not,

Of sorrow and of love; which they who mark I strive to keep it from my thoughts. Alas!
How vainly!
Bal.
It is said the king's demeanour
In the late action scarcely more appall'd
The rebels than astonish'd his true subjects.
Myr. 'Tis easy to astonish or appal
The vulgar mass which moulds a horde of slaves;
But he did bravely.

Know not the realms where those twin genii
(Who chasten and who purify our hearts,
So that we would not change their sweet rebukes,
For all the boisterous joys that ever shook
The air with clamour) build the palaces
Where their fond votaries repose and breathe
Briefly; but in that brief cool calm inhale
Enough of heaven to enable them to bear
The rest of common, heavy, human hours,
And dream them through in placid sufferance,
Though seemingly employ'd like all the rest
Of toiling breathers in alotted tasks

Of pain or pleasure, two names for one feeling,
Which our internal, restless agony
Would vary in the sound, although the sense
Escapes our highest efforts to be happy.

Bal. You muse right calmly and can you so
The sunrise which may be our last? watch

Therefore that I so watch it, and reproach
Those eyes, which never may behold it more,
For having look'd upon it oft, too oft,
Without the reverence and the rapture due
To that which keeps all earth from being as
fragile

As I am in this form. Come, look upon it,
The Chaldee's god, which when I gaze upon
I grow almost a convert to your Baal. [earth
Bal. As now he reigns in heaven, so once on
He sway'd.

Myr. He sways it now far more, then: never
Had earthly monarch half the power and glory
Which centres in a single ray of his.

Bal. Surely he is a god!
Myr.
So we Greeks deem too;
And yet I sometimes think that gorgeous orb
Must rather be the abode of gods than one
Of the immortal sovereigns. Now he breaks
Through all the clouds, and fills my eyes with
light

That shuts the world out. I can look no more.
Bal. Hark! heard you not a sound?
Myr.
No, 'twas mere fancy;
They battle it beyond the wall, and not
As in late midnight conflict in the very
Chambers: the palace has become a fortress
Since that insidious hour; and here, within
The very centre, girded by vast courts
And regal halls of pyramid proportions,
Which must be carried one by one before
They penetrate to where they then arrived,
We are as much shut in even from the sound
Of peril as from glory.
Bal.

Thus far before.

Myr.

But they reach'd

Yes, by surprise, and were
Beat back by valour: now at once we have
Courage and vigilance to guard us.
Bul.

Prosper!

May they

Myr. That is the prayer of many, and The dread of more: it is an anxious hour;

Let me see the wound;
I am not quite skilless: in my native land
"Tis part of our instruction. War being constant,
We are nerved to look on such things.
Sol.
The javelin.
Myr.

Best extract

Hold! no, no, it cannot be. Sal. I am sped, then!

Myr. With the blood that fast must follow The extracted weapon, I do fear thy life.

Sal. And I not death. Where was the king
when you

Convey'd me from the spot where I was stricken?
Sol. Upon the same ground, and encouraging
With voice and gesture the dispirited troops
Who had seen you fall, and falter'd back.
Sal.
Whom heard ye
Named next to the command?
Sol.

Sal. Fly then, and tell him,
request

did not hear. 'twas my last

That Zames take my post until the junction,
So hoped for, yet delay'd, of Ofratanes,
Satrap of Susa. Leave me here; our troops
Are not so numerous as to spare your absence.
Sol. But, prince-

Thou shalt be mourn'd for as thou wouldst be

mourn'd.

It grieves me most that thou couldst quit this lif
Believing that I could survive what thou
Hast died for-our long royalty of race.

Sal. Hence, I say! Here's a courtier and If I redeem it, I will give thee blood

A woman, the best chamber company.
As you would not permit me to expire
Upon the field, I'll have no idle soldiers
About my sick couch. Hence! and do my
bidding
[Exeunt the SOLDIERS.
Myr. Gallant and glorious spirit! must the
So soon resign thee?
[earth
Sal.
Gentle Myrrha, 'tis
The end I would have chosen, had I saved
The monarch or the monarchy by this;
As 'tis, I have not outlived them.
Myr.

You wax paler. Sal. Your hand: this broken weapon but prolongs

My pangs, without sustaining life enough
To make me useful: I would draw it forth

And life with it, could I but hear how
my

'The fight goes.

Of thousands, tears of millions, for atonement
(The tears of all the good are thine already).
If not, we meet again soon,-if the spirit
Within us lives beyond :-thou readest mine,
And dost me justice now. Let me once clasp
That yet warm hand, and fold that throbless
heart,
[Embraces the body.
To this which beats so bitterly. Now bear
The body hence.
Soldier.
Sar.

Where?

To my proper chamber
Place t beneath my canopy, as though
The king lay there: when this is done, we will
Speak further of the rites due to such ashes.
|[Exeunt SOLDIERS with the body of SALEMENES
Enter PANIA.

Sar. Well, Pania! have you placed the guards,
The orders fix'd on?
[and issued
Sire, I have obey'd.
Sar. And do the soldiers keep their hearts up?

Pan.

Sar. And thus I will be seen; unless the Have made them-
succour,

The last frail reed of our beleaguer'd hopes,
Arrive from Ofratanes.

Our walls,

Sar. Rage-not droop-it should have been. We'll find the means to rouse them.

Pan.

Might sadden even a victory.

Sar.

Such a loss

Alas!

Though thinly mann'd, may still hold out While millions dare revolt with sword in hand against

That's strange. I pray thee break that rose
silence

feat
Which loathes to shock its sovereign; we can
Worse than thou hast to tell.
Pan.

Proceed, thou heares: Offi. The wall which skirted near the rivers brink

Is thrown down by the sudden inundation
Of the Euphrates, which now rolling, swoln
From the enormous mountains where it rises,
By the late rains of that tempestuous region,
O'erfloods its banks, and hath destroy'd the b
wark

And all this is left
Pervious to the assailants?

Offi.
For the present
The river's fury must impede the assault;
But when he shrinks into his wonted channel,
And may be cross'd by the accustom'd barks,
The palace is their own.

That shall be never.

Sar.
Though men, and gods, and elements, and

omens,

As was reported: I have order'd there
A double guard, withdrawing from the wall
Where it was strongest the required addition
To watch the breach occasion'd by the waters.
Sar. You have done your duty faithfully, and
My worthy Pania! further ties between us [as
Draw near a close, I pray you take this key:
[Gives a key.

(Now

It opens to a secret chamber, placed Behind the couch in my own chamber. Press'd by a nobler weight than ere it boreThough a long line of sovereigns have lain down Along its golden frame- as bearing for A time what late was Salemenes.) Search Have risen up 'gainst one who ne'er provoked The secret covert to which this will lead you; My father's house shall never be a cave [them, "Tis full of treasure; take it for yourself [ye. For wolves to horde and howl in. And your companions: there's enough to load Pan. Though ye be many. Let the slaves be freed I will proceed to the spot, and take such mea-And all the inmates of the palace, of [too; For the assurance of the vacant space [sures Whatever sex, now quit it in an hour. As time and means permit. Thence launch the regal barks, once form'd for pleasure,

Sar.

With your sanction,

About it straight,
And bring me back, as speedily as full
And fair investigation may permit,
Report of the true state of this irruption
Of waters. [Exeunt PANIA and the OFFICER.
Myr. Thus the very waves rise up
Against you.

And now to serve for safety, and embark.
The river's broad and swoln, and uncommanded
(More potent than a king) by these besiegers.
Fly! and be happy!

Pan.

Under your protection! So you accompany your faithful guard. Sar. They are not my subjects, girl, Sar. No, Pania! that must not be; get thee And may be pardon'd, since they can't be pun-And leave me to my fate. [hence, ish'd.

Pan.

"Tis the first time

And you have sworn.

Pan.
Without a vow.

Myr.

Sar.

My lord!

I have said it, And could keep my faith Exit PANIA.

What mean you?

You shall know

Anon- what the whole earth shall ne'er forget.

The King Arbaces-
Sar. What, crown'd already?-But, proceed.
Her.
Beleses,
The anointed high-priest————
Sar.
Of what god or demon?
With new kings rise new altars. But, proceed;
You are sent to prate your master's will, and
Reply to mine.
Her.

And Satrap Ofratanes

Sar. Why, he is ours.

[not

Such as is that of Nimrod, to destroy
A peaceful herald, unarm'd, in his office;
And violate not only all that man
Holds sacred between man and man-but that
More holy tie which links us with the gods?
Sar. He's right-Let him go free. My life's

last act

Shall not be one of wrath. Here, fellow, take
[Gives him a golden cup from a table near.
This golden goblet, let it hold your wine,
And think of me; or melt it into ingots,
And think of nothing but their weight and value
Her. I thank you doubly for my life, and this
Most gorgeous gift, which renders it more pre-
But must I bear no answer?
[cious.
Sar.
Yes,-I ask

Her. [showing a ring]. Be sure that he is now An hour's truce to consider.
In the camp of the conquerors; behold

[ject.

[son,

His signet ring.
Sar.
'Tis his. A worthy triad!
Poor Salemenes! thou hast died in time.
To see one treachery the less this man
Was thy true friend and my most trusted sub-
Proceed.
Her. They offer thee thy life, and freedom
Of choice to single out a residence
In any of the further provinces,
Guarded and watch'd, but not confined in per-
Where thou shalt pass thy days in peace; but
Condition that the three young princes are [on
Given up as hostages.
Sar. [ironically].
Her. I wait the answer.
Sar.
Answer, slave! How long
Have slaves decided on the doom of kings?

The generous victors!

Her. Since they were free.
Sar.
Mouthpiece of mutiny!
Thou at the least shalt learn the penalty
Of treason, though its proxy only. Pania!
Let his head be thrown from our walls within
The rebels' lines, his carcass down the river.
Away with him!

[PANIA and the Guards seizing him.
Pan.
I never yet obey'd
Your orders with more pleasure than the present.
Hence with him, soldiers! do not soil this hall
Of royalty with treasonable gore;
Put him to rest without.
Her.

A single word :
My office, king, is sacred.

Sar.
And what's mine ?
That thou shouldst come and dare to ask of me
To lay it down?

Her.

I but obey'd my orders, At the same peril if refused, as now Incurr'd by my obedience.

Sar.

So there are

New monarchs of an hour's growth as despotic
As sovereigns swathed in purple, and enthroned
From birth to manhood!

Her.
My life waits your breath.
Yours (I speak humbly)-but it may be-yours
Jay also be in danger scarce less imminent :
Would it then suit the last hours of a line

Her.
But an hour's?
Sar. An hour's: if at the expiration of
That time your masters hear no further from me,
They are to deem that I reject their terms,
And act befittingly.

Her.

I shall not fail
To be a faithful legate of your pleasure.
Sar. And hark! a word more.

[SOLDIERS enter, and form a Pile about
the Throne, &c.

Sar.
Higher, my good soldiers,
And thicker yet; and see that the foundation
Be such as will not speedily exhaust
Its own too subtle flame; nor yet be quench'd
With aught officious aid would bring to quell it.
Let the throne form the core of it; I would not
Leave that, save fraught with fire unquenchable,
To the new comers. Frame the whole as if
"Twere to enkindle the strong tower of our
Inveterate enemies. Now it bears an aspect!
How say you, Pania, will this pile suffice
For a king's obsequies?
Pan.

I understand you, now.

Sar.

Pan.

Ay, for a kingdom's.

And blame?

No