193 



DRAMATIC SCENES.* 



THE TRIAL OF THE MACEDONIAN PRINCES. 



Perseus, the eldest son of Philip, the last King of Mace-ion, having for a 

 considerable time seen with extreme indignation the regard which the 

 Macedonians entertained for his brother Demetrius, took the most culp- 

 able means to gain over to his side as many chiefs of the nation as 

 he possibly could, who formed the determination of taking the earliest 

 opportunity of ruining him in the opinion of his father, or of even 

 taking his life. As was the custom, after a certain annual festival the 

 army was reviewed, and a sham fight took place. On this occasion the 

 army was divided into two parts, one of which was commanded by Per- 

 seus, and the other by Demetrius ; and, although the troops fought with 

 foils, they entered so much into the spirit of the engagement as to cause 

 bloodshed. Demetrius's party had the advantage, which increased the 

 hatred of his brother, and made him more intent than ever on his destruc- 

 tion. After the battle the two princes gave a grand entertainment, and 

 Perseus was invited by his brother to his banquet ; he, however, refused 

 to go, but sent a spy, whose object being known, was treated rather 

 rouehly by some of Demetrius's party, but entirely without the knowledce 

 of Demetrius. Demetrius, wishing to conciliate his brother, proposed to 

 his friends to visit him ; they all agreed, but those who had ill-treated the 

 spy, took with them, privately, arms to defend themselves if attacked, as 

 they expected they might be. This being told to Perseus, he refused 

 their admittance, under the pretence that he feared assassination, and the 

 next day went to Philip, and accused his brother of endeavouring to take 

 his life. Philip immediately ordered Demetrius to appear before him to 

 answer the charge ; the accusation and defence form the groundwork of 

 the following dramatic scene. 



CHARACTERS. 

 PHILIP, King of Macedon. 

 PERSEUS, his elder son. 

 DEMETRIUS, his younger son, 

 DYMAS, the King's favourite. 

 PERICLES, the friend of Perseus. 

 ANTIGOXUS, a minister of state. 



* In the Dramatic Scenes, the Orations, Impassioned and Comic 

 Pieces intended for Recitation ; those words which are Emphatic are 

 printed in italics, while those which require decidedly a very full 

 emphasis are printed in capital*. 



K 



