_Dio._ Ye brave associates, who so oft have shar'd Our toil and danger in the field of glory, My fellow warriors, what no god could promise, Fortune hath giv'n us. In his dark embrace Lo! sleep envelops the whole Grecian camp. Against a foe, the outcasts of their country, Freebooters, roving in pursuit of prey, Success by war or covert stratagem Alike is glorious. Then, my gallant friends, What need of words? The gen'rous call of freedom, Your wives, your children, your invaded rights, All that can steel the patriot breast with valour, Expands and rouses in the swelling heart. Follow th'impulsive ardour; follow me, Your king, your leader: in the friendly gloom Of night, assault their camp; your country's love, And fame eternal, shall attend the men Who march'd through blood and horror, to redeem, From the invader's pow'r, their native land. _Cal._ Lead to the onset; Greece shall find we bear Hearts prodigal of blood, when honour calls, Resolv'd to conquer or to die in freedom. _Dio._ Thus I've resolv'd: When the declining moon Hath veil'd her orb, our silent march begins. The order thus:--Calippus thou lead forth Iberia's sons with the Numidian bands, And line the shore.--Perdiccas, be it thine To march thy cohorts to the mountain's foot, Where the wood skirts the valley; there make halt Till brave Amyntor stretch along the vale. Ourself with the embodied cavalry Clad in their mail'd cuirass, will circle round To where their camp extends its furthest line; Unnumber'd torches there shall blaze at once, The signal of the charge; then, oh, my friends! On every side let the wild uproar loose, Bid massacre and carnage stalk around, Unsparing, unrelenting; drench your swords In hostile blood, and riot in destruction. Away, my friends! Rouse all the war! fly to your sev'ral posts, And instant bring all Syracuse in arms! [_Exeunt.--Warlike music._ Scene III. _The Inside of the Temple._ _A Monument in the Middle._ _EUPHRASIA, ERIXENE, and FEMALE ATTENDANTS._ _Eup._ Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins, Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altar Clasp on our knees? _Erix._ Alas, the horrid tumult Spreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry side The victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches, In wild confusion rise. Once more descend Eudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter. _Eup._ Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit, Perhaps for the last time, a mother's urn. This dagger there, this instrument of death, Should fortune prosper the fell tyrant's arms, This dagger then may free me from his pow'r, And that drear vault intomb us all in peace. [_Puts up the Dagger._ The din Of arms with clearer sound advances. Hark! That sudden burst!--Again!--They rush upon us! The portal opens; lo!--see there!--behold, War, horrid war, invades the sacred fane! No altar gives a sanctuary now. [_Warlike Music._ _Enter DIONYSIUS and CALIPPUS, with several SOLDIERS._