The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 21

_Sal._ What! leave 380 Your children, with two parents and yet orphans-- In a strange land--so young, so distant?

_Zar._ No-- My heart will break.

_Sal._ Now you know all--decide.

_Sar._ Zarina, he hath spoken well, and we Must yield awhile to this necessity.

Remaining here, you may lose all; departing, You save the better part of what is left, To both of us, and to such loyal hearts As yet beat in these kingdoms.

_Sal._ The time presses.

_Sar._ Go, then. If e'er we meet again, perhaps 390 I may be worthier of you--and, if not, Remember that my faults, though not atoned for, Are _ended_. Yet, I dread thy nature will Grieve more above the blighted name and ashes Which once were mightiest in a.s.syria--than---- But I grow womanish again, and must not; I must learn sternness now. My sins have all Been of the softer order----_hide_ thy tears-- I do not bid thee _not_ to shed them--'twere Easier to stop Euphrates at its source 400 Than one tear of a true and tender heart-- But let me not behold them; they unman me Here when I had remanned myself. My brother, Lead her away.

_Zar._ Oh, G.o.d! I never shall Behold him more!

_Sal._ (_striving to conduct her_).

Nay, sister, I _must_ be obeyed.

_Zar._ I must remain--away! you shall not hold me.

What, shall he die alone?--_I_ live alone?

_Sal._ He shall _not die alone_; but lonely you Have lived for years.

_Zar._ That's false! I knew _he_ lived, And lived upon his image--let me go! 410

_Sal._ (_conducting her off the stage_).

Nay, then, I must use some fraternal force, Which you will pardon.

_Zar._ Never. Help me! Oh!

Sardanapalus, wilt thou thus behold me Torn from thee?

_Sal._ Nay--then all is lost again, If that this moment is not gained.

_Zar._ My brain turns-- My eyes fail--where is he? [_She faints_.

_Sar._ (_advancing_). No--set her down; She's dead--and you have slain her.

_Sal._ 'Tis the mere Faintness of o'erwrought pa.s.sion: in the air She will recover. Pray, keep back.--[_Aside_.] I must Avail myself of this sole moment to 420 Bear her to where her children are embarked, I' the royal galley on the river.

[SALEMENES _bears her off_.

_Sar._ (_solus_). This, too-- And this too must I suffer--I, who never Inflicted purposely on human hearts A voluntary pang! But that is false-- She loved me, and I loved her.--Fatal pa.s.sion!

Why dost thou not expire at _once_ in hearts Which thou hast lighted up at once? Zarina![ah]

I must pay dearly for the desolation Now brought upon thee. Had I never loved 430 But thee, I should have been an unopposed Monarch of honouring nations. To what gulfs A single deviation from the track Of human duties leads even those who claim The homage of mankind as their born due, And find it, till they forfeit it themselves!

_Enter_ MYRRHA.

_Sar._ _You_ here! Who called you?

_Myr._ No one--but I heard Far off a voice of wail and lamentation, And thought----

_Sar._ It forms no portion of your duties To enter here till sought for.

_Myr._ Though I might, 440 Perhaps, recall some softer words of yours (Although they _too were chiding_), which reproved me, Because I ever dreaded to intrude; Resisting my own wish and your injunction To heed no time nor presence, but approach you Uncalled for:--I retire.

_Sar._ Yet stay--being here.

I pray you pardon me: events have soured me Till I wax peevish--heed it not: I shall Soon be myself again.

_Myr._ I wait with patience, What I shall see with pleasure.

_Sar._ Scarce a moment 450 Before your entrance in this hall, Zarina, Queen of a.s.syria, departed hence.

_Myr._ Ah!

_Sar._ Wherefore do you start?

_Myr._ Did I do so?

_Sar._ 'Twas well you entered by another portal, Else you had met. That pang at least is spared her!

_Myr._ I know to feel for her.

_Sar._ That is too much, And beyond nature--'tis nor mutual[ai]

Nor possible. You cannot pity her, Nor she aught but----

_Myr._ Despise the favourite slave?

Not more than I have ever scorned myself. 460

_Sar._ Scorned! what, to be the envy of your s.e.x, And lord it o'er the heart of the World's lord?

_Myr._ Were you the lord of twice ten thousand worlds-- As you are like to lose the one you swayed-- I did abase myself as much in being Your paramour, as though you were a peasant-- Nay, more, if that the peasant were a Greek.

_Sar._ You talk it well----

_Myr._ And truly.

_Sar._ In the hour Of man's adversity all things grow daring Against the falling; but as I am not 470 Quite fall'n, nor now disposed to bear reproaches, Perhaps because I merit them too often, Let us then part while peace is still between us.

_Myr._ Part!

_Sar._ Have not all past human beings parted, And must not all the present one day part?

_Myr._ Why?

_Sar._ For your safety, which I will have looked to, With a strong escort to your native land; And such gifts, as, if you had not been all A Queen, shall make your dowry worth a kingdom.

_Myr._ I pray you talk not thus.

_Sar._ The Queen is gone: 480 You need not shame to follow. I would fall Alone--I seek no partners but in pleasure.

_Myr._ And I no pleasure but in parting not.