Sfe. The mirror, Sire? Sar. Yes, sir, of polished brass, [Exit SFERO. Sar. Myrrha, retire unto a place of safety. Why went you not forth with the other damsels ? Myr. Because my place is here. Sar. And when I am gone Myr. I follow. Sar. You! to battle? Myr. If it were so, 151 'Twere not the first Greek girl had trod the path. I will await here your return. Sar. The place Is spacious, and the first to be sought out, And I return not Myr. Sar. How? Myr. Still we meet again. In the spot where all must meet at last— In Hades! if there be, as I believe, A shore beyond the Styx; and if there be not, In ashes. Sar. Myr. Darest thou so much? I dare all things 160 Except survive what I have loved, to be is historical (of Otho, at least), and natural in an effeminate character."-Letter to Murray, May 30, 1821, Letters, 1901, V. 301. The quotation was not made in the first edition, 1821, nor in any subsequent issue, till 1832. It is from Juvenal, Sat. ii. lines 199-203 "Ille tenet speculum, pathici gestamen Othonis, "This grasps a mirror-pathic Otho's boast A MIRROR, midst the arms of civil rage!" Gifford.] Re-enter SFERO with the mirror. Sar. (looking at himself). This cuirass fits me well, the baldric better, And the helm not at all. Methinks I seem [Flings away the helmet after trying it again. Passing well in these toys; and now to prove them. Altada! Where's Altada? Sfe. Waiting, Sire, Without he has your shield in readiness. Sar. True-I forgot-he is my shield-bearer Myrrha, embrace me;-yet once more-once more- 171 [Exeunt SARDANAPALUS and Sfero. Now, I am alone: 180 All are gone forth, and of that all how few [She draws forth a small vial. This cunning Colchian poison, which my father Learned to compound on Euxine shores, and taught me How to preserve, shall free me! It had freed me Long ere this hour, but that I loved, until I half forgot I was a slave :-where all That shackles worn like ornaments no less VOL. V. F 190 Are chains. Again that shout! and now the clash Alt. Enter ALTADA. Ho, Sfero, ho! Myr. He is not here; what wouldst thou with him? How Goes on the conflict? Alt. Dubiously and fiercely. 201 Myr. And the King? Alt. Like a king. I must find Sfero, And bring him a new spear with his own helmet. He fights till now bare-headed, and by far Too much exposed. The soldiers knew his face, And the foe too; and in the moon's broad light, His silk tiara and his flowing hair Make him a mark too royal. Every arrow Is pointed at the fair hair and fair features, And the broad fillet which crowns both. Myr. Ye Gods, Who fulminate o'er my father's land, protect him! Were you sent by the King? Alt. By Salemenes, Who sent me privily upon this charge, Without the knowledge of the careless sovereign. Myr. 210 [Exit ALTADA. 'Tis no dishonour-no- Nursed in effeminate arts from youth to manhood, As though it were a bed of love, deserves 220 i. and his own helmet.-[MS. M. erased.] That a Greek girl should be his paramour, And a Greek bard his minstrel-a Greek tomb His monument. Officer. Enter an Officer. Lost almost past recovery. Zames! Where Myr. Posted with the guard appointed To watch before the apartment of the women. Lost, 230 [Exit Officer. Myr. (sola). He's gone; and told no more than that all's lost! What need have I to know more? In those words, Those little words, a kingdom and a king, A line of thirteen ages, and the lives Of thousands, and the fortune of all left With life, are merged; and I, too, with the great, Pan. Enter PANIA. Away with me, 240 The King? Myrrha, without delay; we must not lose A moment-all that's left us now. Myr. Pan. Sent me here to conduct you hence, beyond The river, by a secret passage. Myr. He lives Pan. Then And charged me to secure your life, Myr. And beg you to live on for his sake, till He can rejoin you. Pan. Not till the last. Still, still he does whate'er Despair can do; and step by step disputes The very palace. Will he then give way? Myr. They are here, then :-aye, 250 Their shouts come ringing through the ancient halls, This fatal night. Farewell, Assyria's line! Pan. Away with me-away! Myr. No: I'll die here !-Away, and tell your King I loved him to the last. Enter SARDANAPALUS and SALEMENES with Soldiers. PANIA quits MYRRHA, and ranges himself with them. Sar. Since it is thus, We'll die where we were born-in our own halls.1 All fresh and faithful; they'll be here anon. All is not over.-Pania, look to Myrrha. 260 [PANIA returns towards MYRRHA. Sal. We have breathing time; yet once more charge, my friends One for Assyria ! Sar. Rather say for Bactria! My faithful Bactrians, I will henceforth be King of your nation, and we'll hold together Sal. Hark! they come-they come. Enter BELESES and ARBACES with the Rebels. Arb. Set on, we have them in the toil. charge! Charge! -On! Bel. On! on!-Heaven fights for us, and with us[They charge the King and SALEMENES with their troops, who defend themselves till the arrival of ZAMES with the Guard before mentioned. The Rebels are then driven off, and pursued by SALEMENES, etc. As the King is going to join the pursuit, BELESES crosses him. Bel. Ho! tyrant-I will end this war. i. We'll die where we were raised .—[MS. M. erased.] |