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 fweet 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 overcast with more intense despair;

Like wintry clouds, which op'ning for a time,
Tinge their black skirts with scatter'd beams of day;
Then, fwiftly clofing, on the brows of morn
Condense their horrors, and in thickest 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 fkilful hands he grafp'd.
Thus arm'd, tremendous in the front he stood.

Beneath

Beneath his might two bold Phliafians 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 reft.
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 shame.
Relaxing now the wearied fight, I wait,
Till from the camp with Abradates ftrong
The brave Pharnuchus and Mazæus move,
And with fresh pow'rs renew the drooping war.
For fince furpafs'd in valour, we must wafte
By endless numbers, and continual toil,
The matchlefs ardour of our gallant foes.
He faid. Immers'd in fadness, fcarce 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 cant 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 disclose its fond defire,
My hopes are fruitless. Plung'd in black despair,
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 fteps

The fons of Nile they chac'd, when Egypt'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

he

With loud defiance. Teribazus leaves
His refcu'd friend. His maffy targe
Advances high his formidable fpear,

rears,

And turns intrepid on th' approaching foe. Amazement follow'd. On he ftrode, and shook 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 thy felf, 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 despair impell'd To pafs 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 shame. Heceas'd. These words the Thefpian chief return'd. Of all the praises from thy gen'rous mouth, The only fhare, which juftice bids me claim, Is, that I here adventure to confront

Thy matchlefs ftrength. Believe not, that unmark'd Were thy great deeds. From yon unbounded camp None yet hath equall'd thy victorious hand.

But whence thy armour of the Grecian form? Whence thy tall fpear? thy helmet? whence the weight

Of that strong shield unlike thy eastern friends?
O if thou be'ft fome fugitive, who, loft
To liberty and virtue, art become
A tyrant's vile ftipendiary; with grief
That valour, thus triumphant, I behold,