University of Virginia Library

[Scene]

The Scene is drawn, a Waggon appears. The Horses bloody, and full of Darts, some falling, others fallen. Polystratus and Persians support Darius, who is Bloody and Faint.
Pol.
Run, run for help, while we will bind his wounds.

Da.
Ha! who art thou?

Pol.
A Macedonian, Sir.

Da.
My Enemy so kind?

Pol.
A Gallant Man
Fights out of Love to Duty and Renown;
And loves and honours a brave Enemy.

Da.
What is thy name?

Pol.
'Tis Polystratus, Sir.

Da.
Brave Man; more kind to me, than my Friends are.
These were the Presents of my once dear Friends,
Bessus and Nabarzanes.

Pol.
Hellish Dogs.

Da.
'Tis no small comfort in my wretched State,
My grateful dying thoughts will not be lost.
Tell thy brave King, I dye deep in his Debt.
I never once oblig'd him in the least,
And he has nobly treated all my Friends.
My Mother, Brother, Children, my Fair Queen.
Granted their Lives, and Royal Splendour too,
They scarce cou'd tell they were unfortunate.
When my near Kindred, and once Bosome Friends,
On whom I Life, and Kingdoms have bestow'd,
Have plunder'd me of all. Oh! tell thy King,
I beg the Gods, for Universal Good,
To make him Monarch o' the Universe.
And for the common Cause of all Crown'd Heads,
I challenge the Revenge due to my Blood.

Pol.
Sir, it will be reveng'd, your Murderers
Are in the hands of your most Faithful.

Da.
I'm glad on't; for the sake of all Mankind.
Pity the Sea has bounds, if Sin has none.
Better men sunk in Sea, than Villany.
I'm faint, and thirsty; I but lately saw
Some drinking at a Spring, not far from hence.
A little Water wou'd refresh me much.

Pol.
Sir, it was I, you shall have some with speed.

[Pol. fetches the King water in his Helmet, the King drinks.
Da.
How vainly do we pity Poverty!
The Gods sit at the Table o'the Poor,
And turn their Water to delicious Wine.
Never had I, in pompous Luxury,
Such Pleasure, as this draught o'water yields.
But Fortune does pursue me to the last.
I'm forc'd to beg even Water for my Thirst,
And though a King, I cannot pay for it.
But Alexander will;—give me thy hand.
Prethee for me touch Alexander's hand.
The sole remaining Pledge I have to give,
For all my grateful Love, to that brave Prince.

[Dyes.
Pol.
He's gone! he's gone! and it is well he's so.
Oh! wretched Prince, whose Happiness is Death.
Let's bear the Sacred Body to our King;
For he will give it Royal Funerals.

[Ex. Poly. and Persians with the Body. Enter another way, Artabazus, Patron, Persians, Greeks; with Bessus, and Nabarzanes, chain'd and wounded.
Per.
Here is the Spring, the King's not far from hence.

Ar.
Oh! no—for see the ground all stain'd with Blood.
And no doubt Royal Blood, let us pursue
The dreadful track, 'twill bring us to the King.

Pa.
'Twill bring these Villains to Damnation.

Enter a Persian.
2 Per.
My Lord, I met the Macedonians
With the King's Body, and the King is dead.

Ar.
Oh! Prince, the best, and yet most wrong'd of men.
What Joy and Glory did he not deserve!
And yet what Misery did he not endure?
And now deny'd the comfort of Revenge.

Pa.
Perhaps he may enjoy it after Death.
Oh Royal Shade! if yet thou be'st not fled
To blest Abodes, bear this detested place,
But while we entertain thee with Revenge.
Drink sweet Revenge, till thy great sorrows Sleep.
Then thou, and all good things, fly hence for ever.
Here take these Monsters, torture 'em to Death.
Ha! pleasing Harmony! hear you it not?

[Soft Musick.
Ar.
Yes, with great Admiration; for methinks
This is no time or place for such delight.

Pa.
A Sence of the Kings Murder, seems imprest
On Beasts and Plants, and every thing but those
Who threw at once their King and Nature off.
Lyons come roaring from their Caves, then dy'd.
The Cedars groan'd, then fell. Th'Earth deeply tore
Her Bowels, and then wept a bloody Spring.
Streight all the Plants and Flowers droop'd, and dy'd.
They must be most unnatural Villains then,
That now find Pleasure, but none such are near.

Enter a Persian.
Per.
My Lord, the Traytours are in Torments Dead.