e.

ARSACES.

My eyes shall e'er two running fountains be,
And wet thy urn with overflowing tears,
Joy ne'er again within my breast shall find
A residence--Oh! speak, once more--

EVANTHE.

Life's just out--
My Father--Oh! protect his honour'd age,
And give him shelter from the storms of fate,
He's long been fortune's sport--Support me--Ah!--
I can no more--my glass is spent--farewell--
Forever--Arsaces!--Oh! [_Dies._

ARSACES.

Stay, oh! stay,
Or take me with thee--dead! she's cold and dead!
Her eyes are clos'd, and all my joys are flown--
Now burst ye elements, from your restraint,
Let order cease, and chaos be again.
Break! break, tough heart!--oh! torture--life dissolve--
Why stand ye idle? Have I not one friend
To kindly free me from this pain? One blow,
One friendly blow would give me ease.

BARZAPHERNES.

The Gods
Forefend!--Pardon me, Royal Sir, if I
Dare, seemingly disloyal, seize your sword,
Despair may urge you far--

ARSACES.

Ha! traitors! rebels!--
Hoary rev'rend Villain! what, disarm me?
Give me my sword--what, stand ye by, and see
Your Prince insulted? Are ye rebels all?--

BARZAPHERNES.

Be calm, my gracious Lord!

GOTARZES.

Oh! my lov'd Brother!

ARSACES.

Gotarzes too! all! all! conspir'd against me?
Still, are ye all resolv'd that I must live,
And feel the momentary pangs of death?--
Ha!--this, shall make a passage for my soul--

[_Snatches BARZAPHERNES' sword._

Out, out vile cares, from your distress'd abode-- [_Stabs himself._

BARZAPHERNES.

Oh! ye eternal Gods!

GOTARZES.

Distraction! heav'ns!
I shall run mad--

ARSACES.

Ah! 'tis in vain to grieve--
The steel has done its part, and I'm at rest.--
Gotarzes, wear my crown, and be thou blest,
Cherish, Barzaphernes, my trusty chief--
I faint, oh! lay me by Evanthe's side--
Still wedded in our deaths--Bethas--

BARZAPHERNES.

Despair,
My Lord, has broke his heart, I saw him stretch'd,
Along the flinty pavement, in his gaol--
Cold, lifeless--

ARSACES.

He's happy then--had he heard
This tale, he'd--Ah! Evanthe chides my soul,
For ling'ring here so long--another pang
An