Pania. My order is unto the satraps and Their household train. My order is to see you Ay! Depart, and not to bear your answer. Well, sir, we will accompany you hence. Pania. I will retire to marshal forth the guard Of honour which befits your rank, and wait Your leisure, so that it the hour exceeds not. Beleses. Now then obey! Arbaces. Beleses. [Exit PANIA. Doubtless. Yes, to the gates That grate the palace, which is now our prison, No further. Arbaces. Thou hast harp'd the truth indeed! The realm itself, in all its wide extension, Yawns dungeons at each step for thee and me. Beleses. Graves! Arbaces. If I thought so, this good sword should dig One more than mine. Beleses. It shall have work enough: Let me hope better than thou augurest; Arbaces. Why, what other Interpretation should it bear? it is Whose tombs are on their path; I know not how, So long and heavy. Beleses. Let us but regain The free air of the city, and we'll shorten The journey. Arbaces. It may be. Beleses. "Twill be shorten'd at the gates, No; they hardly will risk that. They mean us to die privately, but not Within the palace or the city walls, Where we are known and may have partisans: Arbaces. If I but thought he did not mean my lifeBeleses. Fool! hence-what else should despotism Alarm'd mean? Let us but rejoin our troops, and march. Arbaces. Towards our provinces ? Beleses. No; towards your kingdom. There's time, there's heart, and hope, and power, and means, Which their half measures leave us in full scope,- Arbaces. And I even yet repenting must Relapse to guilt! Beleses. Self-defence is a virtue, Sole bulwark of all right. Away, I say! Let's leave this place, the air grows thick and choking, Let us not leave them time for further council. The orders of some parasangs from hence; Nay, there's no other choice but—hence, I say. [Exit with ARBACEs, who follows reluctantly. Enter SARDANAPALUS and SALEMENES. Sardan. Well, all is remedied and without bloodshed, That worst of mockeries of a remedy; We are now secure by these men's exile. Salemenes. As he who treads on flowers is from the adder Twined round their roots. Sardan. Yes, Why, what wouldst have me do? Salem. Undo what you have done. Sardan. Revoke my pardon? Salem. Replace the crown now tottering on your temples. Salem: Sardan. But sure. We are so. What danger can they work upon the frontier? Salem. They are not there yet-never should they be so, Were I well listen'd to. Nay, I have listen'd Sardan, Salem. You may know that hereafter; as it is, Sardan. And you will join us at the banquet? Dispense with me-I am no wassailer: Sire, Command me in all service save the Bacchant's. Sardan. Nay, but it is fit to revel now aud then. Salem. And fit that some should watch for those who revel Too oft. Am I permitted to depart? Sardan. Yes--Stay a moment, my good Salemenes, My brother, my best subject, better prince Than I am king. You should have been the monarch, Think not I am insensible to all Thine honest wisdom, and thy rough yet kind, The advice was sound; but, let them live: we will not Salem. Thus you run The risk to sleep for ever, to save traitors A moment's pang now changed for years of crime... Sardan. Tempt me not: But it may be recall'd. And should therefore be decisive. Sardan. 'Tis royal. Salem. This half indulgence of an exile serves But to provoke-a pardon should be full Or it is none. Sardan. And who persuaded me After I had repeal'd them, or at least Only dismiss'd them from our presence, who Urged me to send them to their satrapies ? Salem. True; that I had forgotten; that is, sire, If they e'er reach their satrapies: why then Reprove me more for my advice? Sardan. And if They do not reach them-look to it!-in safety, Look to thine own. Salemenes. Permit me to depart; Get thee hence, then; And, prithee, think more gently of thy brother. [Exit SALEMENES. Sardan. (solus.) That man is of a temper too severe : Hard but as lofty as the rock, and free From all the taints of common earth-while I Questions which mortal never dared to ask me, Albeit his marble face majestical Frowns as the shadows of the evening dim Away with these vain thoughts, I will be joyous— Myrrha. Enter MYRRHA, King! the sky Is overcast, and musters muttering thunder, Sardan. Tempest, say'st thou ? For my own part, I should be Not ill content to vary the smooth scene, And watch the warring elements; but this Smooth faces of our festive friends. Say, Myrrha, Myrrha. In my own country we respect their voices As auguries of Jove. Sardan. Jove-ay, your Baal Ours also has a property in thunder, Myrrha. That were a dread omen.. Sardan. Yes, for the priests. Well, we will not go forth Beyond the palace walls to-night, but make Our feast within. Myrrha. Now, Jove be praised! that he Hath heard the prayer thou wouldst not hear. The gods Are kinder to thee than thou to thyself, And flash this storm between thee and thy foes, To shield thee from them. Sardan. Child, if there be peril, Methinks it is the same within these walls As on the river's brink. |