Salem. Is this moment A fitting one for the resumption of Re-enter Cupbearer, with wine. SARDANAPALUS (taking the cup from him). If these barbarian Greeks of the far shores And skirts of these our realms lie not, this Bacchus Salem. He did, and thence was deem'd a deity. Sardan. Not so:-of all his conquests a few columns, Which may be his, and might be mine, if I Thought them worth purchase and conveyance, are The realms he wasted, and the hearts he broke. From which he first express'd the soul, and gave Salem. For all thy realms I would not so-blaspheme our country's creed. Sardan. That is to say, thou thinkest him a hero, That he shed blood by oceans; and no god, Because he turn'd a fruit to an enchantment, Which cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires The young, makes Weariness forget his toil, And Fear her danger; opens a new world When this, the present, palls. Well, then, I pledge thee And him as a true man, who did his utmost In good or evil to surprise mankind. [Drinks. Salem. Wilt thou resume a revel at this hour? My present purpose: since thou wilt not pledge me, (To the Cupbearer.) Boy, retire. Salem. I would but have recall'd thee from thy dream: Better by me awaken'd than rebellion. Sardan. Who should rebel? or why? what cause? pretext? I am the lawful king, descended from A race of kings who knew no predecessors. But That thou shouldst rail, or they rise up against me? Sardan. Patience, prince, and hear me. She has all power and splendour of her station, Ye knew nor me, nor monarchs, nor mankind. Salem. I pray thee, change the theme; my blood disdains Complaint, and Salemenes' sister seeks not The queen is silent. Surdan. And why not her brother? Salem. I only echo thee the voice of empires, Which he who long neglects not long will govern. Sardan. The ungrateful and ungracious slaves! they murmur N Because I have not shed their blood, nor led them Or whiten with their bones the banks of Ganges; Nor sweated them to build up pyramids, Salem. Yet these are trophies More worthy of a people and their prince Than songs, and lutes, and feasts, and concubines, Sardan. Or for my trophies I have founded cities. In one day-what could that blood loving beldame, Salem. 'Tis most true; I own thy merit in those founded cities, Built for a whim, recorded with a verse Which shames both them and thee to coming ages. Are not more goodly than the verse! Say what In one day built Anchialus and Tarsus. Eat, drink, and love; the rest's not worth a fillip.". For a king to put up before his subjects! Sardan. Oh, thou wouldst have me doubtless set up. edicts Obey the king-contribute to his treasure- Slew fifty thousand of his enemies. These are their sepulchres, and this his trophy." For me, if I can make my subjects feel Salem. Thy sires have been revered as gods- In dust And died for lack of farther nutriment. The follies of my species, and (that's human) Salem. Alas! The doom of Nineveh is seal'd.-Woe--woe To the unrivall'd city! Sardan. What dost dread? Salem. Thou art guarded by thy foes: in a few hours The tempest may break out which overwhelms thee, And thine and mine; and in another day What is shall be the past of Belus' racc. Sardan. What must we dread? Salem. Ambitious treachery, Which has environ'd thee with snares: but yet The heads of thy chief foes before thy feet. Must I stay to number When even thine own's in perit? Let me go; Give me thy signet-trust me with the rest. Saraan. I will trust no man with unlimited lives. When we take those from others, we nor know What we have taken, nor the thing we give. Sulem. Wouldst thou not take their lives who seek for Sardan. That's a hard question.-But, I answer Yes. Cannot the thing be done without? Who are they Whom thou suspectest ?-Let them be arrested. Salem. I would thou wouldst not ask me; the next mo ment Will send my answer through thy babbling troop Of paramours, and thence fly o'er the palace, Even to the city, and so baffle all. Trust me. Sur dan. Take thou the signet. Salem. Sardan. Name it. Thou knowest I have done so ever; (Gives the signet. I have one more request. Salem. That thou this night forbear the banquet In the pavilion over the Euphrates. Sardan. Forbear the banquet! Not for all the plotters That ever shook a kingdom! Let them come, And do their worst: I shall not blench for them; Nor crown me with a single rose the less; Sulem. But thou wouldst arm thee, wouldst thou not, if needful? Sardan. Perhaps. I have the goodliest armour, and And javelin, which might furnish Nimrod forth: And now I think on't, 'tis long since I've used them, Will I not? Sardan. Will not be ruled with less, I'll use the sword Till they shall wish it turn'd into a distaff. Salem. They say, thy sceptre's turn'd to that already. Sardan. That's false! but let them say so: the old Greeks, Of whom our captives often sing, related The same of their chief hero, Hercules, |