The Hull of the Palace illuminated.-SARDANAPALUS Zum. Nor elsewhere- where the king is, pleasure sparkles. Sar. 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? Alt. Mighty though | Upon his mountain. They were, as all thy royal line have been, Who dare to say so!-'Tis impossible. Sar. What cause? true,-fill the goblet up; [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. Zam. Why do you rise, my friends? in that strong peal His father gods consented. Upon a nation whom she knows not well; Sar. Nay, pardon, guests, The fair Greek's readiness of speech. We honour her of all things next to thee. Hark! what was that? Zam. 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. 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 As Salemenes fear'd; the faithless satraps Pan. 'Tis nothing—a mere flesh wound. I am worn More with my speed to warn my sovereign, Than hurt in his defence. 3 [Early in the third Act, the royal banquet is disturbed by sudden tidings of treason and revolt; and then the reveller blazes out into the hero, and the Greek blood of Myrrha mounts to its proper office! JEFFREY.] Pan. The Bactrians, now led on by Salemenes, 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. Sar. Altada- Zames-forth, and arm ye! There Is all in readiness in the armoury. See that the women are bestow'd in safety In the remote apartments: let a guard Be set before them, with strict charge to quit [Exeunt ZAMES, ALTADA, and all save MYRRHA. Enter SFERO and others with the King's Arms, &c. 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 too conspicuous from the precious stones Sur. You deem'd! Are you too turn'd a rebel? Your part is to obey: return, and-no It is too late-I will go forth without it. Wear Caucasus! why, 'tis Sar. I go forth to be recognised, and thus Shall be so sooner. Now my spear! I'm arm'd. [In going stops short, and turns to SFERO. Sfero-I had forgotten-bring the mirror. Sfe. The mirror, sire? Sar. Yes, sir, of polish'd brass, Brought from the spoils of India - but be speedy. 2 [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. And when I am gone Sar. Myr. I follow. When I late left him, and I have no fear: There's victory in the very word. [Exit PANIA. "In the third Act, where 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 is historical (of Otho, at least), and natural in an effeminate character." Lord B. to Mr. M.] 2" Ille tenet speculum pathici gestamen Othonis, Actoris Arunci spolíum, quo se ille videbat 'T were not the first Greek girl had trod the path. I will await here your return. Is spacious, and the first to be sought out, If they prevail; and, if it be so, Love me, whate'er betide. My chiefest glory [Exeunt SARDANAPALUS and SFERO. ' All are gone forth, and of that all how few shout! Methinks it nears me. -Hark-to the war If it should be so, [She draws forth a small vial. This cunning Colchian poison, which my father Learn'd to compound on Euxine shores, and taught 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. The king the king fights as he revels! ho! What, Sfero! I will seek the armouryHe must be there. [Exit ALTADA. Myr. "T is no dishonour- -no 'Tis no dishonour to have loved this man. I almost wish now, what I never wish'd Before, that he were Grecian. If Alcides Were shamed in wearing Lydian Omphale's She-garb, and wielding her vile distaff, surely He, who springs up a Hercules at once, Nursed in effeminate arts from youth to manhood, And rushes from the banquet to the battle, As though it were a bed of love, deserves That a Greek girl should be his paramour, And a Greek bard his minstrel, a Greek tomb His monument. How goes the strife, sir? [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, A line of thirteen ages, and the lives Myrrha, without delay; we must not lose Alt. Ho, Sfero, ho! Myr. Then And charged me to secure your life, Will he then give way? And beg you to live on for his sake, till He can rejoin you. Myr. Pan. Not till the last. Still, still he does whate'er Despair can do; and step by step disputes The very palace. Myr. They are here, then : ay, each other in a dining-room, is extremely well told; and Sardanapalus displays the precise mixture of effeminacy and courage, levity and talent, which belongs to his character. HEBER.] Enter SALEMENES and Soldiers, &c. Sal. To the troops station'd on the other side scene that ensues is very masterly and characteristic. — JEFPREY.] Sar. We've clear'd the palaceSal. Not quite; but let it pass. And I trust the city. Our numbers gather; and I've order'd onward A cloud of Parthians, hitherto reserved, All fresh and fiery, to be pour'd upon them In their retreat, which soon will be a flight. Sar. It is already, or at least they march'd Faster than I could follow with my Bactrians, Who spared no speed. I am spent: give me a seat. Sal. There stands the throne, sire. Sar. "Tis no place to rest on, For mind nor body: let me have a couch, [They place a sent. A peasant's stool, I care not what: so-now I breathe more freely. Sal. This great hour has proved The brightest and most glorious of your life. Sar. And the most tiresome. Where's my cupbearer ? Made warriors of more than me. I paused Apart; her voice that clove through all the din, Than the steel her hand held, which she caught up Sal. Well then, to have him king, and yours, and all You have more power upon his spirit than Omnipotent o'er such a heart as his : Sar. Is power [Exit SALEMENES. Myrrha! what, at whispers With my stern brother? I shall soon be jealous. 1 selfish domestic feelings which led him to dislike the fair Ionian, exhorts her to use her utmost power to keep her lover from relaxing into luxury. The transient effect which their whispers produce on Sardanapalus is well imagined. BISHOP HEBER.] |