Letitia Elizabeth Landon

“ She was the beautiful daughter of a barbarian chief, made captive by Alexander, who was so struck with her charms, that he immediately married her. Statira was the child of Darius, and inherited the evil fortunes of her ill-fated race.
‡ Pearls were favourite ornaments with the Persian ladies, who often wore them wreathed in their hair.
⁠* The death of Alexander plunged all his vast empire into anarchy and slaughter. He was the soul that animated the mighty force that afterwards wasted its energies in petty warfare. ”

“ The red rose wastes itself in sighs
Whose sweetness others breathe!
And they have thanked thee—many a lip
Has asked of thine for words,
When thoughts, life's finer thoughts, have touched
The spirit's inmost chords. ”

“ In front of these were arranged five hundred Macedonian Argyraspides, soldiers, so called from their silver shields. In the middle was the golden throne, on which Alexander sat and gave audience. The tent on the outside was encircled by elephants drawn up in order, and by a thousand Macedonians in their native dress. Beyond these were the Persian guard of ten thousand men, and the five hundred courtiers allowed to wear purple robes.
⁠* Alexander's death was preceded by many omens, which sacrifice vainly strove to avert. ”

“ In that royal tent is weeping;
Women's tears will flow;
There the queens their watch are keeping†
With a separate woe.
⁠One still wears her diadem—
One her long fair hair is rending,
From its pearls unbound‡;
Tears from those soft eyes descending,
Eyes that seek the ground. ”