Alt.

Mighty though

They were, as all thy royal line have been,
Yet none of those who went before have reached
The acmé of Sardanapalus, who

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

Zam.

No;

All hearts are happy, and all voices bless
The King of peace-who holds a world in jubilee.
Sar. Art sure of that? I have heard otherwise;
Some say that there be traitors.

Zam.

Traitors they

Who dare to say so!-'Tis impossible.
What cause?

Sar.

What cause? true,-fill the goblet up; We will not think of them: there are none such, Or if there be, they are gone.

Alt.

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 !

ΙΟ

20

[ZAMES and the Guests kneel, and exclaimMightier than

His father Baal, the God Sardanapalus !

[It thunders as they kneel; some start up in confusion. Zam. Why do you rise, my friends? in that strong

peal

His father gods consented.

Myr.

Menaced, rather.

30

King, wilt thou bear this mad impiety?

Sar. Impiety-nay, if the sires who reigned

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 loved, not worshipped.

Alt.

Both you must ever be by all true subjects.

Both

Sar. Methinks the thunders still increase it is

An awful night.
Myr.

Oh yes, for those who have

No palace to protect their worshippers.

Sar. That's true, my Myrrha; and could I convert My realm to one wide shelter for the wretched,

I'd do it.

Myr.

Able to work a will so good and general,

Thou'rt no God, then-not to be

And your Gods, then,

As thy wish would imply.

Sar.

Who can, and do not?

Myr.

Lest we provoke them.
Sar.

Better than mortals.

me:

Do not speak of that,

40

True, they love not censure Friends, a thought has struck

Were there no temples, would there, think ye, be
Air worshippers ? that is, when it is angry,

And pelting as even now.

Myr.

Upon his mountain.

Sar.

The Persian prays

Yes, when the Sun shines.

Myr. And I would ask if this your palace were
Unroofed and desolate, how many flatterers
Would lick the dust in which the King lay low?
Alt. 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.

Sar.

Nay, pardon, guests,

The fair Greek's readiness of speech.

Alt.

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

Zam.

50

Pardon! sire:

61

That nothing but the jar

Of distant portals shaken by the wind.
Alt. It sounded like the clash of―hark again!
Zam. The big rain pattering on the roof.
Sar.

i. Worshippers in the air.-[MS. M. erased.]

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.

Pan. (to the Guards).

Look to the portals;

And with your best speed to the walls without.

Your arms! To arms! The King's in danger. Monarch Excuse this haste,-'tis faith.

Sar.

Pan.

Speak on.

It is

71

As Salemenes feared; the faithless Satraps

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

Pan. 'Tis nothing a mere flesh wound. I am worn More with my speed to warn my sovereign,

Than hurt in his defence.

Myr.

Well, Sir, the rebels?

Pan. Soon as Arbaces and Beleses reached
Their stations in the city, they refused

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

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

80

Spare not of thy free speech,

My own slight guard

No

Were faithful, and what's left of it is still so.
Myr. And are these all the force still faithful?
Pan.

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

90

1. [Perhaps Grillparzer's Sappho was responsible for the anachronism. See Extracts from a Diary," January 12, 1821, Letters, 1901, V. 171, note 1.]

An orb around the palace, where they mean To centre all their force, and save the King. (He hesitates.) I am charged to

Myr.

'Tis no time for hesitation. Pan. 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 instant might do more Than hosts can do in his behalf.

100

Ho, there!--but seek not for the buckler: 'tis
Too heavy :-a light cuirass and my sword.
Where are the rebels?

Pan.

Scarce a furlong's length

From the outward wall the fiercest conflict rages.

Sar. Then I may charge on horseback. Order my horse out.-There is space enough Even in our courts, and by the outer gate, To marshal half the horsemen of Arabia.

Sfero, ho!

Then hasten to him

-Is

In the thick of the fight.

Sar.
The path still open, and communication
Left 'twixt the palace and the phalanx?

Pan.

'Twas

When I late left him, and I have no fear;
Our troops were steady, and the phalanx formed.
Sar. Tell him to spare his person for the present,
And that I will not spare my own-and say,
I come.

Pan. There's victory in the very word. [Exit PANIA.
Sar. Altada-Zames-forth, and arm ye! There

Is all in readiness in the armoury.

See that the women are bestowed in safety

In the remote apartments: let a guard

Be set before them, with strict charge to quit

The post but with their lives-command it, Zames.
Altada, arm yourself, and return here;

Your post is near our person.

120

[Exeunt ZAMES, ALTADA, and all save MYRRHA.

Enter SFERO and others with the King's Arms, etc.

Sfe.
King! your armour.
Sar. (arming himself). Give me the cuirass-so: my

baldric; now

My sword: I had forgot the helm-where is it?

That's well-no, 'tis too heavy; you mistake, too—
It was not this I meant, but that which bears
A diadem around it.

That too conspicuous from the precious stones
To risk your sacred brow beneath-and trust me,

This is of better metal, though less rich.

130

Sar. You deemed! Are you too turned a rebel?

Fellow!

Your part is to obey: return, and—no—

It is too late-I will go forth without it.

Sfe. At least, wear this.

Sar.

A mountain on my temples.

Sfe.

Wear Caucasus! why, 'tis

Sire, the meanest

Soldier goes not forth thus exposed to battle.

All men will recognise you-for the storm

140'

Has ceased, and the moon breaks forth in her brightness. Sar. I go forth to be recognised, and thus

Shall be so sooner. Now my spear! I'm armed.

[In going stops short, and turns to SFERO. Sfero-I had forgotten-bring the mirror.'

1. ["In the third act, when Sardanapalus calls for a mirror to look at himself in his armour, recollect to quote the Latin passage from Juvenal upon Otho (a similar character, who did the same thing: Gifford will help you to it). The trait is, perhaps, too familiar, but it