Acres. Nothing, nothing, my dear friend; my dear Sir Lucius; but I-I-I don't feel quite so bold somehow as I did.

Sir L. O fie! consider your honour.

Acres. Ay, true; my honour; do, Sir Lucius, edge in a word or two, every now and then, about my honour.

Sir L. Well, here they're coming. (Looking.) Acres. Sir Lucius, if I wasn't with yon I should almost think I was afraid. If my valour should leave me! valour will come and go.

Sir L. Then pray keep it fast while you have it. Acres. Sir Lucius; I doubt it is going; yes, my valour is certainly going! it is sneaking off! I feel it oozing out as it were, at the palms of my hands! Sir L. Your honour; your honour-Here they are. Acres. Oh, that I was safe at Clod Hall! or could be shot before I was aware!

Enter FAULKLAND and CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE. Sir L. Gentlemen, your most obedient; ha! what, Captain Absolute! So, I suppose, sir, you are come here, just like myself, to do a kind office, first for your friend, then to proceed to business

on your own account?

Acres. What Jack! my dear Jack! my dear friend!

Capt. A. Harkye, Bob, Beverley's at hand. Sir L. Well, Mr. Acres. I don't blame your saluting the gentleman civilly. So, Mr. Beverley, (to Faulkland) if you choose your weapons, the Captain and I will measure the ground.

Faulk. My weapons, sir!

Acres. Ods life! Sir Lucius, I'm not going to fight Mr.Faulkland; these are my particular friends! Sir L. What, sir, did not you come here to fight Mr. Acres?

Faulk. Not I, upon my word, sir!

Sir L. Well, now, that's mighty provoking! But I hope, Mr. Faulkland, as there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you won't be so cantanckerous as to spoil the party, by sitting out. Capt. A. Oh! pray, Faulkland, fight to oblige Sir Lucius.

Faulk. Nay, if Mr. Acres is so bent on the matter. Acres. No, no, Mr. Faulkland. I'll bear my disappointment like a Christian. Lookye, Sir Lucius, there's no occasion at all for me to fight; and if it is the same to you, I'd as lieve let it alone.

Sir L. Observe me, Mr. Acres. I must not be trifled with. You have certainly challenged somebody, and you came here to fight him. Now, if that gentleman is willing to represent him, I can't see, for my soul, why it isn't just the same thing.

Acres. Why, no, Sir Lucius, I tell you, 'tis one Beverley I've challenged; a fellow, you see, that dare not shew his face. If he were here, I'd make him give up his pretensions directly!

Capt. A. Hold, Bob! let me set you right; there is no such man as Beverley in the case. The person who assumed that name is before you; and as his pretensions are the same in both characters, he is ready to support them in whatever way you please.

Sir L. Well, this is lucky. Now you have an opportunity

Acres. What, quarrel with my dear friend, Jack Absolute! not if he were fifty Beverleys! Zounds! Sir Lucius, you would not have me be so unnatural! Sir L. Upon my conscience, Mr. Acres, your valour has oozed away with a vengeance!

Acres. Not in the least! ods backs and abettors; I'll be your second with all my heart; and if you should get a quietus, you may command me entirely. I'll get you snug lying in the Abbey here; or pickle you, and send you over to Blunderbuss-hall, or anything of the kind, with the greatest pleasure.

Sir L. Pho! pho! you are little better than a coward.

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bred man.

Sir L. Pho! you are beneath my notice.

Capt. A. Nay, Sir Lucius, you can't have a betdetermined dog; called in the country, fighting ter second than my friend Acres. He is a most Bob. He generally kills a man a week;-don't you Bob?

Sir L. Well, then, Captain, 'tis we must begin; so come out, my little counsellor, (draws his sword) and ask the gentleman, whether he will resign the lady without forcing you to proceed against him?

won't let it be an amicable suit, here's my reply. Capt. A. Come on then, sir, (draws) since you Enter SIR ANTHONY, DAVID, and the Ladies. knock down my master in particular; and bind his Dav. Knock 'em all down, sweet Sir Anthony; hands over to their good behaviour!

Sir Anth. Put up, Jack, put up, or I shall be in a frenzy; how came you in a duel, sir?

better than I; 'twas he called on me, and you Capt. A. 'Faith, sir, that gentleman can tell you know, sir, I serve his majesty.

going to cut a man's throat, and he tells me he
Sir Anth. Here's a pretty fellow! I catch him
durst you draw the king's sword against one of
serves his majesty! Zounds! sirrah, then how
his subjects?

me out, without explaining his reasons.
Capt. Abs. Sir, I tell you, that gentleman called

Sir Anth. 'Gad, sir! how came you to call my son out, without explaining your reasons?

Sir. L. Your son, sir, insulted me in a manner which my honour could not brook.

Sir Anth. Zounds, Jack! how durst you insult the gentleman in a manner which his honour could not brook?

fore ladies. Captain Absolute, come here. How Mrs. M. Come, come, let's have no honour becould you intimidate us so? Here's Lydia has been terrified to death for you.

Capt. A. For fear I should be killed, or escape,

ma'am?
Miss M. Nay, no delusions to the past-Lydia is
convinced : speak, child.

word here; I believe I could interrupt the young
Sir L. With your leave, ma'am, I must put in a
lady's silence. Now mark.
Lyd. What is it
you mean, sir?
Sir L. Come, come, Dalia, we must be serious
now; this is no time for trifling.

offer this gentleman my hand, and solicit the return
Lyd. 'Tis true, sir; and your reproof bids me
of his affections.

Capt. A. Oh! my little angel, say you so? Sir Lucius, I perceive there must be some mistake here. With regard to the affront which you affirm I have given you, I can only say that it could not have been intentional; and as you must be convinced, that I should not fear to support a real injury-you shall now see that I am not ashamed to atone for an inadvertency: I ask your pardon. bation, I will support my claim against any man But for this lady, while honoured with her appro

whatever.

Sir Anth. Well said, Jack, and I'll stand by you, my boy.

Acres. Mind, I give up all my claim; I make no pretensions to anything in the world; and if I can't get a wife without fighting for her, by my valour! I'll live a bachelor,

Sir L. Captain, give me your hand-an affront mit the same plea for yours. (Sir Anthony comes handsomely acknowledged becomes an obligation-forward.) and as for the lady-if she chooses to deny her own hand-writing here-(Takes out letters.)

Mrs. M. Oh! he will dissolve my mystery! Sir Lucius, perhaps there is some mistake. Perhaps I can illuminate

Sir L. Pray, old gentlewoman, don't interfere where you have no business. Miss Languish, are you my Delia, or not?

Lyd. Indeed, Sir Lucius, I am not. (Lydia and Absolute walk aside.)

Mrs. M. Sir Lucius O'Trigger-ungrateful as you are--I own the soft impeachment-pardon my camelion blushes-I am Delia,

Sir L. You Dalia-pho! pho! be easy. Mrs. M. Why, thou barbarous Vandyke-those letters are mine. When you are more sensible of my benignity, perhaps I may be brought to encourage your addresses.

Faulk. Now I shall be blest, indeed. Sir Anth. What's going on here? So you have been quarrelling too, I warrant. Come, Julia, I never interfered before; but let me have a hand in the matter at last. All the faults I have ever seen in my friend Faulkland, seemed to proceed from what he calls the delicacy and warmth of his affection for you. There, marry him directly, Julia, you'll find he'll mend surprisingly! (The rest come forward.)

Sir L. Come now, I hope there is no dissatisfied person but what is content; for as I have been disappointed myself, it will be very hard if I have not the satisfaction of seeing other people succeed better.

Acres. You are right, Sir Lucius-So, Jack, I wish you joy. Mr. Faulkland, the same. Ladies, come now, to shew you I'm neither vexed nor angry, odds tabors and pipes! I'll order the fiddles in half an hour to the New Rooms-and I insist on your all meeting me there.

Sir L. Mrs Malaprop, I am extremely sensible of your condescension, and whether you or Lucy have put this trick upon me, I am equally beholden to you. And to shew you I am not ungrateful, Sir Anth. 'Gad! sir, I like your spirit; and at Captain Absolute, since you have taken that night we single lads will drink a health to the young lady from me, I'll give you my Delia into the bar-couples, and a good husband to Mrs. Malaprop. gain.

Capt. A. I am much obliged to you, Sir Lucius; but here's my friend, fighting Bob, unprovided for. Sir L. Ah! little valour-here, will you make your fortune?

Acres. Ods wrinkles! No. But give me your hand, Sir Lucius, forget and forgive; but if ever I give you a chance of pickling me again, say Bob Acres is a dunce, that's all.

Sir Anth. Come, Mrs. Malaprop, don't be cast down-you are in your bloom yet.

Mrs. M. O, Sir Anthony! men are all barbarians! (All retire but Julia and Faulkland.)

Jul. He seems dejected and unhappy, not sullen : there was some foundation, however, for the tale he told me. O woman! how true should be your judgment, when your resolution is so weak!

Faulk. Julia! how can I sue for what I so little deserve? I dare not presume-yet hope is the child of penitence.

Jul. Oh! Faulkland, you have not been more faulty in your unkind treatment of me, than I am now in wanting inclination to resent it. As my heart honestly bids me place my weakness to the account of love, I should be ungenerous not to ad

Faulk. Our partners are stolen from us, JackI hope to be congratulated by each other; your's for having checked in time the errors of an illdirected imagination, which might have betrayed an innocent heart; and mine for having, by ber gentleness and candour, reformed the unhappy temper of one, who by it made wretched whom be loved most, and tortured the heart he ought to bave adored.

Capt. A. Trae, Faulkland, we have both tasted the bitters, as well as the sweets of love-with this difference only, that you always prepared the bitter cup for yourself, while I

Lyd. Was always obliged to me for it, eh? M Modesty! But come, no more of that; our happi ness is now as unalloyed as general.

Jul. Then let us study to preserve it so; th while hope pictures to us a flattering scene of future bliss, let us deny its pencil those colours which are too bright to be lasting. When hearts deserving happiness would unite their fortunes, virtue would crown them with an unfading garland of modest, hurtless flowers; but ill-judging passion will force the gaudier rose into the wreath, whose thorn offends them when its leaves are dropt! [Exeunt

A TRAGEDY, IN FIVE ACTS.-BY NATHANIEL LEE.

SCENE I.-Alexander's Camp before Babylon. Enter HEPHESTION and LYSIMACHUS, fighting; CLYTUS parting them.

Cly. What, are you madmen? This a time for
quarrel?

Put up, I say, or by the gods that form'd me,
He who refuses, makes a foe of Clytus.
Lys. I have his sword.

Cly. But must not have his life.

Lys. Must not, old Clytus!

Cly. Hare-brain'd boy, you must not.

Heph. Lend me thy sword, thou father of the war,
Thou far-fam'd guard of Alexander's life.
Curse on this weak, unexecuting arm!
Lend it, old Clytus, to redeem my fame;
Lysimachus is brave, and else will scorn me.
Lys. There, take thy sword, and since thou'rt
bent on death,

Know, 'tis thy glory that thou dy'st by me.
Cly. Stay thee, Lysimachus; Hephestion, hold;
I bar you both, my body interpos'd;
Now let me see which of you dares to strike.
By Jove, you've stirr'd the old man!-that rash arm
That first advances moves against the gods,
And our great king, whose deputy I stand.
Lys. Some prop'rer time must terminate our
quarrel.

[bears. Heph, And cure the bleeding wounds my honour Cly. Some prop'rer time! 'tis false-no hour

is proper;

No time should see a brave man do amiss.
Say, what's the noble cause of all this madness?
What vast ambition blows the dangerous fire?

ARISTANDER
SLAVE

OFFICERS, &c.

ROXANA
STATIRA

PARISATIS

SYSIGAMBIS

Why, a vain, smiling, whining, coz'ning woman.
By all my triumphs! in the heat of youth,
When towns were sack'd, and beauties prostrate

lay,

When my blood boil'd, and nature work'd me high,
Clytus ne'er bow'd his body to such shame;
I knew 'em, and despis'd their cobweb arts:
The whole sex is not worth a soldier's thought.
Lys. Our cause of quarrel may to thee seem light;
But know, a less has set the world in arms.

Cly. Yes, Troy, they tell us, by a woman fell :
Curse on the sex, they are the bane of virtue!
Death! I'd rather this right arm were lost,
Than that the king should hear of your imprudence-
What! on a day thus set apart for triumph!

Lys. We were, indeed, to blame.
Cly. This memorable day!

When our hot master, whose impatient soul
Outrides the sun, and sighs for other worlds
To spread his conquests, and diffuse his glory;
Now bids the trumpet for awhile be silent,
And plays with monarchs, whom he us'd to drive;
Shall we, by broils, awake him into rage,
And rouse the lion, that has ceas'd to roar?

Lys. Clytus, thou'rt right-put up thy sword,
Hephestion:

Had passion not eclips'd the light of reason,
Untold, we might this consequence have seen.

Heph. Why has not reason power to conquer
Why are we thus enslav'd?

[love?

Cly. Because unmann'd;
Because ye follow Alexander's steps.
Heav'ns! that a face should thus bewitch his soul,
And ruin all that's great and godlike in it.
Talk be my bane, yet the old man must talk;
Not so he lov'd, when he at Issus fought,

38

ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

And join'd in mighty combat with Darius,
Whom, from his chariot, flaming all with gems,
He hurl'd to earth, and catch'd th' imperial crown.
'Twas not the shaft of love perform'd that feat;
He knew no Cupids then. Now mark the change:
A brace of rival queens embroil the court;
And, while each hand is thus employ'd in beauty,
Where has he room for glory?

Heph. In his heart.

Cly. Well said, young minion!-I, indeed, forgot
To whom I spoke-bat Sysigambis comes:
Now is your time, for with her comes an idol,
That claims your homage.-I'll attend the king.
[Exit.

Enter SYSIGAMBIS, with a letter, and PARISATIS.
Sys. Why will you wound me with your fond
complaints,

And urge a suit that I can never grant?
You know, my child, 'tis Alexander's will;
He demands you for his lov'd Hephestion.
To disobey him might inflame his wrath,
And plunge our house in ruins yet unknown.

Par. To sooth this god, and charm him into
Is there no victim; none but Parisatis? [temper,
Must I be doom'd to wretchedness and woe,
That others may enjoy the conqueror's smiles;
Oh! if you ever lov'd my royal father-
And sure you did, your gushing tears proclaim it-
If still his name be dear, have pity on me!
He would not thus have forc'd me to despair;
Indeed he would not. Had I beg'd him thus,
He would have heard me, ere my heart was broke.
Sys. When will my suff'rings end? O, when, ye
gods!

For sixty rolling years, my soul has stood
The dread vicissitudes of fate unmov'd:
I thought 'em your decrees, and therefore yielded.
But this last trial, as it springs from folly,
Exceeds my suff'rance, and I must complain.
Lys. When Sysigambis mourns, no common woe
Can be the cause-'tis misery, indeed.
Yet, pardon, mighty queen, a wretched prince,
Who thus presumes to plead the cause of love:
Beyond my life, beyond the world, (kneeling) I prize
Fair Parisatis. Hear me, I conjure you!
As you have authoriz'd Hephestion's vows,
Reject not mine; grant me but equal leave
To serve the princess, and let love decide.

Heph. A blessing like the beauteous Parisatis, Whole years of service, and the world's wide empire,

With all the blood that circles in our veins,
Can never merit; therefore, in my favour,
I beg'd the king to interpose his int'rest;
Therefore, I beg'd your majesty's assistance;
Your word is pass'd, and all my hopes rest on't.
Lys. (Rising.) Perish such hopes! for love's
Which seeks the happiness of her we love,
a generous passion,
Beyond th' enjoyment of our own desires;
Nor kings, nor parents here have aught to do.
Love owns no influence, and disdains controul;
Let 'em stand neuter-'tis all I ask.

Heph. Such arrogance, did Alexander woo,
Would lose him all the conquests he has won.
Lys. To talk of conquests well becomes the man
Whose life and sword are but his rival's gift.

Sys. It grieves me, brave Lysimachus, to find
My power fall short of my desires to serve you;
You know Hephestion first declar'd his love,
And 'tis as true, I promis'd him my aid.
Your glorious king, his mighty advocate,
Became himself an humble suppliant for him.
Forget her, prince, and triumph o'er your passion :
A conquest worthy of a soul like thine.

Lys. Forget her, madam! sooner shall the sun
Forget to shine, and tumble from his sphere.
Farewell, great queen; my honour now demands

(ACT I

That Alexander should himself explain
That wond'rous merit which exalts his fav'rite,
Too far, I fear, he will incense the king.
And casts Lysimachus at such a distance. [Exit.
Sys. In this wild transport of ungovern'd passion
Is Alexander yet, my lord, arriv'd?
Heph. Madam, I know not, but Cassander comes;
He may, perhaps, inform us.

Something there is, I know not why, that shocks me;
Sys. I would shun him.
Something my nature shrinks at, when I see him.
[Exeunt.

Enter CASSANDER.

Cas. The face of day now blushes scarlet deep:
Now blackens into night. The low'ring sun,
As if the dreadful business he foreknew,
Drives heavily his sable chariot on.
All nature seems alarm'd for Alexander.-
Why, be it so. Her pangs proclaim my triumph.
A mad Chaldean, with a flaming torch
Came to my bed last night, and bellowing o'er me,
Well had it been, for Babylon, he cried,
If curst Cassander never had been born.

Enter THESSALUS, with a packet.

How now, dear Thessalus, what packet's that?
Your father chides us for our cold delay;
Thes. From Macedon, a trusty slave just
brought it.
He says, Craterus, by the king's appointment,
Comes, in his room, to govern Macedon,
Or quit our purpose, and confess our fears.
Which nothing but the tyrant's death can hinder;
Therefore he bids us boldly strike at once,

Cas. Is not his fate resolv'd?-this night he dies;
Wing'd as the light'ning, it would ask some mo-
And thus my father but forestalls my purpose.
How am I slow then ?-if I rode on thunder,

ments,

[comes!

Ere I could blast the growth of this Colossus.
Thes. Mark where the haughty Polyperchon
Some new affront by Alexander given,
Swells in his heart, and stings him into madness.
Cas. Now, now's our time; he must, he shall
be ours:

His haughty soul will kindle at his wrongs,
Blaze into rage, and glory in revenge.

Enter POLYPerchon.

Br

OP

Did

Did

Tos

Yet

The

We

P

As i

All talk of wrongs, and mutter their complaints.
Poly. Still as I pass, fresh murmurs fill my ears;
Poor soul-less reptiles !-their revenge expires
In idle threats-the fortitude of cowards!
Their province is to talk! 'tis mine to act,
And shew this tyrant, when he dar'd to wrong me,
He wrong'd a man whose attribute is vengeance.
Cas. All nations bow their heads with servile

homage,

And kiss the feet of this exalted man.

The name, the shout, the blast from ev'ry mouth
Is Alexander! Alexander stuns

To

And

The list'ning ear, and drowns the voice of heav'n.
The earth's commanders fawn like crouching spa-
And if this hunter of the barbarous world
But wind himself a god, all echo him,
With universal cry.

Poly. I fawn, or echo him!

[niels;

Cassander, no! my soul disdains the thought!
Let eastern slaves, or prostituted Greeks
Crouch at his feet, or tremble if he frown.
When Polyperchon can descend so low,
False to that honour, which thro' fields of death,
I still have courted, where the fight was fiercest,
Be scorn my portion; infamy my lot.
Thes. The king may doom me to

tortures,

C

The

In

Wi

Th

The

a thousand
Ply me with fire, and rack me like Philotas,
Ere I shall stoop to idolize his pride.
Cas. Not Aristander, had he rais'd all hell,

W

T

Н

A