Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/481

COUNTESS OF WINOHILSEA 843 �Enter meeting, Climander, Clinias, and other Shepherds. �1st Shep. Ruin'd, Undone ! �Clin. Let every Shepherd weep! Turn their sweet Harmony to Sighs and Groans! To the fierce Wolves deliver up their Flocks, And leave Messenia to the cruel Victor! �dim. The Victor, Clinias! is the Fight then over? �Clin. It is, and We again the Slaves of Sparta. �dim. Then Arisiomenes must sure be breathless, And, if he's Dead, fall'n in his Countries Cause: The Gods have giv'n Him Fame, whilst We are Wretched. 130 �Clin. Oh ! He's not Dead, but Living in their Power, Which, 'tis believ'd, they'll use with utmost Rigour: Pressing too far on the Auxiliary Troops, The Foe surrounding bore him from his Horse, Then with the Thongs of their curs'd Cretan Bows Bound his strong Arms, and lead him off, in Triumph. �dim. Convert, ye Powers, to Blood and Tears that Triumph ! �Rescue from their vile Hands the noble Prey, And send him warmer Friends than Demagetus, [Aside. Who, knowing not his Person, lov'd his Valour! 140 �O ill-tim'd Duty, how hast thou betray'd me! Where is Aristor? Where's the brave Alcander? [To them. �dim. The first may share in his great Father's Fate, For ought, as yet, the Army can discover : Alcander heads, but cannot lead them on, And 'tis believ'd they quickly will forsake him; Such cold Dismay and Terrour has possess'd 'em! Yet ere we part, forever part from hence, (If so the cruel Tyrant shou'd Decree) �Let us appoint one sad and solemn Meeting, 150 �Where all the Ensigns of our former Mirth May be defac'd and offer'd to His Praise. ��� �