_Phil._ In chains they wait their doom.

_Dio._ Give me to see 'em; bring the slaves before me.

_Phil._ What, ho! Melanthon, this way lead your prisoners.

_Enter MELANTHON, with GREEK OFFICERS and SOLDIERS._

_Dio._ Assassins, and not warriors! do ye come,
When the wide range of battle claims your sword,
Thus do ye come against a single life
To wage the war? Did not our buckler ring
With all your darts, in one collected volley,
Shower'd on my head? Did not your swords at once
Point at my breast, and thirst for regal blood?

_G. Off._ We sought thy life. I am by birth a Greek.
An open foe in arms, I meant to slay
The foe of human kind. With rival ardour
We took the field; one voice, one mind, one heart;
All leagu'd, all covenanted: in yon camp
Spirits there are who aim, like us, at glory.
Whene'er you sally forth, whene'er the Greeks
Shall scale your walls, prepare thee to encounter
A like assault. By me the youth of Greece
Thus notify the war they mean to wage.

_Dio._ Thus, then, I warn them of my great revenge.
Whoe'er in battle shall become our pris'ner,
In torment meets his doom.

_G. Off._ Then wilt thou see
How vile the body to a mind that pants
For genuine glory. Twice three hundred Greeks
Have sworn like us, to hunt thee through the ranks;
Ours the first lot; we've fail'd; on yonder plain
Appear in arms, the faithful band will meet thee.

_Dio._ Vile slave, no more. Melanthon, drag 'em hence
To die in misery. Impal'd alive,
The winds shall parch them on the craggy cliff.
Selected from the rest, let one depart
A messenger to Greece, to tell the fate
Her chosen sons, her first adventurers met.

[_Exit DIONYSIUS._

_Mel._ Unhappy men! how shall my care protect
Your forfeit lives? Philotas, thou conduct them
To the deep dungeon's gloom. In that recess,
'Midst the wild tumult of eventful war
We may ward off the blow. My friends, farewell:
That officer will guide your steps.

[_All follow PHILOTAS, except PHOCION._

_Phoc._ Satisfy my doubts; how fares Euphrasia?

_Mel._ Euphrasia lives, and fills the anxious moments
With every virtue. Wherefore venture hither?
Why with rash valour penetrate our gates?

_Phoc._ Could I refrain? Oh! could I tamely wait
Th' event of ling'ring war? With patience count
The lazy-pacing hours, while here in Syracuse
The tyrant keeps all that my heart holds dear;
For her dear sake, all danger sinks before me?
For her I burst the barriers of the gate,
Where t