Sar. Your courage never-nor your love till now; And none could make me doubt it save yourself. Those words. Myr. Were words. I pray you, let the proofs Be in the past acts you were pleased to praise Sar. I am content: and, trusting in my cause, To me war is no glory-conquest no Renown. To be forced thus to uphold my right These men would bow me down with. Never, never I thought to have made mine inoffensive rule On which the future would turn back and smile, I thought to have made my realm a paradise, Kiss me. Myr. Man may despoil his brother man of all No, never! That's great or glittering-kingdoms fall, hosts yield, Than all, the most indebted-but a heart [He kisses her. That loves without self-love! "Tis here-now prove it. Enter SALEMENES. Sal. I sought you-How! she here again? Sar. Return not Now to reproof: methinks your aspect speaks Sal. The only woman whom it much imports me The queen's embark'd. Sar. And well? say that much. Her transient weakness has pass'd o'er; at least, Yes. Pale face and glittering eye, after a glance Upon her sleeping children, were still fix'd Stole down the hurrying stream beneath the starlight; Sar. Than she has said! Sal. Would I felt no more 'Tis now too late to feel. Your feelings cannot cancel a sole pang: To change them, my advices bring sure tidings In arms again; and, serrying their ranks, Sar. Let us be first, then. What! more rebels ? Sal. I detest Sar. My soul seems lukewarm; but when I set on them, A pluck at them, or perish in hot blood !— Sal. You talk like a young soldier. Sal. You must spare To expose your life too hastily; 'tis not Like mine or any other subject's breath : Sar. Then let us end both! "Twere better thus, perhaps, than prolong either; I'm sick of one, perchance of both. Sal. Sar. [A trumpet sounds without. Hark! Let us Reply, not listen. Sal. And your wound! Sar. "Tis bound "Tis heal'd-I had forgotten it. Away! 3 A leech's lancet would have scratch'd me deeper; 3 To have struck so weakly. Sal. Strike with a better aim! Sar. Now, may none this hour Ay, if we conquer; But if not, they will only leave to me A task they might have spared their king. Upon them! [Trumpet sounds again. Ho, my arms! again, my arms! Sal. I am with you. Sar. 3 ["A leech's lancet would have done as much."-MS.] [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-The same Hall in the Palace. MYRRHA and BALEA. Myr. (at a window). The day at last has broken. What a night Hath usher'd it! How beautiful in heaven! Though varied with a transitory storm, More beautiful in that variety! How hideous upon earth! where peace and hope, And love and revel, in an hour were trampled By human passions to a human chaos, It dwells upon the soul, and soothes the soul, Sunrise and sunset form the haunted epoch So that we would not change their sweet rebukes 4 ["Sunrise and sunset form the epoch of The air with clamour) build the palaces Of pain or pleasure, two names for one feeling, Would vary in the sound, although the sense Bal. You muse right calınly: and can you so watch Myr. To that which keeps all earth from being as fragile The Chaldee's god, which when I gaze upon I grow almost a convert to your Baal. Bal. As now he reigns in heaven, so once on earth He sway'd. Myr. He sways it now far more, then; never Had earthly monarch half the power and glory Which centres in a single ray of his. So we Greeks deem too ; Bal. Surely he is a god! Must rather be the abode of gods than one Bal. Hark! heard you not a sound? They battle it beyond the wall, and not No, 'twas mere fancy; 5 ["Of labouring wretches in allotted tasks."-MS.] |