amachus' palace, Cherson.
Scene 2 Outside the palace of Lamachus.
Scene 3 A street in Cherson.
Scene 4 The garden without the banqueting-room.

Act III
Scene 1 Cherson, two years after. The palace of Lamachus.
Scene 2 The same.
Scene 3 A room in the palace.
Scene 4 Irene's prison.
Scene 5 Outside the palace.

Act IV
Scene 1 Cherson. Irene's prison.
Scene 2 Room in Lamachus's palace.
Scene 3 The council chamber of the Senate of Cherson.

Act V
Scene 1 Lamachus's palace.
Scene 2 The banquet hall.
Scene 3 Outside the banquet hall.
Scene 4 The Senate-chamber.

Notices of the press

PREFACE.

The following Drama was written with a view to Stage representation,
and it is therefore rather as an Acting Play than as a Dramatic Poem
that it should be judged by its readers.

It follows as closely as possible the striking story recorded by
Constantine Porphyrogenitus in his work, "De Administratione
Imperii." Nor has the writer had occasion (except in the death of the
heroine) to modify the powerful historical situations and incidents
to which it is right to say his attention was first directed by his
friend the well-known scholar and critic, Mr. W. Watkiss Lloyd.

The date of the story is circa 970 A.D.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

_PEOPLE OF BOSPHORUS._

_The_ KING OF BOSPHORUS.

ASANDER, _Prince of Bosphorus._

LYSIMACHUS, _a statesman._

MEGACLES, _a chamberlain from the Imperial Court of Constantinople._

_Three Courtiers, accompanying Asander and accomplices in the plot._

_Soldiers, etc._

_PEOPLE OF CHERSON._

LAMACHUS, _Archon of the Republic of Cherson._

ZETHO, _his successor._

THEODORUS, _a young noble (brother to Irene), in love with Gycia._

BARDANES, _first Senator._

_Ambassador to Bosphorus._

_The Senators of Cherson._

_Two Labourers._

GYCIA, _daughter of Lamachus._

IRENE, _a lady--her friend, in love with Asander._

MELISSA, _an elderly lady in waiting on Gycia_.

_Child, daughter of the Gaoler._

_Citizens, etc._

GYCIA.

ACT I.

SCENE I.--_Bosphorus. The King's palace. The_ KING, _in anxious
thought. To him_ LYSIMACHUS, _afterwards_ ASANDER.

_Enter_ LYSIMACHUS.

_Lys._ What ails the King, that thus his brow is bent
By such a load of care?

_King._ Lysimachus,
The load of empire lies a weary weight,