Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/543

COUNTESS OF WINOHILSEA 405 �Shouts of Victory. Enter Demagetus, Arcasius, Alcander, and several officers, their Swords drawn as coming from Battle. �Demag. A glorious Day, and warmly was it fought: Nor ever did a Victory more complete Stoop to the General's Valour Some Troops are order'd to secure Phcerea; And with to-morrow's Sun he enters there To take the Homage of the conquer'd Spartans. 280 �Alcand. They say, that Anaxander he has freed As generously, as he'd ne'er known the Dungeon. �Demag. He did, at Prince Aristor's kind Request ; And now, with the high Marks of Conquest crown'd Is coming to declare to Amalintha That all her Wishes, and her Fears are ended. �[Turning to go into the Tent, he sees the Bodies. They are, indeed; for ever, ever ended. Oh ! turn and see where that pale Beauty lies, And faithful, dead Aristor, bleeding by her! �Alcand. O sudden Horror! where's our Conquest now, Our lofty Boasts, and brave expected Triumphs? 291 �Lie there, my Sword, beneath my Leader's Feet; �[Lays his Sword at Aristor's Feet. For under him I fought, and now weep for him. �Dema. We'll all join to encrease the mournful Shower. A Soldier for a Soldier's Fall may weep, And shed these Drops without unmanly Weakness. �[A Sound of Trumpets. �But hark ! the Gen'ral, how shall we receive him ? Awhile we'll with our Bodies shade this Prospect, And tell him by our Looks, some Grief attends him; Lest all his Fortitude shou'd not support 300 �A Change so sudden in his wretched Fortune. Nor can we learn from whence this Loss proceeds. ��� �