Perched on my beaver in the Granick flood;
When Fortune's self my standard trembling bore,
And the pale Fates stood frighted on the shore,
When the immortals on the billows rode,
And I myself appeared the leading god.

Aris. But all the honours, which your youth

has won,

Are lost, unless you fly from Babylon;
Haste with your griefs, to Susa take your way,
Fly for your life, destructive is your stay.
This morning having viewed the angry sky,
And marked the prodigies, that threatened nigh,
To our bright God I did for succour fly.
But oh-

Aler. What fears thy reverend bosom shake?
Or dost thou from some dream of horror wake?
If so, come grasp me with thy shaking hand,
Or fall behind, while I the danger stand.

Aris. To Orosmades' cave I did repair,
Where I atoned the dreadful God with prayer:
But as I prayed I heard long groans within,
And shrieks as of the damned, that howl for
sin:

I knew the omen, and I feared to stay,
But prostrate on the trembling pavement lay.
When he bodes happiness, he answers mild:
'Twas so of old, and the great image smiled:
But now in abrupt thunder he replied,
Loud as rent rocks, or roaring seas, he cried,
All empires, crowns, glory of Babylon,
Whose head stands wrapped in clouds, must

tumble down.'

Alex. If Babylon must fall, what is it to me? Or can I help immutable decree?

Down, then, vast frame, with all thy lofty towers,
Since it is so ordered by almighty powers:
Pressed by the fates, unloose your golden bars,
'Tis great to fall the envy of the stars.

Enter PERDICCAS, Meleager.

Mel. O horror!

Per. Dire portents!

Alex. Out with them, then;

What, are ye ghosts, ye empty shapes of men?
If
So, the mysteries of hell unfold,

Be all the scrolls of destiny unrolled,
Open the brazen leaves, and let it come;
Point with a thunder-bolt your monarch's doom.
Per. As Meleager and myself in field,
Your Persian horse about the army wheeled,
We heard a noise as of a rushing wind,
And a thick storm the eye of day did blind:
A croaking noise resounded through the air,
We looked, and saw big ravens battling there;
Each bird of night appeared himself a cloud,
They met and fought, and their wounds rained

black blood.

Mel. All, as for honour, did their lives expose; Their talons clashed, and beaks gave mighty blows,

Whilst dreadful sounds did our scared sense assail, As of small thunder, or huge Scythian hail.

Per. Our augurs shook, when, with a horrid

groan,

We thought that all the clouds had tumbled down.
Soldiers and chiefs,-who can the wonder tell!
Struck to the ground, promiscuously fell
While the dark birds, each ponderous as a shield,
For fifty furlongs hid the fatal field.

Alex. Be witness for me, all ye powers divine,
If ye be angry, it is no fault of mine;
Therefore let furies face me with a band
From hell, my virtue shall not make a stand;
Though all the curtains of the sky be drawn,
And the stars wink, young Ammon shall go on :
While my Statira shines, I cannot stay,
Love lifts his torch to light me on my way,
And her bright eyes create another day.

Lys. Ere you remove, be pleased, dread sir, to

hear

Is not my word already past? Hephestion,
I know he hates thee, but he shall not have her;
We heard of this before-Lysimachus,
I here command you nourish no design
To prejudice my person in the man
I love, and will prefer to all the world.

Lys. I never failed to obey your majesty,
Whilst you commanded what was in my power;
Nor could Hephestion fly more swift to serve,
When you commanded us to storm a town,
Or fetch a standard from the enemy:

But, when you charge me not to love the prin

cess,

I must confess, I disobey you, as

I would the gods themselves, should they command.

Alex. You should, brave sir? hear me, and then
be dumb;

When by my order curst Calisthenes
Was, as a traitor, doomed to live in torments,
Your pity sped him in despite of me.
Think not I have forgot your insolence;
No, though I pardoned it, yet if again
Thou darest to cross me with another crime,
The bolts of fury shall be doubled on thee.
In the mean time think not of Parisatis;
For if thou dost, by Jupiter Ammon,
By my own head, and by king Philip's soul,
I'll not respect that blood of mine thou sharest,
But use thee as the vilest Macedonian.

Lys. I doubted not at first but I should meet
Your indignation, yet my soul's resolved;
And I shall never quit so brave a prize,
While I can draw a bow, or lift a sword.
Alex. Against my life! Ah! was it so? how
now?

'Tis said, that I am rash, of hasty humour;
But I appeal to the immortal gods,
If ever petty poor provincial lord

Aler. O thou, the best of women,
Source of my joy, blest parent of my love!
Sys. Permit me kneel, and give those adora-
tions,

Which from the Persian family are due:
Have you not raised us from our ruins high?
And when no hand could help, nor any eye
Behold us with a tear, your's pitied me;
You, like a god, snatched us from sorrow's gulf,
Fixed us in thrones above our former state.
Par. Which, when a soul forgets, advanced so
nobly,

May it be drowned in deeper misery!

Åler. To meet me thus, was generously done; But still there wants, to crown my happiness, Life of my empire, treasure of my soul, My dear Statira: O that heavenly beam, Warmth of my brain, and fire of my heart; Had she but shot to see me, had she met me, By this time I had been amongst the gods, If any extasy can make a height, Or any rapture hurl us to the heavens.

Cly. Now, who shall dare to tell him the queen's vow?

Aler. How fares my love? ha-neither answer
me!

Ye raise my wonder, darkness overwhelms me ;/
If royal Sysigambis does not weep!
Trembling and horror pierce me, cold as ice.
Is she not well? what none, none answer me?
Or is it worse? Keep down, ye rising sighs,
And murmur in the hollow of my breast:
Run to my heart, and gather more sad wind;
That, when the voice of Fate shall call you forth,
Ye may, at one rush, from the seat of life,
Blow the blood out, and burst like a bladder.
Heph. I would relate it, but my courage fails

me.

Alex. If she be dead-That if is impossible; And let none here affirm it for his soul:

For he, that dares but think so damned a lie, I'll have his body straight impaled before me, And glut my eyes upon his bleeding entrails. Cass, How will this engine of unruly passion Roar, when we have rammed him to the mouth with poison? [Aside. Alex. Why stand you all, as you were rooted here,

Like the senseless trees, while to the stupid grove
I, like a wounded lion, groan my griefs,

And none will answer-what, not my Hephestion?
If thou hast any love for Alexander,
If ever I obliged thee by my care,

When my quick sight has watched thee in the fight;

Or if to see thee bleed I sent forth cries,
And like a mother, washed thee with my tears;
If this be true, if I deserve thy love,
Ease me, and tell the cause of my disaster.

Heph. Your mourning queen (which I had told before

Had you been calm) has no disease but sorrow,
Which was occasioned first by jealous pangs:
She heard, (for what can escape a watchful lo-

ver?)

That you at Susa, breaking all your vows, Relapsed, and conquered by Roxana's charms, Gave up yourself devoted to her arms.

Alex. I know that subtle creature, in my riot, My reason gone, seduced me to her bed; But when I waked I shook the Circe off, Though that enchantress held me by the arm, And wept, and gazed with all the force of love; Nor grieved I less for that, which I had done, Than when at Thais' suit, enraged with wine, I set the famed Persepolis on fire.

Heph. Your queen Statira took it so to heart,
That, in the agony of love, she swore
Never to see your majesty again;

With dreadful imprecations she confirmed
Her oath, and I much fear that she will keep it.
Aler. Ha! did she swear? did that sweet crea-

ture swear?

I'll not believe it; no, she is all softness,
All melting, mild, and calm as a rocked infant,
Nor can you wake her into cries: By heaven
She is the child of love, and she was born in
⚫ smiles.

Par. I and my weeping mother heard her

swear.

Sys. And with such fierceness she did aggra

vate

The foulness of your fault, that I could wish Your majesty would blot her from your breast.

Aler. Blot her, forget her, hurl her from my bosom,

For ever lose that star that gilds my life,
Guide of my days, and goddess of my nights!
No, she shall stay with me in spite of vows,
My soul and body both are twisted with her.
The god of love empties his golden quiver,
Shoots every grain of her into my heart;

No power, command, my mother's, sister's tears, Shall cause me to survive thy cruel loss.

Lys. Live, princess, live, howe'er the king

dain me :

Perhaps, unarmed and fighting for your sake, I may perform what shall amaze the world, And force him yet to give you to my arms. Away, Perdiccas Dear Eumenes, take The princess to your charge.

Cass. Touch not, but dash with strokes so

bravely bold,

[Exeunt Perd. Lys. Guards.

Eum. O cruelty!
Par. Lead me, Eumenes, lead me from the
light,

Where I may wait till I his ruin hear,
Then free my soul to meet him in the air.
[Exeunt Par. and Eum.
Phil. See where the jealous proud Roxana

comes,

A haughty vengeance gathers on her brow. Thess. Peace! they have raised her to their ends; observe.

Enter ROXANA, CASSANDER, POLYPERCHON. Ror. O you have ruined me, I shall be mad : Said you so passionately? is it possible? So kind to her, and so unkind to me?

Cass. More than your utmost fancy can invent. He swooned thrice at hearing of her vow, And when our care as oft had brought back life, He drew his sword, and offered at his breast. Pol. Then railed at you with such unheard of curses!

Ror. Away, begone, and give a whirlwind

room,

Or I will blow you up like dust; avaunt!
Madness but meanly represents my toil.
Roxana and Statira, they are names
That must for ever jar: eternal discord,
Fury, revenge, disdain, and indignation
Tear my swollen breast, make way for fire and
tempest.

My brain is burst, debate and reason quenched,
The storm is up, and my hot bleeding heart
Splits with the rack, while passions, like the
winds,

Rise up to heaven, and put out all the stars.
What saving hand, or what a mighty arm
Can raise me sinking?

Cass. Let your own arm save you!
Tis in your power, your beauty is almighty:
Let all the stars go out, your eyes can light them.
Wake then, bright planet, that should rule the
world,

Wake, like the moon, from your too long eclipse, And we, with all the instruments of war, Trumpets and drums, will help your glorious labour.

Pol. Put us to act, and with a violence, That fits the spirit of a most wronged woman: Let not Medea's dreadful vengeance stand A pattern more, but draw your own so fierce, It may for ever be original.

For there is nothing you have said of me,
But comes far short, wanting of what I am.
When in my nonage I at Zogdia lived,
Amongst my she companions I would reign;
Drew them from idleness, and little arts
Of coining looks, and laying snares for lovers,
Broke all their glasses, and their tires tore,
Taught them, like Amazons, to ride and chase
Wild beasts in deserts, and to master men.

Cass. Her looks, her words, her every motion fires me.

Ror. But when I heard of Alexander's conquests;

How with a handful he had millions slain, Spoiled all the east, their queens his captives

made,

Yet with what chastity, and godlike temper,
He saw their beauties, and with pity bowed;
Methought I hung upon my father's lips,
And wished him tell the wondrous tale again:
Left all my sports, the woman now returned,
And sighs uncalled would from my bosom fly;
And all the night, as my Adraste told me,
In slumbers groaned, and murmured Alexander.
Cass. Curse on the name, hut I will soon re-

Though hurled to earth by this disdainful Jove,
I will rebound to my own orb of fire,
And with the wreck of all the heavens expire.
Cass. Now you appear yourself;

'Tis noble anger.

Rox. May the illustrious blood, that fills my
womb,

And ripens to be perfect godhead born,
Come forth a fury; may Barsina's bastard
Tread it to hell, and rule as sovereign lord,
When I permit. Statira to enjoy

Roxana's right, and strive not to destroy.

Enter SYSIGAMBIS, STATIRA, in mourning. Cass. Behold her going to fulfil her vow; Old Sysigambis, whom the king engaged, Resists and awes her with authority.

- Ror. 'Twas rashly vowed indeed, and I should pity her.

Sys. Omy Statira, how has passion changed thee! Think if thou drive the king to such extremes, What in his fury may he not denounce Against the poor remains of lost, Darius?

Stat. I know, I know he will be kind to you,
And to my mourning sister for my sake;
And tell him, how with my departing breath,
I railed not, but spoke kindly of his person,
Nay wept to think of our divided loves,
And sobbing sent, at last, forgiveness to him.
Ror. Grant, heaven, some ease to this distract-
ed wretch!

Let her not linger out a life in torments,
Be these her last words, and at once dispatch her.
Sys. No, by the everlasting fire I swear,
By my Darius' soul, I never more
Will dare to look on Alexander's face,
If you refuse to see him.

Ror. Curse on that cunning tongue, I fear her

now.

Cass. No, she's resolved.

Stat. I cast me at your feet,

To bathe them with my tears; or, if you please,
I'll let you life, and wash them with my blood,
But still conjure you not to rack my soul,
Nor hurry my wild thoughts to perfect madness.
Should now Darius' awful ghost appear,
And my pale mother stand beseeching by,
I would persist to death, and keep my vow.
Ror. She shews a certain bravery of soul,
Which I should praise in any but my rival.
Sys. Die then, rebellious wretch! thou art not

now

That soft beloved, nor durst thou share my blood.
Go hide thy baseness in the lonely grot,
Ruin thy mother, and thy royal house,
Pernicious creature! shed the innocent
Blood, and sacrifice to the king's wrath
The lives of all thy people; fly, begone,
And hide thee, where bright virtue never shone:
The day will shun thce, nay the stars, that view
Mischiefs and murders, deeds to thee not new,.

Will start at this-Go, go, thy crimes deplore,
And never think of Sysigambis more. [Exeunt.
Ror. Madam, I hope you will a queen for-
give:

Roxana weeps to see Statira grieve.
How noble is the brave resolve you make,
To quit the world for Alexander's sake?
Vast is your mind, you dare thus greatly die,
And yield the king to one so mean as I:
'Tis a revenge will make the victor smart,
And much I fear your death will break his heart.
Stat. You counterfeit, I fear, and know too
well

How much your eyes all beauties else excel :
Roxana, who, though not a princess born,
In chains could make the mighty victor mourn.
Forgetting power when wine had made him warm,
And senseless, yet even then you knew to charm:
Preserve him by those arts, that cannot fail,
While I the loss of what I loved bewail.

Ror. I hope your majesty will give me leave To wait you to the grove, where you would grieve;

Where like the turtle, you the lose will moan
Of that dear mate, and murmur all alone.

Stat. No, proud triumpher o'er my falling

state,

Thou shalt not stay to fill me with my fate:
Go to the conquest, which your wiles may boast,
And tell the world you left Statira lost.
Go seize my faithless Alexander's hand,
Both hand and heart were once at my com
mand:

Grasp his loved neck, die on his fragrant breast,
Love him like me, whose love can't be exprest,
He must be happy, and you more than blest;
While I in darkness hide me from the day,
That with my mind I may his form survey,
And think so long, till I think life away.

Ror. No, sickly virtue, no,

Thou shalt not think, nor thy love's loss bemoan,
Nor shall past pleasures through thy fancy run;
That were to make thee blest as I can be:
But thy no-thought I must, I will decree.
As thus, I'll torture thee till thou art mad,
And then no thought to purpose can be had.
Stat. How frail, how cowardly is woman's
mind?

We shriek at thunder, dread the rustling wind,
And glittering swords the brightest eyes will

blind.

Yet when strong jealousy inflames the soul,
The weak will roar, and calms to tempests roll.
Rival, take head, and tempt me not too far!
My blood may boil, and blushes shew a war.

Ror. When you retire to your romantic cell,
I'll make thy solitary mansion hell;
Thou shalt nor rest by day, nor sleep by night,
But still Roxana shall thy spirit fright:
Wanton in dreams if thou darest dream of bliss,
Thy roving ghost may think to steal a kiss;