The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 16

_Enter an Officer_.

_Officer_. Lost, Lost almost past recovery. Zames! Where Is Zames?

_Myr._ Posted with the guard appointed To watch before the apartment of the women. 230 [_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.

_Enter_ PANIA.

_Pan._ Away with me, 240 Myrrha, without delay; we must not lose A moment--all that's left us now.

_Myr._ The King?

_Pan._ Sent me here to conduct you hence, beyond The river, by a secret pa.s.sage.

_Myr._ Then He lives----

_Pan._ And charged me to secure your life, And beg you to live on for his sake, till He can rejoin you.

_Myr._ Will he then give way?

_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:--aye, 250 Their shouts come ringing through the ancient halls, Never profaned by rebel echoes till This fatal night. Farewell, a.s.syria's line!

Farewell to all of Nimrod! Even the name Is now no more.

_Pan._ Away with me--away!

_Myr._ No: I'll die here!--Away, and tell your King I loved him to the last.

_Enter_ SARDANAPALUS _and_ SALEMENES _with Soldiers_.

PANIA _quits_ MYRRHA, _and ranges himself with them_.

_Sar._ Since it is thus, We'll die where we were born--in our own halls[x]

Serry your ranks--stand firm. I have despatched 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_ MYRRHA.

_Sal._ We have breathing time; yet once more charge, my friends-- One for a.s.syria!

_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--they come.

_Enter_ BELESES _and_ ARBACES _with the Rebels_.

_Arb._ Set on, we have them in the toil. Charge!

charge!

_Bel._ On! on!--Heaven fights for us, and with us--On!

[_They charge the King and_ SALEMENES _with their troops, who defend themselves till the arrival of_ ZAMES _with the Guard before mentioned.

The Rebels are then driven off, and pursued by_ SALEMENES, _etc. As the King is going to join the pursuit,_ BELESES _crosses him_.

_Bel._ Ho! tyrant--_I_ will end this war.

_Sar._ Even so, 270 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 crushed.

_Bel._ But not by thee.

[_They fight;_ BELESES _is wounded and disarmed_.

_Sar._ (_raising his sword to despatch him, exclaims_)-- Now call upon thy planets, will they shoot 280 From the sky to preserve their seer and credit?

[_A party of Rebels enter and rescue_ BELESES.

_They a.s.sail the King, who in turn, is rescued by a Party of his Soldiers, who drive the Rebels off_.

The villain was a prophet after all.

Upon them--ho! there--victory is ours.

[_Exit in pursuit_.

_Myr._ (_to Pan._) Pursue! Why stand'st thou here, and leavest the ranks Of fellow-soldiers conquering without thee?

_Pan._ The King's command was not to quit thee.

_Myr._ _Me!_ Think not of me--a single soldier's arm Must not be wanting now. I ask no guard, I need no guard: what, with a world at stake, Keep watch upon a woman? Hence, I say, 290 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 s.h.i.+eld 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 flashed a scimitar till now?

Myrrha, return, and I obey you, though 300 In disobedience to the monarch. [_Exit_ PANIA.

_Enter_ ALTADA _and_ SFERO _by an opposite door_.

_Alt._ Myrrha!

What, gone? yet she was here when the fight raged, And Pania also. Can aught have befallen them?

_Sfe._ I saw both safe, when late the rebels fled; They probably are but retired to make Their way back to the harem.

_Alt._ If the King Prove victor, as it seems even now he must, And miss his own Ionian, we are doomed To worse than captive rebels.

_Sfe._ Let us trace them: She cannot be fled far; and, found, she makes 310 A richer prize to our soft sovereign Than his recovered kingdom.