University of Virginia Library

The SCENE, The Camp under the Walls of Babylon.
Enter Lysimachus, Ptolomy, Eumenes, and Thalestris.
Ptol.
Now, generous Rival, and my noble Friend,
My Love, no more, on Fortune, shall depend;
She has declar'd, already, on your side,
By Virtue only, shall our Cause, be try'd:
My Love for Parisatis, I'le pursue,
But then, I'le strive, to Merit her, like you.

Lysi.
There's nothing, Ptolomy, I esteem above
Your glorious Friendship, but my greater Love:
In that alone, I must with you Contend,
And strive to Conquer, and subdue, my Friend.

Ptol.
Whilst we thus strive, each other to subdue,
At once continuing Friends, and Rivals too,
Since Friendship losses shares, and parts all gains,
One does not loose, what th'other Friend obtains.

Lysi.
We have, to storm the Town, this Night, agreed,
Now let us shew, our Diligence and Care,
And our whole force, for this assault, prepare.

Ptol.
We need not doubt, all Pow'er to us must yield,
When Love, and Honour, lead us to the Field.

Eume.
Madam, if in th'assault, my Death I find,
May not a gen'rous pity, move your Mind?
If with one Tear, you should my Fall lament,
'Twould ease my Grief, and I should dye Content.

Thal.
If you should fall, whilst Glory you pursue,
I should not pity, but should envy you.
Some great, and brave attempt, may Passion move,
Fortune, and Noble Valour I can love.

Eume.
I will to Dangers, as to Conquest run,
And do such Things, the like were never done.
I wish, the Gods, new dangers would Create,
And not give Conquest, at too cheap a rate.
Where Blood, and horror reigns, I will be there,
And on ten Thousand Swords, rush without fear.
If acts of Valour, your great Mind can move,
You, e're to morrow, shall Eumenes love.

Thal.
If feeble Love, your Courage shall inspire,
You shall, in me, Honours great force admire.
I fear Eumenes, you will blush, for shame,
When you do less for Love, than I for Fame.

Enter Captain with a Letter.
Capt.
Some of my Souldiers, Sir, being nigh the Wall,
Perceiv'd an Arrow, at their Feet, to fall;
Taking it up, to shoot it back, they spy'd
This Letter, fast about the Arrow ty'd;
To me they brought it, and I hither flew,
Perceiving it, directed, Sir, to you.

Delivers the Letter to Lysimachus, who reads it to himself.
Lysi.
Captain, I give you thanks, for your great care,
Let all your men, for the Assault prepare,
Let them be ready, and in Armes attend,
E're night, I will, to you, my orders send.
[Exit Capt.
My Friends, this Letter, from Araxis came,
He is, it seems, got into Babylon.
See what he writes—
[reads a Letter.

I am got into Babylon undiscovered, and by the means of a
Captain of Cassanders, a Friend of mine; will this Night make

you Masters of the Town: He hath lately been disgusted by him,
and I have made him absolutely ours: He has this Night the
Command of Semiramis's Gate. Stir not till you see a Fire on the
old Tower of Ninus, at what time you shall be received in at that
Gate, without opposition. Observe the signe.

Araxis.

The Gods, this moment, are to us grown kind,
And favour, what before we had design'd.

Ptol.
'Tis our just Cause, does them to us incline.

Lysi.
Come Ptolomy, let's watch, the happy signe.
This night, I hope, we shall our Princess see,
And her, from Danger, and from Prison free.

Thal.
Our Danger, now, Eumenes, will be small.

Eume.
I wish, for blest occasions, now, to show,
How much I dare attempt, to merit you.
Since fighting only's pleasing to your Eye,
You should both see me fight, and fighting dye.

[Exeunt.