To think of these past dreams. Let's not reproach-
That is, reproach me not-for the last time-
Zarina. And first. I ne'er reproach'd you.
Sardan.

"Tis most true;

And that reproof comes heavier on my heart
Than-but our hearts are not in our own power.
Nor hands; but I gave both.

Zarina.

Sardan.

Your brother said,

It was your will to see me, ere you went
From Ninevah with

Zarina.

-(he hesitates.)

Our children: it is true.

I wish'd to thank you that you have not divided
My heart from all that's left it now to love-
Those who are yours and mine, who look like you,
And look upon me as you look'd upon mé
Once-But they have not changed.

Sardan.

I fain would have them dutiful.
Zarina.

Nor ever will.

I cherish

Those infants, not alone from the blind love..
Of a fond mother, but as a fond woman.
They are now the only tie between us.

Sardan.

Deem not
I have not done you justice: rather make them
Resemble your own line, than their own sire.
I trust them with you to you: fit them for
A throne, or, if that be denied

Of this night's tumults?

Zarina.

-You have heard

I had half forgotten,

And could have welcomed any grief, save yours,
Which gave me to behold your face again.

Sardan. The throne-J say it not in fear-but 'tis
In peril; they perhaps may never mount it:
But let them not for this lose sight of it.
I will dare all things to bequeath it them;
But if I fail, then they must win it back
Bravely--and, won, wear it wisely, not as I
Have wasted down my royalty.

Zarina.

They ne'er

Shall know from me of aught but what may honour

Their father's memory.

Rather let them hear

Sardan.
The truth from you than from a trampling world,
If they be in adversity, they'll learn

Too soon the scorn of crowds for crownless princes,
And find that all their father's sins are theirs.
My boys! I could have borne it were I childless.
Zarina. Oh do not say so-do not poison all
My peace left, by unwishing that thou wert
A father. If thou conquerest, they shall reign,
And honour him who saved the realm for them,
So little cared for as his own; and if-

Sardan. 'Tis lost, all earth will cry out thank your father! And they will swell the echo with a curse.

Zarina. That they shall never do; but rather honour The name of him, who, dying like a king,

In his last hours did more for his own memory,

Than many monarchs in a length of days,

Which date the flight of time, but make no annals.

Sardan. Our annals draw perchance unto their close; But at the least, whate'er the past, their end

Shall be like their beginning-memorable.

Zarina. Yet, be not rash-be careful of your life; Live but for those who love.

Sardan.

And who are they?

A slave, who loves from passion--I'll not say
Ambition-she has seen thrones shake, and loves;

A few friends, who have revell'd 'till we are
As one, for they are nothing if I fall;

A brother I have injured-children whom

I have neglected, and a spouse

Zarina.

Sardan.

Zarina.

And pardons?

Who loves.

I have never thought of this;

And cannot pardon 'till I have condemned.

Sardan. My wife!

Zarina. Now blessings on thee for that word! I never thought to hear it more-from thee.

Sardan. Oh! thou wilt hear it from my subjects. YesThese slaves, whom I have nurtured, pamper'd, fed,

And swoln with peace, and gorged with plenty, till
They reign themselves-all monarchs in their mansions-
Now swarm furth in rebellion, and demand
His death, who made their lives a jubilee ;
While the few upon whom I have no claim
Are faithful! This is true, yet monstrous.
Zarina.

Perhaps too natural; for benefits

Turn poison in bad minds.

Sardan.

"Tis

And good ones make

Good out of evil. Happier than the bee,

Which hives not but from wholesome flowers.
Zurina.

The honey, nor inquire whence 'tis derived.

Be satisfied-you are not all abandon'd.

Then reap

Sardan. My life insures me that. How long, bethink you, Were not I yet a king, should I be mortal';

That is, where mortals are, not where they must be?
Zuring. I know not. But yet live for my—that is,
Your children's sake!

Sardan.

My gentle, wrong'd Zarina!
I am the very slave of circumstance

And impulse-borne away with every breath!
Misplaced upon the throne-misplaced in life.
I know not what I could have been, but feel
I am not what I should be-let it end.

But take this with thee: if I was not form'd
To prize a love like thine, a mind like thine
No dote even on thy beauty-as I've doted
On lesser charms, for no cause save that such
Devotion was a duty, and I hated

All that look'd like a chain for me or others
(This even rebellion must avouch); yet hear
These words, perhaps among my last-that non
Ere valued more thy virtues, though he knew not
To profit by them-as the miner lights

Upon a vein of virgin ore, discovering

That which avails him nothing: he hath found it
But'tis not his but some superior's, who
Pleced him to die but not divide the wealth

Which sparkles at his feet; nor dare he lift
Nor poise it, but must grovel on upturning
The sullen earth.

Zarina. Oh! if thou hast at length
Discover'd that my love is worth esteem,
I ask no more-but let us hence together,
And I let me say we shall yet be happy.
Assyria is not all the earth - we'll find
A world out of our own-and be more blest
Than I have ever been, or thou, with all
An empire to indulge thee.

Salemenes.

Enter SALEMENES.

I must part ye

The moments, which must not be lost, are passing. Zarina. Inhuman brother! wilt thou thus weigh out Instants so high and blest?

Salemenes.

Zarina.

Blest!

He hath been
So gentle with me, that I cannot think
Of quitting.

Salemenes. So-this feminine farewell
Ends as such partings end, in no departure.
I thought as much, and yielded against all
My better bodings. But it must not be.
Zarina. Not be?

Hear me, sister, like

My sister-all's prepared to make your safety
Certain, and of the boys too, our last hopes.
"Tis not a single question of mere feeling,

Though that were much-but 'tis a point of state:
The rebels would do more to seize upon

The offspring of their sovereign, and so crush-
Zarina. Ah! do not name it.

Salemencs.

Well, then, mark me: when

They are safe beyond the Median's grasp, the rebels

Have miss'd their chief aim-the extinction of
The line of Nimrod. Though the present king
Fall, his sons live for victory and vengeance.
Zarina. But could not I remain, alone?
Salemenes.
What! leave
Your children, with two parents and yet orphans-
In a strange land-so young, so distant?

Zarina.

My heart will break.

Salemenes.

No

Now you know all-decide.
Sardan. Zarina, he hath spoken well, and we
Must yield awhile to this necessity.

Remaining here, you may lose all; departing,
You save the better part of what is left

To both of us, and to such loyal hearts

As yet beat in these kingdoms.

Salemenes.

The time presses.

Sardan. Go, then. If e'er we meet again, perhaps I may be worthier of you-and, if not,

Remember that my faults, though not atoned for,
Are ended. Yet I dread thy, nature will
Grieve more about the blighted name and ashes
Which once were mightiest in Assyria-than-
But I grow womanish again, and must not;
I must learn sternness now. My sins have all
Been of the softer order-hide thy tears-
I do not bid thee not to shed them 'twere
Easier to stop Euphrates at its source

Than one tear of a true and tender heart-
But let me not behold them; they unman me
Here when I had re-mann'd myself. My brother,
Lead her away.

Zarina.

Oh, God! I never shall

Behold him more !

SALEMENES (striving to conduct her.)

Nay sister, I must be obey'd.

Zarina. I must remain-away! you shall not hold me. What shall he die alone ?--I live alone?

Salemenes. He shall not die alone; but lonely you Have lived for years.

Zarina.

That's false! I knew he lived,"