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Article STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. ← Page 5 of 6 →
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Strictures On Public Amusements.
Wror , and beseech their sovereign not to trust his life to so vile a traitor . Philip appears with the draught which he has prepared ; Alexander' magnanimously drinks it , and , fixing his eyes on Philip ' s countenance , gives him Parmeriio ' s letter , which he reads without the smallest sign of confusion ; but , filled with honest anger at such an accusation , he puts himself . into the hands of the enraged soldiers , offering to atone with his own life whatever evil befals the king from his prescription . —Alexander perceiving the gradual return , of-his strength , embraces Philipreceives the congratulations of his troopsand without pause
, ,, continues his expedition against Persia : ACT II . —SCENE I . THE PALACE OF THE KINGS OF PERSIA ; Darius , seated on his throne , surrounded by his family , and his nobles , and . indulging in the soft pleasures of the eastern court , is surprised by the abrupt entrance of a messenger , who informs him that Alexander of Macedon has invaded Ihe Persian territory . —The sports are interrupted ; fear and confusion
are visible in every face . Darius calmly orders a detachment of his army to . repel the invader , and commands the amusements to be continued ; they are hardly resumed , before the High Priest of the Sun rushes into the royal presence , and announces all the dangers to be apprehended from the immediate approach of Alexander at the head of his resistless army . —A tempest rises , thestatue of Darius is struck with lightning , and falls to pieces from its pedestal . The king , filled with apprehension , consults the chief of the Magi on this illboding omen , who reluctantly informs him , that it portends the most
lamentable disasters to thc state . The Persian monarch , resuming all his spirit , orders the High Priest to dismiss his terrors , consoles the women , encourages the men , represents the injustice of this unprovoked aggression , and is joined by his whole court in an address to the Sun , ' which they conclude with a solemn vow to perish with their king and country , rather than submit to the ignominy of a foreign yoke ; in this resolution Darius , the royal family , and the Persian army , depart to take the field against Alexander . SCENE II . THE PLAINS OF ARBELA . The battle of Arhela : —desperate conflict on the bridge , Darius is totally de « feated , his family made captive , and the Persian empire finally overthrown ;
SCENE III THE TENT Of DARIUS . Sysigambis , Rtatira , Pafisatis , and their attendants , enter the tent , distracted by their fears of what may befal them from the rage of the conquerors , and overwhelmed with grief at the report of the death of Darius : —Alexander , accompanied only by Hephestion , visits his royal captives , who salute Hephestion for the king . Alexander excuses the mistake , raises them from their knee ' s ,
assures them that Darius is slilj living-, begs them to believe that the most inviolable respect and honour shall be paid them , and , casting his eyes upon Statira , instantly becomes the slave of her beauty . Darius is brought into tha tent , followed by Bessus , the wretch who has betrayed and assassinated hisgr ' a ^ - clous master ; the murdered prince expires in the arms of his fallen family , having bequeathed his empire to the generous victor , who condemns Bessus to death , in punishment of his treason , decrees all funeral honours to the remains of Darius , which are borne away by his mourning kindred , continues lost in fixed
vonieivphuion on Statira ' s charms , till , roused by Hephestion , he recollecti himself , and is persuaded to proceed , and receive the honours which whole na « tions are assembled to pay him in the city of Babylon . ACT III . THE CITY OF BABYLON . ORDER OF ALEXANDER'S ENTRY ; Mazetis , Governor of Babylon—Babylonian Infantry—Officers bearing Standards—Babylonian Infantry—Babylonian Musicians—Slaves carrrinz perfumed Vol .. IV . " T '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures On Public Amusements.
Wror , and beseech their sovereign not to trust his life to so vile a traitor . Philip appears with the draught which he has prepared ; Alexander' magnanimously drinks it , and , fixing his eyes on Philip ' s countenance , gives him Parmeriio ' s letter , which he reads without the smallest sign of confusion ; but , filled with honest anger at such an accusation , he puts himself . into the hands of the enraged soldiers , offering to atone with his own life whatever evil befals the king from his prescription . —Alexander perceiving the gradual return , of-his strength , embraces Philipreceives the congratulations of his troopsand without pause
, ,, continues his expedition against Persia : ACT II . —SCENE I . THE PALACE OF THE KINGS OF PERSIA ; Darius , seated on his throne , surrounded by his family , and his nobles , and . indulging in the soft pleasures of the eastern court , is surprised by the abrupt entrance of a messenger , who informs him that Alexander of Macedon has invaded Ihe Persian territory . —The sports are interrupted ; fear and confusion
are visible in every face . Darius calmly orders a detachment of his army to . repel the invader , and commands the amusements to be continued ; they are hardly resumed , before the High Priest of the Sun rushes into the royal presence , and announces all the dangers to be apprehended from the immediate approach of Alexander at the head of his resistless army . —A tempest rises , thestatue of Darius is struck with lightning , and falls to pieces from its pedestal . The king , filled with apprehension , consults the chief of the Magi on this illboding omen , who reluctantly informs him , that it portends the most
lamentable disasters to thc state . The Persian monarch , resuming all his spirit , orders the High Priest to dismiss his terrors , consoles the women , encourages the men , represents the injustice of this unprovoked aggression , and is joined by his whole court in an address to the Sun , ' which they conclude with a solemn vow to perish with their king and country , rather than submit to the ignominy of a foreign yoke ; in this resolution Darius , the royal family , and the Persian army , depart to take the field against Alexander . SCENE II . THE PLAINS OF ARBELA . The battle of Arhela : —desperate conflict on the bridge , Darius is totally de « feated , his family made captive , and the Persian empire finally overthrown ;
SCENE III THE TENT Of DARIUS . Sysigambis , Rtatira , Pafisatis , and their attendants , enter the tent , distracted by their fears of what may befal them from the rage of the conquerors , and overwhelmed with grief at the report of the death of Darius : —Alexander , accompanied only by Hephestion , visits his royal captives , who salute Hephestion for the king . Alexander excuses the mistake , raises them from their knee ' s ,
assures them that Darius is slilj living-, begs them to believe that the most inviolable respect and honour shall be paid them , and , casting his eyes upon Statira , instantly becomes the slave of her beauty . Darius is brought into tha tent , followed by Bessus , the wretch who has betrayed and assassinated hisgr ' a ^ - clous master ; the murdered prince expires in the arms of his fallen family , having bequeathed his empire to the generous victor , who condemns Bessus to death , in punishment of his treason , decrees all funeral honours to the remains of Darius , which are borne away by his mourning kindred , continues lost in fixed
vonieivphuion on Statira ' s charms , till , roused by Hephestion , he recollecti himself , and is persuaded to proceed , and receive the honours which whole na « tions are assembled to pay him in the city of Babylon . ACT III . THE CITY OF BABYLON . ORDER OF ALEXANDER'S ENTRY ; Mazetis , Governor of Babylon—Babylonian Infantry—Officers bearing Standards—Babylonian Infantry—Babylonian Musicians—Slaves carrrinz perfumed Vol .. IV . " T '