Beleses. So we should be, were justice always done

Which fringe his banks; but whether they

care not.

There's something sweet in my uncertainty
I would not change for your Chaldean lore;
Besides, I know of these all clay can know
Of aught above it or below it—nothing.
I see their brilliancy and feel their beauty-
When they shine on my grave I shall know
neither.

Beleses. For neither, sire, say better.
Sard. I will wait,

If it so please you,pontiff, for that knowledge. In the mean time receive your sword, and know

That I prefer your service militant
Unto your ministry-not loving either.
Sal. (aside) His lusts have made him
mad. Then must I save him

favour.

Sard. That's a good sentence for a homily, Though not for this occasion. Prithee keep it To plead thy sovereign's cause before his people.

Beleses. I trust there is no cause.
Sard. No cause, perhaps;

But many causers:-if ye meet with such
In the exercise of your inquisitive function
On earth, or should you read of it in heaven
In some mysterious twinkle of the stars,
Which are your chronicles, I pray you note,
That there are worse things betwixt earth
and heaven

Than him who ruleth many and slays none; And,hating not himself, yet loves his fellows Enough to spare even those who would not spare him,

Were they once masters but that's doubtful. Satraps!

Your swords and persons are at liberty
To use them as ye will-but from this hour
I have no call for either. Salemenes!
Follow me.

[Exeunt Sardanapalus, Salemenes,
and the Train, leaving Arbaces
and Beleses.

The night the same we destined. He hath changed

Nothing, except our ignorance of all
Suspicion into such a certainty
As must make madness of delay.
Arbaces. And yet-

Beleses. What, doubting still?
Arbaces. He spared our lives-nay,more,
Saved them from Salemenes.

Beleses. And how long

Will he so spare? till the first drunken minute.

Arbaces. Or sober, rather. Yet he did it nobly;

Gave royally what we had forfeited
Basely-

Beleses. Say bravely.

Arbaces. Somewhat of both perhaps. But it has touch'd me, and, whate'er betide, I will no further on.

Beleses. And lose the world!

esteem.

teaches.

lives to such

And waking in the dark.-Go to-go to. Arbaces. Methought he look'd like Nimrod as he spoke,

Even as the proud imperial statue stands

Beleses. Have you finish'd? Arbaces. Yes

I'll on alone.

Arbaces. Alone!

Beleses. Thrones hold but one.

Arbaces. But this is fill'd.

Beleses. With worse than vacancy

temple.

Beleses. I told you that you had too much despised him,

And that there was some royalty within him. What then? he is the nobler foe.

urged you;

Was willing even to serve you, in the hope To serve and savc Assyria. Heaven itself Seem'd to consent, and all events were friendly,

Even to the last, till that your spirit shrunk Into a shallow softness; but now, rather Than see my country languish, I will be Her saviour or the victim of her tyrant, Or one or both, for sometimes both are one: And if I win, Arbaces is my servant.

Arbaces. Your servant!

Beleses. Why not? better than be slave, The pardon'd slave of she Sardanapalus.

Sal. Thus you run

The risk to sleep for ever, to save traitors— A moment's pang now changed for years of crime.

Still let them be made quiet.

Sard. Tempt me not:

My word is past.

Sal. But it may be recall'd.
Sard. 'Tis royal.

Sal. And should therefore be decisive. This half-indulgence of an exile serves But to provoke-a pardon should be full, Or it is none.

Sard. 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? Sal. True; that I had forgotten; that is, sire,

If they e'er reach their satrapies-why, then, Reprove me more for my advice.

Sard. And if

They do not reach them-look to it!-in safety,

In safety, mark me-and security-
Look to thine own.

Sal. Permit me to depart;
Their safety shall be cared for.

Sard. Get thee hence, then;

And, prithee, think more gently of thy brother.

Sal. Sire, I shall ever duly serve my sovereign. [Exit Salemenes. Sard. (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 Am softer clay, impregnated with flowers. But as our mould is, must the produce be. If I have err'd this time, 'tis on the side Where error sits most lightly on that sense, I know not what to call it; but it reckons With me ofttimes for pain, and sometimes pleasure;

A spirit which seems placed about my heart To court its throbs,not quicken them, and ask Questions which mortal never dared to

Myrrha. Ay, my good lord.

Sard. For my own part, I should be Not ill content to vary the smooth scene, And watch the warring elements; but this Would little suit the silken garments and Smooth faces of our festive friends. Say, Myrrha,

Art thou of those who dread the roar of clouds?

Myrrha. In my own country we respect their voices

As auguries of Jove.

Sard. Jove-ay, your Baal-
Ours also has a property in thunder,
And ever and anon some falling bolt
Proves his divinity, and yet sometimes
Strikes his own altars.

Myrrha. That were a dread omen.
Sard. 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 thon to thyself, And flash this storm between thee and thy foes,

To shield thee from them.

Sard. Child, if there be peril,

Methinks it is the same within these walls As on the river's brink.

Myrrha. Not so, these walls

Are high and strong, and guarded. Treason

has

The men, or innocent or guilty, are
Banish'd, and far upon their way.
Myrrha. They live, then?

Sard. 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.

Sard. This is strange;

The gentle and the austere are both against me,

And urge me to revenge.

Myrrha. Tis a Greek virtue.
Sard. But not a kingly one-

I'll none

Myrrha. These men sought to be so.

springs

From fear

Myrrha. For you.

Sard. No matter-still 'tis fear.

jubilee.

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.
Sard. 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.
[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-The Hall of the Palace illumi- SARDANAPALUS and his Guests at

nated

Table-A Storm without, and Thunder occasionally heard during the Banquet. Sard. 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.

Sard. 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.

Sard. 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;

Zames. Traitors they

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

Sard. 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 exclaimMightier 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? Sard. 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 loved, not worshipp'd.
Altada. Both-

Both you must ever be by all true subjects. Sard. Methinks the thunders still increase: it is

An awful night.

Myrrha. Oh yes, for those who have No palace to protect their worshippers. Sard. 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.

Sard. And your gods, then, Who can, and do not?

Myrrha. Do not speak of that, Lest we provoke them.

Sard. True, they love not censure 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?

Myrrha. The Persian prays
Upon his mountain.

Sard. Yes, when the sun shines.