Methought the haughty soldier fear'd to mount
A throne too easily does it disappoint theė
To find there is a slipperier step or two.

Than what was counted on?

Arb.

When the hour comes,

Thou shalt perceive how far I fear or no.

Thou hast seen my life at stake-and gaily play'd'for— But here is more upon the dye a kingdom.

Bel. I have foretold already-thou wilt win it:

Then on, and prosper.

Arb.

Now were I a soothsayer,

I would have boded so much to myself.

But be the stars obey'd-I cannot quarrel

With them, nor their interpreter. Who's here?

Bel. Oh! yes-we had forgotten.
Salem.

Thus to forget a sovereign's invitation?.
Arb. Why we but now received it.
Sulem.

Is it usual

Then why here?

Arb. On duty.

Salem.

On what duty?

Bel.

On the state's.

We have the privilege to approach the presence;
But found the monarch absent.

Salem.

And I too

Am upon duty.

Arb.

May we crave its purport?

Salem. To arrest two traitors. Guards! Within there!

Enter Guards.

Salem. (continuing).

Your swords.

Satraps,

Bel. (delivering his). My lord, behold my scimitar. Arb. (drawing his sword). Take mine.

Salem. (advancing).

Arb.

I will.

But in your heart the blade

How! dost thou brave me?

The hilt quits not this hand.
Salem. (drawing).

'Tis well-this saves a trial, and false mercy.

Soldiers, hew down the rebel!

Soldiers! Ay

Alone! foolish slave

What is there in thee that a prince should shrink from
Of open force? We dread thy treason, not

Thy strength: thy tooth is nought without its venom-
The serpent's, not the lion's. Cut him down.

Bel. (interposing). Arbaces! are you mad? Have I not render'd

My sword? Then trust like me our sovereign's justice.
Arb. No-I will sooner trust the stars thou prat'st of
And this slight arm, and die a king at least

Of my own breath and body-so far that
None else shall chain them.

Salem. (to the Guards). ~·

Take him not,-kill.

You hear him, and me.

[The Guards attack ARBACES, who defends himself valiantly and dexterously till they waver. Salem. Is it even so; and must I do the hangman's office? Recreants! see How you should fell a traitor.

Sardan.

[SALEMENES attacks ARBACES.

Hold your hands

Enter SARDANAPALUS and Train.

Upon your lives, I say. What, deaf or drunken ?

My sword! Oh fool, I wear no sword: here, fellow,
Give me thy weapon.

[To a Guard, [SARDANAPALUS snatches a sword from one of the soldiers, and makes between the combatants-they separate.

In my very palace!

What hinders me from cleaving you in twain,

Sardan.

Audacious brawlers?

Strike! So the blow's repeated

What-him!

Salem.

Sardan.

I!

Indeed!

Salem.

Upon yon traitor-whom you spare a moment,

I trust, for torture-I'm content.

Sardan.

Who dares assail Arbaces?

Prince, you forget yourself. Upon what warrant ?

Salem, (showing the signet). Thine.

Arb. (confused).

Salem.

The king's!

Yes! and let the king confirm it.

Sardan. I parted not from this for such a purpose.
Salem. You parted with it for your safety-J

Employ'd it for the best. Pronounce in person,
Here I am but your slave-a moment past

I was your representative.

Sardan.

Your swords.

Then sheathe

[ARBACES and SALEMENES return their swords to the scabbards.

Salem. Mine's sheathed: I pray you sheathe not yours; 'Tis the sole sceptre left you now with safety.

Sardan. A heavy one; the hilt, too, hurts my hand. (To a Guard). Here, fellow, take thy weapon back. Well sirs,

What doth this mean?

Bel.

The prince must answer that. Salem. Truth upon my part, treason upon theirs.

Sardan. Treason-Arbaces! treachery and Beleses! That were an union I will not believe.

Bel. Where is the proof?

Salem.

I'll answer that, if once

The king demands your fellow traitor's sword.

Arb. (to SALEMENES). A sword which hath been drawn as oft as thine

Against his foes.

Salem.

And now against his brother,

And in an hour or so against himself.

Sardan. That is not possible: he dared not; no-
No-I'll not hear of such things. These vain bickerings
Are spawn'd in courts by base intrigues, and baser
Hirelings, who live by lies on good men's lives.

You must have been deceived, my brother.
Salem.

Let him deliver up his weapon, and
Proclaim himself your subject by that duty,
And I will answer all.

Sardan.

First

Why, if I thought so

But no, it cannot be; the Mede Arbaces→→→

The trusty, rough, true soldier-the best captain

Of all who discipline our nations--No,

'I'll not insult him thus, to bid him render

The scimitar to me he never yielded

Unto our enemies. Chief, keep your weapon.

Salem. (delivering back the signet). Monarch, take back your signet.

Sardan.

But use it with more moderation.

Salem.

No, retain it;

Sire,

I used it for your honour, and restore it
Because I cannot keep it with my own.

Bestow it on Arbaces.

Without that hollow semblance of respect.

Bel, I know not what hath prejudiced the prince

So strongly 'gainst two subjects, than whom none
Have been more zealous for Assyria's weal.

Salem. Peace, factious priest and faithless soldier! thou Unit'st in thy own person the worst vices

Of the most dangerous orders of mankind.
Keep thy smooth words and juggling homilies
For those who know thee not. Thy fellow's sin
Is, at the least, a bold one, and not temper'd
By the tricks taught thee in Chaldea.

Bel.

Hear him,

My liege the son of Belus! he blasphemes
The worship of the land, which bows the knee
Before your fathers.

Sardan.

Oh! for that I pray you

Let him have absolution. I dispense with
The worship of dead men ; feeling that I?

Am mortal, and believing that the race

From whence I sprung are-what I see them-ashes. Bel. King! Do not deem so: they are with the stars, And

Surdan.

You shall join them there ere they will rise,

If you preach farther.-Why, this is rank treason.
Salem. My lord!

Sardan.

To school me in the worship of

Assyria's idols! Let him be released→→

Give him his sword.

Salem.

I pray ye pause.

Sardan.

My lord, and king, and brother,

Yes, and be sermonized,

And dinn'd, and deafen'd with dead men and Baal,

And all Chaldea's starry mysteries.

Bel. Monarch! respect them.

Sardan.

Oh! for that--I love them;

I love to watch them in the deep blue vault,
And to compare them with my Myrrha's eyes;
I love to see their rays redoubled in

The tremulous silver of Euphrates' wave,
As the light breeze of midnight crisps the broad
And rolling water, sighing through the sedges