Surdan. Lost!-why, who is the aspiring chief who dared Assume to win them? • Myrrha. Who is he should dread To try so much? When he who is their ruler Sardan. Myrrha ! Myrrha. Frown not upon me? you have smiled Which they may augur.-King, I am your subject! And, therefore, when I love a stranger, more Sardan Save me, my beauty! Thou art very fair, Myrrha. And without love where dwells security? Myrrhu. The very first Of human life must spring from woman's breast, I have heard thee talk of as the favourite pastime Will overflow in words unconsciously; But when another speaks of Greece, it wounds me. Sardan. Well, then, how wouldst thou save me, as thou saidst? Myrrha. By teaching thee to save thyself, and not Alas! my lord, with common men Sardan. Dost thou say so, Myrrha? To ward off worse oppression, their own passions. Ask of the gods thy fathers. Sardan. They cannot answer; when the priests speak for them, Tis for some small addition to the temple. Myrrha. Look to the annals of thine empire's founders. Sardan. They are so blotted o'er with blood, I cannot. But what wouldst have? the empire has been founded. I cannot go on multiplying empires. Myrrhu. Preserve thine own. Sardan. At least I will enjoy it. It seems unto the stars which are above us Myrrha. Sardan. Victims. No, like sovereigns, The shepherd kings of patriarchal times, Who knew no brighter gems than summer wreaths,. Enter PANIA. Pania, May the king live for ever! Not an hour Sardan. Be brief. Pania. I am charged by Salemenes to That for this day, at least, he will not quit Sardan. What! am I then coop'd? Already captive? can I not even breathe The satraps uncontroll'd, the gods unworshipp'd, 'Till all, save evil, slumber'd through the realm! A day which may redeem thee? Wilt thou not For them, for thee, for thy past fathers' race, Pania. 'Tis true! From the deep urgency with which the prince Sardan. No, it must not be. Myrrha. For the sake of thy realm! Sardan. Pania. Away! For that Of all thy faithful subjects, who will rally Sardan. These are mere phantasies; There is no peril :-'tis a sullen scheme Of Salemenes, to approve his zeal, And show himself more necessary to us. Myrrha. By all that's good and glorious take this counsel. Sardan. Business to-morrow. Myrrha. Ay, or death to-night. Sardan. Why let it come then unexpectedly, 'Midst joy and gentleness, and mirth and love; So let me fall like the pluck'd rose !-far better 'Thus than be wither'd. Myrrha. Then thou wilt not yield, Even for the sake of all that ever stirr'd A monarch into action, to forego Boon which I e'er ask'd Assyria's king. Sardan. That's true, and wer't my kingdom must be granted. Well, for thy sake, I yield me. Pania, hence! Thou hear'st me. Pania. And obey. [Exit PANIA. Sardan. I marvel at thee. What is thy motive, Myrrha, thus to urge me? And thou? Myrrha, Where? Sardan. I shall be king, as heretofore. With Baal, Nimrod, and Semiramis, Sole in Assyria, or with them elsewhere. Fate made me what I am-may make me nothing- I will not live degraded. Myrrha. Hadst thou felt Thus always, none would ever dare degrade thee, Sardan. And who will do so now? Myrrha. Dost thou suspect none? Sardan. Suspect!—that's a spy's office. Oh! we lose Ten thousand precious moments in vain words, And vainer fears. Within there!-Ye slaves, deck If I must make a prison of our palace, At least we'll wear our fetters jocundly; If the Euphrates be forbid us, and The summer dwelling on its beauteous border, [Exit SARDANAPALUS. Myrrha (solus.) Why do I love this man? My country's daughters Love none but heroes. But I have no country! The slave hath lost all save her bonds. I love him; And that's the heaviest link of the long chain- |