SCENE VIII.-ZOOHRAB before the Barrier Fort, accosted by HUGEER, the Commander of the Barrier Fort.

HUGEER, the Commander of the Barrier Fort to ZOOHRAB

HUGEER

Know, I am he, with nervous power to tame The lion's rage, the brave Hugeer my name; "Thy head shall soon, dissevered by my sword, "Gladden the sight of Persia's mighty lord, "Whilst to the dogs thy carcase shall be given, "Or bleach beneath the parching blasts of heaven.

They close and fight. ZOOHRAB hurls a javelin, and brings the boaster to the ground.

HUGEER

"I am vanquished, I admit thy power,

"Life is but for a moment, I have had my hour. "Consider, valiant man, and spare the second thrust. "All succumb to fate, thus Hugeer must!

"I fought my battles, I was often best,

You, now, have vanquished me, let me therefore rest.

I spoke harsh words, I fancied I was brave,

"But fate; Oh, fate is such a wicked knave.

"I am defeated, but a soldier still.

"

Kill, Oh, finish me, if it be thy will.

"If thou art brave, take not away this life;

"Oh, yonder comes my own beloved wife.

GOOL-AFREED, wife of HUGEER, now rides up on a horse, and says to ZOORAB

Thy startled troops well know, with clamorous grief "A woman's arms resist their towering chief.

66 Better preserve a warrior's fair renown,
"And let our struggle still remain unknown;
"For who, with wanton folly, would expose
"A helpless woman, to aggravate her woes.
"The fort is thine, and we thy will obey,
"Thine be honours of this dreadful day.

ZOOHRAB tries to seize her, but she gallops off to the fort, and shouts from the ramparts

"Why vex thy soul, and useless strife demand? "Depart in peace, enjoy thy native land.

"Even now the king this bold invasion hears, And mighty Roostum, clad in arms, appears; "Destruction wide will glut the slippery plain, "And not a soul of all your host remain. "Avert the fate that o'er thy head impends, "Return, return, and save thy warrior friends. ZOOHRAB, to his followers

"Soon as the beam of early morn shall glow, "Our arms shall deal the last tremendous blow. SCENE IX. -The Palace of the Persian king. A Messenger from the Barrier Fort enters in haste

"From Scythia's barbarous realms, with foot and horse, "A stripling warrior holds his bloody course, "His lion-heart unequalled strength betrays, "And o'er his mien the sun's effulgence plays; "His voice like thunder rends the vaulted skies, “And all are daunted by his manly eyes: "Zoohrab, his name, like Suam Suwar, he shows, "Or Roostum terrible amidst our foes.

"Your bold Hugeer lies vanquished in the plain, And drags a captive's ignominous chain.

Myriads of troops besiege our tottering wall,
All vain the efforts to suspend its fall;

Haste, arm to fight, this Tartar power, withstand,
And hurl these foes from off our Persian land;
"Roostum alone may stem this surging wave,
"And prompt as bold, his groaning country save;
"Meanwhile in flight we place our only trust,

"E're our proud ramparts crumble into dust.

SCENE X.-ZOOHRAB in front of the Barrier Fort, and finds it empty

ZOOHRAB

"That fair unknown my tortured bosom rends,

Drives off all hope, and all my joy suspends."

A Scythian Chief hearing this, says—

"In ancient times no hero known to fame, "Nor dead to glory e'er indulged the flame, "Tho' beauty's smiles might charm a fleeting hour, "The heart, unswayed, repelled its witching power. "A warrior chief, to trembling love a prey? "Who weeps for women one inglorious day? "Our progress mark from Scythian hills we came, Through seas of blood to win immorțal fame ; "And shall we now this tempting conquest shun ? "When thus our valour, this barrier fort have won? Why linger here and trickling sorrows shed?

"Till mighty Kaoos thunders o'er thy head?
"Will thou, for love's effeminate control,
"Barter the glory of thy immortal soul?
"Rise lead the war, prodigious toils require

Unyielding strength and unextinguished fire. "Pursue your triumph with tempestuous rage, "Against the world's inglorious strife engage! "The fickle sex will then with (blooming charms,) Adore the warrior and bless his circling arms.

SCENE. XI-Roostum in retirement.
Messenger in great haste-

Enter King of Persia's

"To thee all praise, whose mighty arm alone
"Protects the glory of our Persian throne;
"Lo, foreign hordes, our happy realms invade,
"Our tottering state demands thy powerful aid.
"A youthful champion leads a Scythian host,
"To trample Persia! his insulting boast.
"The barrier fortress, fell beneath his sway,
Hugeer is vanquished, ruin marks his way;
No arm but thine can match his furious might,
Strong as a raging elephant in fight;

Fly to the succour of your king distress'd, "Proud of thy love, by thy protection blest.

" And whilst no whisper breathes the direful tale, "Oh let your monarch's anxious prayers avail;

"The king commanded—' ride the swiftest horse,
Outstrip the tempest in thy rapid course :

66 6

"To Roostum, swift, his country's woes convey; Speed day and night, nor shun the toilsome way.' ROOSTUM replies:

"A warrior knight of 'SAUMS' exceeding worth,
"Has hurled this terror on our Persian earth;
"From Scythia too, there once affection smiled.
""Tis there, Tuhmeena trains my darling child,
"But tender youth forbids him yet to share
"The horrid toils of sanguinary war?
"Yet when mature, in manhood's joyous prime,
"His deeds will live through all succeeding time.
Come join our mirth-are you too so afraid?

"Why tremble here, by coward thoughts dismayed? Let plans of war another day decide,

"We soon shall quell this Scythian youngster's pride. "What, danger threatens ? whence such dastard fear? "Rest here at pleasure, share a warrior's cheer. MESSENGER

"Immortal Roostum-pray, oh pray, do depart,
"Or else you'll break your loving Monarch's heart;
"I must return and tell great Persia's king

Whatever message you may let me bring.

ROOSTUM

"Tell the king, I see no need for haste,

"No dastard fears arise in Roostum's breast.

SCENE XII.-The Persian King in his Hall of Audience-
Durbar-Messenger from Roostum.

"Great King, your letter I did quick convey,
"But Roostum says he must delay a day.

ROOSTUM suddenly enters.

Soldiers try to seize ROOSTUM, but he hurls them to the ground.

ROOSTUM

Ungrateful king! thy tyrant acts disgrace,

Thy sacred throne, and more the human race; "'Midst clashing hosts thy recreant life I saved, "And am I now, by Kaoos, contemptuous braved? On me shall Kaoos ever dare to frown,

"On Roostum, bulwark of thy regal crown? "Go quick thyself, and this invasion stay!

"Go seize the plunderers, growling o'er their prey,
Know thou hast roused a warrior great and free,
Who never bends to tyrant kings like thee.
"What, trembling shrink at thy imperial nod?
Slave to no king, I only bow to God.

"Whatever wrath from thy proud hand may fall,
"For thee I've fought, and thus deserve it all!
"Thy regal sceptre might have graced my hand?
"I kept thy laws-I scorned supreme command.

Strong in thy cause my conquering arms prevailed, "Woulds't thou have reigned had Roostum's valour failed?

"When the white dæmon raged in battle fray, "Would'st thou have lived had Roostum lost the day?

ROOSTUM to his followers

"Comrades in arms, be wise, and shun this fate!

Fly the wild ruin that o'erwhelms our state; "Persia no more her injured chief shall view, "I part, great king, from all my friends and you. "And should proud Kaoos wish to take my life, "All Persia's army could not stand the strife; "(God, who gave me strength to support thy throne,) Is Roostum's succour, now he is alone.

GODURZ (WOOZEER) to the KING Kaoos—

Hast Kaoos forgot when in the Caspian War?
(With all its horrors raging from afar)

[Exit.

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