Gotarzes.

And let me speak, for 'tis to him I owe

That here I stand, and breath the common air,

And 'tis my pride to tell it to the world.[Pg 31]

[Pg 31]

One luckless day as in the eager chace

My Courser wildly bore me from the rest,

A monst'rous Leopard from a bosky fen

Rush'd forth, and foaming lash'd the ground,

And fiercely ey'd me as his destin'd quarry.

My jav'lin swift I threw, but o'er his head

It erring pass'd, and harmless in the air

Spent all its force; my falchin then I seiz'd,

Advancing to attack my ireful foe,

When furiously the savage sprung upon me,

And tore me to the ground; my treach'rous blade

Above my hand snap'd short, and left me quite

Defenceless to his rage; Arsaces then,

Hearing the din, flew like some pitying pow'r,

And quickly freed me from the Monster's paws,

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