Myr. OH, Jove!
Bal. Then all is over.
Sal. That is false. | |
| Hew down the slave who says so, if a soldier. | |
| Myr. Spare him—he’s none: a mere court butterfly, | |
| That flutters in the pageant of a monarch. | |
Sal. Let him live on, then.
Myr. So wilt thou, I trust. | 5 |
| Sal. I fain would live this hour out, and the event, | |
| But doubt it. Wherefore did ye bear me here? | |
| Sol. By the king’s order. When the javelin struck you, | |
| You fell and fainted: ’twas his strict command | |
To bear you to this hall.
Sal. ’Twas not ill done: | 10 |
| For seeming slain in that cold dizzy trance, | |
| The sight might shake our soldiers—but—’tis vain, | |
I feel it ebbing!
Myr. Let me see the wound; | |
| I am not quite skilless: in my native land | |
| ’Tis part of our instruction. War being constant, | 15 |
We are nerved to look on such things.
Sol. Best extract | |
The javelin.
Myr. Hold! no, no, it cannot be. | |
Sal. I am sped, then!
Myr. With the blood that fast must follow | |
| The extracted weapon, I do fear thy life. | |
| Sal. And I not death. Where was the king when you | 20 |
| Convey’d me from the spot where I was stricken? | |
| Sol. Upon the same ground, and encouraging | |
| With voice and gesture the dispirited troops | |
Who had seen you fall, and falter’d back.
Sal. Whom heard ye | |
Named next to the command?
Sol. I did not hear. | 25 |
| Sal. Fly, then, and tell him, ’twas my last request | |
| That Zames take my post until the junction, | |
| So hoped for, yet delay’d, of Ofratanes, | |
| Satrap of Susa. Leave me here: our troops | |
| Are not so numerous as to spare your absence. | 30 |
Sol. But prince——
Sal. Hence, I say! Here’s a courtier and | |
| A woman, the best chamber company. | |
| As you would not permit me to expire | |
| Upon the field, I’ll have no idle soldiers | |
| About my sick couch. Hence! and do my bidding! [Exeunt the Soldiers. | 35 |
| Myr. Gallant and glorious spirit! must the earth | |
So soon resign thee?
Sal. Gentle Myrrha, ’tis | |
| The end I would have chosen had I saved | |
| The monarch or the monarchy by this; | |
As ’tis, I have not outlived them.
Myr. You wax paler. | 40 |
| Sal. Your hand; this broken weapon but prolongs | |
| My pangs, without sustaining life enough, | |
| To make me useful: I would draw it forth, | |
| And my life with it, could I but hear how | |
The fight goes.
Enter SARDANAPALUS and Soldiers.
Sar. My best brother!
Sal. And the battle | 45 |
| Is lost? | |
Sar. (despondingly.) You see me here.
Sal. I’d rather see you thus
