Myrrha.

Not so; these walls
Are high and strong, and guarded. Treason has
To penetrate through many a winding way,
And massy portal; but in the pavilion

There is no bulwark.

Sardan.

No, nor in the palace,

Nor in the fortress, nor upon the top

Of cloud-fenced Caucasus, where the eagle sits
Nested in pathless clefts, if treachery be:
Even as the arrow finds the airy king,

The steel will reach the earthly. But be calm:
The men, or innocent or guilty, are
Banish'd, and far upon their way.
Myrrha.

They live, then?

Sardan. So sanguinary? Thou!
Myrrha.

I would not shrink

From just infliction of due punishment

On those who seek your life: wer't otherwise,
I should not merit mine. Besides, you heard
The princely Salemenes.

Sardan.

This is strange;

The gentle and the austere are both against me,
And urge me to revenge.

Myrrha.

'Tis a Greek virtue...

Sardan. But not a kingly one-I'll none on't; or If ever I indulge in't, it shall be

With kings-my equals.

Myrrha.

These men sought to be so.

Sardan. Myrrha, this is too feminine, and springs

From fear

Myrrha.

Sardan.

I have observed your sex, once roused to wrath,
Are timidly vindictive to a pitch

Of perseverance, which I would not copy.

I thought you were exempt from this, as from
The childish helplessness of Asian women.

Myrrha.. My lord, I am no boaster of my love,
Nor of my attributes; I have shared your splendour,
And will partake your fortunes. You may live

To find one slave more true than subject myriads ;
But this the gods avert? I am content

To be beloved on trust for what I feel,

Rather than prove it to you in your griefs,

Which might not yield to any cares of mine.

Sardan. Griefs cannot come where perfect love exists,

Except to heighten it, and vanish from

That which it could not scare away. Let's in--
The hour approaches, and we must prepare
To meet the invited guests, who grace our feast.

ACT III. SCENE I.

The Hall of the Palace Illuminated-SARDANAPALUS and his Guests at Table-A Storm without, and Thunder occasionally heard during the Banquet.

SARDANAPALUS.

Fill full! Why this is as it should be: here
Is my true realm, amidst bright eyes and faces
Happy as fair! Here sorrow cannot reach.

Zames. Nor elsewhere-where the king is, pleasure sparkles.

Sardan. Is not this better now than Nimrod's huntings, Or my wild grandam's chase in search of kingdoms She could not keep when conquer'd?

Altada.

Mighty though.

They were, as all thy royal line have been,
Yet none of those who went before have reach'd
The acme of Sardanapalus, who

Has placed his joy in peace-the sole true glory.

Sardan. And pleasure, good Altada, to which glory

Is but the path. What is it that we seek ?
Enjoyment! We have cut the way short to it,
And not gone tracking it through human ashes,
Making a grave with every footstep.

Zames.

No;

All hearts are happy, and all voices bless

The king of peace, who holds a world in jubilee.
Sardan. Art sure of that? I have heard otherwise;
Some say that there be traitors.

Zames.

Who dare to say so !-'Tis impossible.

What cause?

Sardan.

Traitors they

What cause? true,-fill the goblet up;

We will not think of them; there are none such,
Or if there be, they are gone.

Altada.

Guests, to my pledge!

Down on your knees, and drink a measure to
The safety of the king-the monarch, say I?
The god Sardanapalus !

[ZAMES and the Guests kneel, and exclaim—
Mightier than

His father Baal, the god Sardanapalus!

[It thunders as they kneel; some start up in confusion.

Zames. Why do ye rise, my friends? In that strong

peal

His father gods consented.

Myrrha.

Menaced, rather.

King, wilt thou bear this mad impiety?

Sardan. Impiety !-nay, if the sires who reign'd Before me can be gods, I'll not disgrace

Their lineage. But arise, my pious friends,

Hoard your devotion for the thunderer there:
I seek but to be lov'd, not worshipp❜d.

Altada.

Both

Both you must ever be by all true subjects.

Sardan. Methinks the thunders still increase: it is

An awful night.

Myrrha.

Oh yes, for those who have

No palace to protect their worshippers.

Sardan. That's true, my Myrrha; and could I convert

My realm to one wide shelter for the wretched,

I'd do it.

Myrrha.

Thou'rt no god, then, not to be

Able to work a will so good and general

As thy wish would imply.

Better than mortals, Friends, a thought has struck me: Were there no temples, would there, think ye, be

Air worshippers-that is, when it is angry,

And pelting as even now?

The Persian prays

Yes, when the sun shines.

Myrrka. And I would ask if this your palace were
Unroof'd and desolate, how many flatterers

Would lick the dust in which the king lay low?
Altada. The fair Ionian is too sarcastic

Upon a nation whom she knows not well;

The Assyrians know no pleasure but their king's,
And homage is their pride.

Sardan.

Nay, pardon, guests,

The fair Greek's readiness of speech.

Altada.

Pardon! sire:

We honour her of all things next to thee.
Hark! what was that?

Zames.

That! nothing but the jar

Of distant portals shaken by the wind.

Altada. It sounded like the clash of-hark again!
Zames. The big rain pattering on the roof.
Sardan.

No more.

Myrrha, my love, hast thou thy shell in order?
Sing me a song of Sappho, her, thou know'st,
Who in thy country threw-

Enter PANIA. with his sword and garments bloody, and disordered. The Guests rise in confusion.

PANIA (to the Guards.)

Look to the portals;

And with your best speed to the wall without,

Your arms; To arms!

The king's in danger. Monarch'!

Excuse this haste,-'tis faith.

Sardan.

Pana.

Speak on.

It is

As Salemenes fear'd; the faithless satraps

Sardan. You are wounded-give some wine. Take. breath, good Pania.

Pania. 'Tis nothing-a mere flesh wound. More with my speed to warn my sovereign, Than hurt in his defence.

Myrrha.

I am worn

Well, sir, the rebels.

Pania. Soon as Arbaces and Beleses reach'd
Their stations in the city, they refused

To march; and on my attempt to use the power
Which I was delegated with, they call'd

Upon their troops, who rose in fierce defiance.
Myrrha. All?

Pania.

Sardan.

Too many.

Spare not of thy free speech

To spare mine ears the truth.

Pania.

My own slight guard Were faithful-and what's left of it is still so. Myrrha. And are these all the force still faithful? Pania.

No

The Bactrians, now led on by Salemenes,
Who even then was on his way, still urged
By strong suspicion of the Median chiefs,
Are numerous, and make strong head against
The rebels, fighting inch by inch, and forming
An orb around the palace, where they mean
To centre all their force, and save the king.
(He hesitates.) I am charged to—

Myrrha.
'Tis no time for hesitation
Pania. Prince Salemenes doth implore the king
To arm himself, although but for a moment,
And show himself unto the soldiers: his

Sole presence in this instance might do more
Than hosts can do in his behalf.

Sardan.

My armour there.

What, ho!

o o