And bid the galley be prepared. There is A cooling breeze which crisps the broad clear river: We will embark anon. To share the soft hours of Sardanapalus, We'll meet again in that the sweetest hour, Myrrha. My lord Sardan. My lord, my life! why answerest thou so coldly? It is the curse of kings to be so answered. Rule thy own hours, thou rulest mine-say, wouldst thou Myrrha. The king's choice is mine. Sardan. I pray thee say not so: my chiefest joy I do not dare to breathe my own desire, Sardan. Yet! what YET? 'Thy own sweet will shall be the only barrier Which ever rises betwixt thee and me. Myrrha. I think the present is the wonted hour Of council; it were better I retire. Salem. (comes forward and says). The Ionian slave says well, let her retire. Sardan, Who answers? How now, brother? Salem. The queen's brother, And your most faithful vassal, royal lord. Sardan. (addressing his train). As I have said, let all dispose their hours Till midnight, when again we pray your presence. [The court retiring. (To MYRRHA, who is going). Myrrha! I thought thou wouldst remain. Myrrha. Thou didst not say so. Sardan. Great king, But thou lookedst it; Sire! your brother I know each glance of those Ionic eyes, Myrrha. Salem. His consort's brother, minion of Ionia! How darest thou name me and not blush? Sardan. Not blush? Thou hast no more eyes than heart to make her crimson Where sunset tints the snow with rosy shadows, Salem. Let them flow on; she weeps for more than one, And is herself the cause of bitterer tears. Sardun. Cursed be he who caused those tears to flow! Salem. Curse not thyself-millions do that already. Sardan. Thou dost forget thee: make me not remember I am a monarch. Salem. Myrrha. Would thou couldst ! My sovereign, I pray, and thou too, prince permit my absence. Sardan. Since it must be so, and this churl has check'd Thy gentle spirit, go; but recollect That we must forthwith meet: I had rather lose An empire than thy presence. Sulem. [Exit MYRRHA. It may be, Brother, Thou wilt lose both, and both for ever! Sardan I can at least command myself, who listen Salem. 'Tis beyond That easy, far too easy, idle nature, Which I would urge thee. Oh that I could rouse thee! Though 'twere against myself. Sardan. The man would make me tyrant. Salem. By the god Baal! So thou art. Thinkst thou there is no tyranny but that Of blood and chains? The despotism of vice- Of sensual sloth-produce ten thousand tyrants, The worst acts of one energetic master, Distract within, both will alike prove fatal: The first thy subjects have no heart to conquer; Sardan. Why what makes thee the mouth-piece of the people? Salem. Forgiveness of the queen, my sister's wrongs; A natural love unto my infant nephews; Faith to the king, a faith he may need shortly, In more than words; respect for Nimrod's line; Also, another thing thou knowest not. Sardan. What's that? Never was word rang so in my ears→→ Worse than the rabble's shout, or splitting trumpet; I've heard thy sister talk of nothing else. Salem. To change the irksome theme, then, hear of vice. Sardan. From whom? Salem. Even from the winds, if thou couldst listen Unto the echoes of the nation's voice. Sardan. Come, I'm indulgent as thou knowest, patient As thou hast often proved-speak out, what moves thee? Salem. Thy peril. Sardan. Say on, Salem. Thus, then all the nations, For they are many, whom thy father left. In heritage, are loud in wrath against thee. Salem. A king. And what Am I then? Salem. In their eyes a nothing; but In mine a man who might be something still. Sardan. The railing drunkards! why, what would they More than is glorious; of the last, far less Than the kings recks of. Sardan. Of the first, Whose then is the crime, But the false satraps, who provide no better? Salem. And somewhat in the monarch who ne'er looks Beyond his palace walls, or if he stirs Beyond them, 'tis but to some mountain palace, Till summer heats wear down. O glorious Baal! Or multiplied extortions for a minion. Sardan. I understand thee-thou wouldst have me go Forth as a conqueror. By all the stars Which the Chaldeans read! the restless slaves Deserve that I should curse them with their wishes, And lead them forth to glory. Salem. Why, like a man—a hero; baffled, but Not vanquish'd. With but twenty guards, she made Sardan. And how many Left she behind in India to the vultures? Salem. Our annals say not. Sardan. Then I will say for them That she had better woven within her palace Salem. All warlike spirits have not the same fate. A hundred kings, although she fail'd in India, Which she once sway'd-and thou mightst sway. Sardan. She but subdued them. Salem. I sway them It may be ere long That they will need her sword more than your sceptre. An idol foreign to Assyria's worship, Who conquer'd this same golden realm of Ind. Thou prat'st of, where Semiramis was vanquish’d. Salem.. I have heard of such a man; and thou perceiv'st That he is deem'd a god for what he did. Sardan. And in his godship I will honour himNot much as man. What ho! my cupbearer! Salem. What means the king? Sardan. To worship your new god. And ancient conqueror. Some wine, I say. Enter Cupbearer. SARDANAPALUS (addressing the Cupbearer), Bring me the golden goblet thick with geins, Which bears the name of Nimrod's chalice. Ilence.. Fill full, and bear it quickly. [Exit Cupbearer. |