University of Virginia Library

[Scene]

Scene, The Field; Trumpets Sound.
Enter Artabasus, Bessus, Nabarzanes, Memnon, Patron, Dataphernes. Persians, Bactrians, Greeks.
Ar.
So now, my Lords, the dreadful day is near,
That will for ever ruin, or confirm,
The greatest Throne, that ever the Sun saw.
To Morrow, oh! to Morrow—thou art big
With vast events; time never produc'd the like.
At Granicus we had not half our strength.
But in this Army is all Persia.

Be.
I think, my Lord, we are effective Men
Seven hundred thousand.

Ar.
Ay, and more, my Lord.

Na.
Yet, of all these, my Lord, you and I lead
Scarce Fifteen thousand.

(Aside to Be.
Be.
Silence.

Ar.
We have left
Our Cities, Towns, and Fields, all desolate;
That one wou'd think the Conqueror had been there,
The Valleys bend beneath us, the Hills groan;
The Fields, nay, all the Heavens seem to stretch,
And give us room; and we have room to Fight.
We are not here at the Cilician Streights,
Where we were pris'ners e're the Fight begun;
Penn'd in with Mountains that clipp'd both our wings,
And squeez'd our Bodies close, till it became
As weak, and slender as the Enemy.
The King has done his Duty, furnish'd all
This multitude with Arms, and Ground to fight,
And his own Glorious example too.
Let us do ours, but dare be Conquerors,
We shall be so, we must be so, or Ghosts,
Or worse, poor wretched Slaves, our Liberties
Our Fortunes, Wives and Children, are all here.
Lord Bessus, is not your fair Princess here,
The King's late beauteous Gift?

Be.
She is, my Lord.

Ar.
Wou'd you not rather see that Beauty dead,
Than given up to Macedonian Lust?

Be.
She shall be rather by my Sword enioy'd.

Ar.
And here I see your Son, a Noble Youth.

Me.
Oh! my good Lord.

Ar.
Lord Memnon, give me leave.
I think, Lord Bessus, I have heard you say,
An Amazonian Queens warlike Embrace
Presented you this Gift.

Be.
'Tis true, my Lord.

Ar.
Believe it, 'Twas a bounty to the World.

Me.
Nay, now my Lord.

Ar.
Nay, pray, let me be just
Who wou'd not grieve to see this worth in chains?
And yet, now I reflect, more worth than his,
Ay, or than half our Kingdom is in chains.
Even half our King is there; and almost all
The Royal Blood, but what is in his veins.
His Mother, Brother, Daughters, little Son,
Nay more, his beauteous Queen are slaves to those,
To whom they once scorn'd to be Sovereigns.
Two Royal Virgins in their early Spring
Lye like fallen Blossoms, at their Mother's feet.
At her fair Bosom hangs her Infant Son
A withering branch, torn from his once great hopes;
He, who was lately Heir of half the World,
Is now, not Lord of his poor little Self,
His greatest happiness is Ignorance;
He does not know the Glory he has lost,
But hugs the Enemy that ruins him.
The Conqueror cannot see this, without Tears,
And cursing his unfortunate success.
And then, oh! Can it be endur'd by us?
But I may spare all this, to Men so brave,
So tryed, as you have to your Glory been,
Lord Bessus, Nabarzanes, and your Troops.

Na.
We may one day be tryed upon your selves.

(aside.
Be.
Silence, Lord Nabarzanes—have a care—

(aside.
Ar.
Fortune, Lord Bessus, seems afraid of you.
She's Alexander's Mistress, but your Slave;
She gives him Favours, but your ravish 'em.
At our great blow, at the Cilician Streights
All came off safe, as priviledg'd from Fate,
That kept within the precincts of your Sword.

Be.
Indeed, my Lord, my Bactrians did well.

Ar.
And you, Lord Patron, and your valiant Greeks,
Must give me leave to give you your due praise:
These gallant Men are to our Fortune tyed
By indispensable Allegiance.
But you are strangers, loose from any bonds.

Pa.
My Lord, we are for ever bound to you
By Gratitude, and Honour; Greece indeed
Gave us our birth, but you our happiest hours,
That our best Blood is yours.

Ar.
Most Noble Lord;
Well, If we fail to morrow 'twill be strange,
We have the strength of this vast Monarchy,
The justice of our Cause, Necessity,
Ay, and th'inconstancy of Fortune too.
That mutability which ruin'd us,
In the last Field, may be our Friend the next.
Now to your Tents, and take a brief repose,
That so prepar'd, you may not be surpriz'd.
The King suspects, these Macedonian Thieves
Will act like Thieves, and steal on us by night,
They will not dare to look on us by day;
And therefore he has wisely given Command,
Great part o'th' Army be in Arms all night;
And all be ready at the Trumpets sound.

Be.
'Tis wisely order'd.

Ar.
Now, my Lords, Good Night.

Be.
My Lord, we wish your Excellence Good night.
Heaven give us all to Morrow a Good Day.

(Ex. Ar.
Pa.
I'le to my Charge; my Lords, Good night to you.

(Ex. Pa.
Be.
Good Night, Lord Patron; this is a brave Greek.

Na.
And our old General a brave Persian.

Be.
He's like the Sun, a Largesse to the World;
And not to be consum'd by age or toil.

Na.
The King, and he, are th'only gallant Men
In this whole Nation.

Be.
Memnon, to your Tent.

Mem.
Good Night, my Lord.—

(Ex. Mem.
Be.
He's honest, but he's young.
Our talk has too much weight for his green youth.

Na.
And our Affairs, I think, have so much weight,
We shall not sleep beneath 'em much to night.

Be.
'Tis true, my Lord, come let us to my Tent,
Come with us, Dataphernes.

Da.
Ay, my Lord.—

Ex.
All go out, and re-enter immediately.