A Steward, Officers, Sailors, and several Servants.

Alex. Dead! then he is blest!

But here, here lies my fate. Hephestion, Clytus!
My victories all for ever folded up

In this dear body. Here my banner's lost.

My standard's triumphs gone.

Oh when shall I be mad! Give orders to

The army that they break their shields, swords, spears, Pound their bright armour into dust

Away.

Is there not cause to put the world in mourning?
Burn all the spires that seem to meet the sky,
Beat down the battlements of ev'ry city,

And for the monument of this lov'd creature
Root up these bow'rs, and pave 'em all with gold;
Draw dry the Ganges, make the Indies poor,

To deck her tomb; no shrine nor altar spare,
But strip the pomp from gods to place it there. [Exit.

Enter THESSALUS.

Cas. He's gone but whither-follow Thessalus, Attend his steps, and let me know what passes.

[Exit Thessalus.

Vengeance, lie still, thy craving shall be sated:
Death roams at large, the furies are unchain'd,
And murder plays her mighty master-piece.

Enter POLYPERCHON, THESSALUS, and PHIlip.
Phil. Saw you the king?

Poly. Yes; with disorder'd wildness in his looks
He rush'd along, 'till with a casual glance
He saw me where I stood, then stepping short,

Draw pear he cry'd—and grasp'd my hand in his,
Where more than fevers rag'd in every vein.
Oh, Polyperchon! I have lost my queen!
Statira's dead!-and as he spoke the tears
Gush'd from his eyes-I more than felt his pains.
Thes. Hence, hence, away!

Cas. Where is he Thessalus ?

Thes. I left him circled by a crowd of princes. The poison tears him with that height of horror Ev'n I could pity him-He call'd his chiefs,

Embrac'd 'em round-then starting from amidst 'em Cry'd out, I come-'t was Ammon's voice ;-I know it

Father, I come; but let me ere I go,

Dispatch the business of a kneeling world!

Poly. No more; I hear him—we must meet anon. Cas. In Saturn's field-there give a loose to rapture, Enjoy the tempest we ourselves have rais'd,

And triumph in the wreck which crowns our ven [Exeunt.

geance.

SCENE II.

The Palace. ALEXANDER with his Hair dishevelled, LYSIMACHUS, EUMENES, PERDICCAS, and Attendants discovered.

Alex. Search there; nay, probe me, search my wounded reins

Poll, draw it out.

Lys. We have search'd, but find no hurt.

Alex. Oh, I am shot! a forked burning arrow Sticks cross my shoulders: the sad venom flies Like lightning thro' my flesh, my blood, my marrow. Lys. How fierce his fevert

Alex. Ha! what a change of torments I endure ! A bolt of ice runs hissing thro' my bowels; 'Tis sure the arm of death; give me a chair; Cover me, for I freeze, and my teeth chatter And my knees knock together.

Eum. Have mercy, Heavenl

Alex. I burn, I burn again!

The war grows wondrous hot: hey for the Tigrist Bear me, Bucephalus, amongst the billows.

[Jumps into the chair.
Oh, 't is a noble beast! I would not change him
For the best horse the sun has in his stable,
For they are hot, their mangers full of coals,
Their manes are flakes of lightning, curles of fire,
And their red tales like meteors whisk about.
Lys. Help all; Eumenes, help.

Alex. Ha, ha, ha! I shall die with laughter.
Parmenio, Clytus, do you see yon' fellow,
That ragged soldier, that poor tatter'd Greek?
See how he puts to flight the gaudy. Persians
With nothing but a rusty helmet on, thro' which
The grisly bristles of his pushing beard
Drive 'em like pikes-Ha, ha, ha!

Per. How wild he talks.

Lys. Yet warring in his wildness

G

Alex. Sound, sound! keep your ranks close. Ay now they come ;

Oh, the brave din, the noble clang, of arms! Charge, charge apace, and let the phalanx move. Darius comes-ay, 't is Darius,

I see, I know him by the sparkling plumes,
And his gold chariot drawn by ten white horses;
But like a tempest thus I pour upon him—
He bleeds with that last blow I brought him down
He tumbles; take him, snatch th' imperial crown.
They fly, they fly!-Follow, follow-Victoria!

Victoria Victoria I

[Leaps into the soldiers' arms.

Per. Let's bear him softly to his bed.

Alex. Hold, the least motion gives me instant death; My vital spirits are quite parch'd, burnt up, And all my smoky entrails turned to ashes.

Lys. When you, the brightest star that ever shone, Shall set, it must be night with us for ever.

Alex. Let me embrace you all before I die.

[All kneel and weep.

Weep not, my dear companions! the good gods
Shall send you in my stead a nobler prince,

One that shall lead you forth with matchless conduct.
Lys. Break not our hearts with such unkind ex-

pressions.

Per. We will not part with you, nor change for Mars.

Alex. Perdiccas, take this ring,

And see me laid in the temple of Jupiter Ammon. Lys. To whom does your dread majesty bequeath The empire of the world?