I thought you were exempt from this, as from
For my own part, I should be The childish helplessness of Asian women. (2)
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?
Myr. In my own country we respect their voices
As auguries of Jove. (1)
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Myr. 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, (3)
Which might not yield to any cares of mine.
Sar. Grief 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. (4)
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The Hall of the Palace illuminated-SARDANAPALUS
and his Guests at Table.-A Storm without, and
Thunder occasionally heard during the Banquet.
Sar. 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.
Zam. 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?
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.
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.
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.
Who dare to say so!-'T is impossible.
What cause?
What cause! true,-fill the goblet up;
We will not think of them: there are none such,
Or, if there be, they are gone.
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 exclaim—
Mightier than
His father Baal, the god Sardanapalus!
[It thunders as they kneel; some start up in confusion.
(4) "The second act, which contains the details of the conspiracy of Arbaces, its detection by the vigilance of Salemenes, and the too rash and hasty forgiveness of the rebels by the king, is, on the whole, heavy and uninteresting." Jeffrey.-L. E.
Sar. That's true, my Myrrha; and could I convert | Were faithful, and what's left of it is still so. My realm to one wide shelter for the wretched, I'd do it.
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
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.
Scarce a furlong's length From the outward wall the fiercest conflict rages. Sar. Then I may charge on horseback. Sfero, ho! Order my horse out.-There is space enough Even in our courts, and by the outer gate, To marshal half the horsemen of Arabia.
[Exit SFERO for the armour.
When I late left him, and I have no fear:
Our troops were steady, and the phalanx form'd.
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.
ler blazes out into the hero, and the Greek blood of Myrrha mounts to its proper office!" Jeffrey.-L. E.
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
The post but with their lives-command it, Zames.
Altada, arm yourself, and return here;
Your post is near our person.
[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.
!Sar. You deem'd! Are you too turn'd 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.
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Waiting, sire,
Without: he has your shield in readiness.
Sar. True; I forgot he is my shield-bearer
By right of blood, derived from age to age.
Myrrha, embrace me;-yet once more-once more-
Love me, whate'er betide. My chiefest glory
Shall be to make me worthier of your love.
Myr. Go forth, and conquer!
[Exeunt SARDANAPALUS and SFERO. (2)
Now, I am alone,
All are gone forth, and of that all how few
Wear Caucasus! why, 'tis Perhaps return! Let him but vanquish, and
Me perish! If he vanquish not, I perish;
For I will not outlive him. He has wound
About my heart, I know not how nor why.
Not for that he is king; for now his kingdom
To yield him no more of it than a grave;
Rocks underneath his throne, and the earth yawns
And yet I love him more. Oh, mighty Jove!
Forgive this monstrous love for a barbarian,
Who knows not of Olympus! yes, I love him
Now, now, far more than-Hark-to the war-shout!
Methinks it nears me. If it should be so,
A mountain on my temples.
Sfe.
Sire, the meanest
Soldier goes not forth thus exposed to battle.
All men will recognise you-for the storm
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 arm'd.
[In going stops short, and turns to SFERO.
Sfero-I had forgotten-bring the mirror. (1)
Sfe. The mirror, sire?
Sar.
Yes, sir, of polish'd brass,
Brought from the spoils of India-but be speedy.
[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.
If it were so, Twere not the first Greek girl had trod the path. I will await here your return.
The place Is spacious, and the first to be sought out, If they prevail; and, if it should be so,
In the spot where all must meet at lastIn Hades! if there be, as I believe,
(1) 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." Lard B. to Mr. M.-The following is the quotation alluded to, with a translation by Mr. Gifford :
"Ille tenet speculum pathici gestamen Othonis,
Actoris Arunci spolium, quo se ille videbat
Armatum, cum jam tolli vexilla juberet.
Res memoranda novis annalibus, atque recenti
Historia, speculum civilis farcina belli."-Juv. Sat. ii.
[She draws forth a small vial.
This cunning Colchian poison, which my father
Learn'd 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
Are slaves save one, and proud of servitude,
So they are served in turn by something lower
In the degree of bondage, we forget
That shackles worn like ornaments no less
Are chains. Again that shout! and now the clash
Of arms-and now-and now--
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Like a king. I must find Sfero,
"This grasps a mirror-pathic Otho's boast
(Auruncan Actor's spoil), where, while his host,
With shouts, the signal of the fight required,
He view'd his mailed form; view'd, and admired!
Lo, a new subject for the historic page,
A MIRROR, 'midst the arms of civil rage !"-L. E.
(2) "In the third act, the king and his courtiers are dis-
turbed at their banquet by the breaking out of the conspi-
racy. The battle which follows, if we overlook the absur-
dity, which occurs during one part of it, of hostile armies
drawn up against 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.-L. E.
And bring him a new spear and his own helmet.
He fights till now bare-headed, and by far
Too much exposed. The soldiers know 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 fulmine o'er my father's land, protect him!
Were you sent by the king?
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 armoury—
He must be there.
[Exit ALTADA.
Myr.
"Tis 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?
To watch before the apartment of the women.
[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,
Like a small bubble breaking with the wave
Which bore it, shall be nothing. At the least,
My fate is in my keeping: no proud victor
Shall count me with his spoils.
They are here, then :-ay,
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We'll die where we were born-in our own halls.
Serry your ranks-stand firm. I have despatch'd
A trusty satrap for the guard of Zames,
All fresh and faithful; they'll be here anon.
All is not over.-Pania, look to Myrrha.
[PANIA returns towards MYRRA. Sal. We have breathing-time; yet one more charge. One for Assyria! [my friends
Sar. Rather say for Bactria! My faithful Bactrians, I will henceforth be King of your nation, and we'll hold together This realm as province. Sal. Hark! they come—t -they come. Enter BELESES and ARBACES with the Rebels. Arb. Set on, we have them in the toil. Charge! charge!
[-0 Bel. On! on!-Heaven fights for us, and with as [They charge the King and SALEMENES with their Troops, who defend themselves till the arriva of ZAMES, with the Guard before mentioned The Rebels are then driven off, and pursue by SALEMENES, etc. As the King is going join the pursuit, BELESES crosses him. Bel. Ho! tyrant-I will end this war. Sar.
Even 50, My warlike priest, and precious prophet, and Grateful and trusty subject!-yield, I pray thee. I would reserve thee for a fitter doom, Rather than dip my hands in holy blood. Bel. Thine hour is come. Sar. No, thine.-I've lately read, Though but a young astrologer, the stars; And ranging round the zodiac, found thy fate In the sign of the Scorpion, which proclaims That thou wilt now be crush'd.
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Their shouts come ringing through the ancient halls, I need no guard: what! with a world at stake,
Keep watch upon a woman? Hence, I say,
Or thou art shamed! Nay, then, I will go forth,
A feeble female, 'midst their desperate strife,
And bid thee guard me there-where thou shouldst
shield
Thy sovereign.
[Exit MYRRHA.
: Pan.
Yet stay, damsel! She's gone.
If aught of ill betide her, better I
Had lost my life. Sardanapalus holds her
Far dearer than his kingdom, yet he fights
For that too; and can I do less than he,
Who never flesh'd a scimitar till now?
Myrrha, return, and I obey you, though
In disobedience to the monarch.
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