere we arriv'd Perdiccas had already plac'd the prince In a lone court, all but his hands unarm'. preserve Clyt. On them were gauntlets; such was his desire, In death to show the difference betwixt The blood of Æacus and common men. Heph. With unconcern the gallant prince advanc'd Now, Parisatis, be the glory thine, But mine the danger, were his only words; Clyt. Agile and vigorous, he avoids the shock Sunk to the earth, and plough'd it with his teeth; While with an active bound your conq'ring soldier Leap'd on his back, and dash'd his scull in pieces. alex By all my laurels 't was a godlike actļ Oh, my brave soldier! think not all the prayers guilt, How shall stand such unexampled goodness Oh, pardon, sir, the transports of despair, The trantic outrage of ungovern'd lovel Ev'n when I show'd the greatest want of rev'rence I could have dy'd with rapture in your service. Alex. Lysimachus, we both have been transported: And that gold armour we from Porus won Alex. Thy hand, Hephestion: clasp him to thy heart, And wear him ever near thee. Parisatis Shall now be his who serves me best in war. Neither reply, but mark the charge I give; Live, live as friends-you will, you must, you shall: 'Tis a god gives you life. Clyt. Oh, monstrous vanity! Alex. Ha! what says Clytus? who am I? Clyt. The son of good King Philip. Alex. By my kindred gods 'Tis false. Great Ammon gave me birth. Clyt. I've done. Alex. Clytus, what means that dress? Give him a robe there. Take it and wear it. Clyt. Sir, the wine, the weather, Has heated me: besides, you Alex. Oh, 'tis not well! I'd rather perish, burn, Than be so singular and froward. |