Her Teribazus follows, on her wheels Attends and pines. Such woes oppress the youth, Oppress, but not enervate. From the van He in this second conflict had withstood The threat'ning frown of adamantine Mars, He singly, while his bravest friends recoil'd. His manly temples no tiara bound. The slender lance of Asia he disdain'd, And her light target. Eminent he tow'r'd In Grecian arms the wonder of his foes; Among th' Ionians were his strenuous limbs Train'd in the gymnic school. A fulgent casque Enclos'd his head. Before his face and chest Down to the knees an ample shield was spread. A pond'rous spear he shook. The well-aim'd point Sent two Phliasians to the realms of death
With four Tegeans, whose indignant chief,
Brave Hegesander, vengeance breath'd in vain, With streaming wounds repuls'd. Thus far unmatch'd,
His arm prevail'd; when Hyperanthes call'd From fight his fainting legions. Now each band Their languid courage reinforc'd by rest. Meantime with Teribazus thus conferr'd
Th' applauding prince. Thou much-deserving youth, Had twenty warriors in the dangʼrous van Like thee maintain'd the onset, Greece had wept Her prostrate ranks. The wearied fight awhile I now relax, till Abradates strong, Orontes and Mazæus are advanc'd.
Then to the conflict will I give no pause. If not by prowess, yet by endless toil Successive numbers shall exhaust the foe.
He said. Immers'd in sadness, scarce replied, But to himself complain'd the am'rous youth. Still do I languish, mourning o'er the fame My arm acquires. Tormented heart! thou seat Of constant sorrow, what deceitful smiles Yet canst thou borrow from unreal hope To flatter life? at Ariana's feet What if with supplicating knees I bow, Implore her pity, and reveal my love. Wretch! canst thou climb to yon effulgent orb, And share the splendours which irradiate heav'n? Dost thou aspire to that exalted maid, Great Xerxes' sister, rivalling the claim Of Asia's proudest potentates and kings? Unless within her bosom I inspir'd
A passion fervent as my own, nay more, Such, as dispelling ev'ry virgin fear, Might, unrestrain'd, disclose its fond desire, My love is hopeless; and her willing hand, Should she bestow it, draws from Asia's lord On both perdition. By despair benumb'd, His limbs their action lose. A wish for death O'ercasts and chills his soul. When sudden cries From Ariamnes rouse his drooping pow'rs. Alike in manners, they of equal age
Were friends, and partners in the glorious toil Of war. Together they victorious chas'd
The bleeding sons of Nile, when Egypt's pride Before the sword of Hyperanthes fell. That lov'd companion Teribazus views By all abandon'd, in his gore outstretch'd, The victor's spoil. His languid spirit starts; He rushes ardent from the Persian line; The wounded warrior in his strong embrace He bears away. By indignation stung, Fierce from the Grecians Diophantus sends A loud defiance. Teribazus leaves
His rescu'd friend. His massy shield he rears; High-brandishing his formidable spear, He turns intrepid on th' approaching foe. Amazement follows. On he strides, and shakes The plumed honours of his shining crest. Th' ill-fated Greek awaits th' unequal fight, Pierc'd in the throat, with sounding arms he falls. Through ev'ry file the Mantineans mourn. Long on the slain the victor fix'd his sight With these reflections. By thy splendid arms Thou art a Greek of no ignoble rank. From thy ill fortune I perhaps derive A more conspicuous lustre-What if heav'n Should add new victims, such as thou, to grace My undeserving hand? who knows, but she Might smile upon my trophies. Oh! vain thought! I see the pride of Asia's monarch swell
With vengeance fatal to her beauteous head. Disperse, ye phantom hopes. Too long, torn heart, Hast thou with grief contended. Lo! I plant
My foot this moment on the By fame invited, by despair impell'd
th' irremeable bound. No more Shall Teribazus backward turn his step,
But here conclude his doom. Then cease to heave, Thou troubled bosom, ev'ry thought be calm Now at th' approach of everlasting peace.
He ended; when a mighty foe drew nigh, Not less than Dithyrambus. Ere they join❜d, The Persian warrior to the Greek began:
Art thou th' unconquerable chief, who mow'd Our battle down? That eagle on thy shield Too well proclaims thee. To attempt thy force I rashly purpos'd. That my single arm
Thou deign'st to meet, accept my thanks, and know, The thought of conquest less employs my soul, Than admiration of thy glorious deeds,
And that by thee I cannot fall disgrac❜d.
He ceas'd. These words the Thespian youth return'd:
Of all the praises from thy gen'rous mouth, The only portion my desert may claim,
Is this my bold adventure to confront
Thee, yet unmatch'd. What Grecian hath not mark'd Thy flaming steel? from Asia's boundless camp Not one hath equall'd thy victorious might. But whence thy armour of the Grecian form? Whence thy tall spear, thy helmet? Whence the weight
Of that strong shield? Unlike thy eastern friends,
O if thou be❜st some fugitive, who, lost To liberty and virtue, art become A tyrant's vile stipendiary, that arm, That valour thus triumphant I deplore, Which after all their efforts and success Deserve no honour from the gods, or men. Here Teribazus in a sigh rejoin'd,
I am to Greece a stranger, am a wretch To thee unknown, who courts this hour to die, Yet not ignobly, but in death to raise
My name from darkness, while I end my woes. The Grecian then: I view thee, and I mourn. A dignity, which virtue only bears,
Firm resolution, seated on thy brow,
Though grief hath dimm'd thy drooping eye, demand My veneration: and whatever be
The malice of thy fortune, what the cares, Infesting thus thy quiet, they create Within my breast the pity of a friend. Why then, constraining my reluctant hand To act against thee, will thy might support Th' unjust ambition of malignant kings, The foes to virtue, liberty, and peace? Yet free from rage or enmity I lift
My adverse weapon. Victory I ask. Thy life may fate for happier days reserve.
This said, their beaming lances they protend,
Of hostile hate, or fury both devoid,
As on the Isthmian, or Olympic sands
For fame alone contending. Either host,
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