The fplendid camp of Xerxes will adorn.
Then be it fo. Again I will adore
Her gentle virtue. Her delightful tongue,
Her graceful fweetness fhall again diffuse
Refiftless magic through my ravish'd heart;
And thus when love, with double rage inflam'd,
Swells to diffraction in my tortur'd breast,
Then-but in vain through darkness do I fearch
My fate defpair and fortune be my guides.
The hour arriv'd, when Xerxes firft advanced His arms from Safa's gates. The Perfian dames (So were accuftom'd all the eastern fair)
In fumptuous cars accompanied his march;
And Ariana grac'd the beauteous train.
From morn till ev'ning Teribazus guards
Her paffing wheels; his arm her weight sustains
With trembling pleasure often, as fhe mounts
Th' imperial chariot; his affiduous hand.
From each pure fountain wafts the living flood:
Nor feldem by the fair one's foft command
Would he repofe him, at her feet reclin'd,
While o'er his lips her lovely forehead bow'd,
Won with his grateful eloquence, that footh'd
With sweet variety the tedious march,
Beguiling time. He too would then forget
His cares awhile, in raptures vain intranc'd,
Delufion all, and fleeting rays of joy,
Soon overcaft with more intense despair;
Like wintry clouds, which op'ning for a time,
Tinge their black fkirts with fcatter'd beams of day;
Then, fwiftly clofing, on the brows of morn
Condense their horrors, and in thickeft gloom
The ruddy beauty veil. Such woes opprefs'd
The Perfian's heart, not foften'd; for this day
His daring valour from the bleeding van
Oppos'd the frown of adamantine Mars.
With no tiara were his temples bound,
The flender lance of Afia he disdain'd,
And her light target. Eminent he mov'd
In Grecian arms the wonder of his foes.
Among th' Ionians had his ftrenuous limbs
In war been practis'd. A refplendent cafque
Flam'd on his head. Before his face and cheft
Down to the knees his ample fhield was spread.
A pond'rous afh with skilful hands he grasp'd.
Thus arm'd, tremendous in the front he ftood.
Beneath his might two bold Philafians died,
And three Tegéans, whofe indignant chief,
Brave Hegefander, vengeance breath'd in vain,
With streaming wounds repuls'd. Thus far unmatch'd
His ftrength prevail'd, when Hyperanthes' voice
Recall'd his fainting legions. Now each band
Their languid courage reinforc'd with rest.
Mean time with Teribazus thus confer'd
The godlike prince. Thou much deferving youth!
O had thy deeds with emulation warm'd
The frozen hearts of Perfia, Greece had wept
Her proftrate ranks, not triumph'd in our fhame.
Relaxing now the wearied fight, I wait,
Till from the camp with Abradates strong
The brave Pharnuchus and Mazæus move,
And with fresh pow'rs renew the drooping war.
For fince furpafs'd in valour, we must waste
By endless numbers, and continual toil,
The matchless ardour of our gallant foes.
He faid. Immers'd in sadness, scarce replied,
But to himself thus plain'd the am'rous youth.
Still do I languish, mourning o'er the fame,
My arm acquires. O wretched heart! thou feat
Of conftant forrow, what deceitful fmiles
Yet canft thou borrow from illufive hope
To flatter life. At Ariana's feet
What if with fupplicating knees I bow'd,
Implor'd her pity, and reveal'd my love?
Wretch, canft thou climb to yon effulgent orb,
And share the fplendors, which irradiate heav'n ?
Doft thou afpire to that exalted maid,
Great Xerxes' fifter, rivalling the hopes
Of Afia's purpled potentates and kings?
Unless within her bofom I infpir'd
A paffion fervent as my own, nay more,
Such as might diffipate each virgin fear,
And unreftrain'd difclofe its fond defire,
My hopes are fruitlefs. Plung'd in black defpair,
He thus revolv'd, when fuddenly the cries
Of Aribæus fmote his penfive ear.
By mutual danger, and by friendship join'd,
They had been long companions in the toils
Of war. Together with victorious steps
The fons of Nile they chac'd, when Ægypt's pride
Before the arms of Hyperanthes fell.
Stretch'd on the plain, and cover'd o'er with wounds,
By all abandon'd, Teribazus views
His gallant friend. His languid foul awakes,
And forth he iffues from the Perfian line.
The bleeding warriour in his ftrong embrace
Swift he conveys. By indignation fir'd,
Fierce from the Grecians Diophantus rush'd
With loud defiance. Teribazus leaves
His refcu'd friend. His maffy targe he rears,
Advances high his formidable fpear,
And turns intrepid on th' approaching foe.
Amazement follow'd. On he strode, and fhook
The plumed honours of his fhining creft.
Th' ill-fated Greek awaits th' unequal fight;
Pierc'd in the throat, with founding arms he falls;
Through ev'ry band the Mantinéans mourn.
Upon the flain the victor fix'd his fight,
And thus reflected. By thy fplendid arms
Thou art a Greek of no ignoble rank,
And from thy fall perhaps am I adorn'd
With more confpicuous luftre. What if heav'n
Should add new victims, like thyfelf, to grace
My undeferving hand, who knows but she
Might fmile upon my trophies? Oh! vain thought!
Difperfe ye phantome hopes! too long, my heart,
Haft thou in vain contended with thy woes!
I ftand this moment on the verge of life,
By fame invited, by defpair impell'd
To pass th' irremeable bound. No more
Shall Teribazus backward turn his steps,
But here decide his fate. Then beat no more,
Thou troubled heart, and ev'ry grief be still
Now at th' approach of everlasting peace.
He ended, when a mighty foe drew nigh;
Not lefs than Dithyrambus. Ere they join'd,
The Perfian thus the Thefpian youth addrefs'd.
Say, art not thou th' unconquerable Greek,
Whofe dauntless valour mow'd our battle down,
And scatter'd nations? To attempt thy force
This day I purpos'd, when our chiefs from fight
Their hoft withdrew? That now my fingle arm
Thou deign'ft to meet, receive my thanks; and know,
The thought of conqueft lefs employs my mind,
Than that by thee I cannot fall with fhame.
He ceas'd. These words the Thefpian chief return'd.
Of all the praifes from thy gen'rous mouth,
The only fhare, which justice bids me claim,
Is, that I here adventure to confront
Thy matchless frength. Believe not, that unmark'd
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