The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 17

_Alt._ Baal himself Ne'er fought more fiercely to win empire, than His silken son to save it: he defies All augury of foes or friends; and like The close and sultry summer's day, which bodes A twilight tempest, bursts forth in such thunder As sweeps the air and deluges the earth.

The man's inscrutable.

_Sfe._ Not more than others.

All are the sons of circ.u.mstance: away-- 320 Let's seek the slave out, or prepare to be Tortured for his infatuation, and[y]

Condemned without a crime. [_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ SALEMENES _and Soldiers, etc._

_Sal._ The triumph is Flattering: they are beaten backward from the palace, And we have opened regular access To the troops stationed on the other side Euphrates, who may still be true; nay, must be, When they hear of our victory. But where Is the chief victor? where's the King?

_Enter_ SARDANAPALUS, _c.u.m suis, etc., and_ MYRRHA.

_Sar._ Here, brother.

_Sal._ Unhurt, I hope.

_Sar._ Not quite; but let it pa.s.s. 330 We've cleared the palace----

_Sal._ And I trust the city.

Our numbers gather; and I've ordered onward A cloud of Parthians, hitherto reserved, All fresh and fiery, to be poured upon them In their retreat, which soon will be a flight.

_Sar._ It is already, or at least they marched 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, 340 [_They place a seat_.

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?

Bring me some water.

_Sal._ (_smiling_) 'Tis the first time he Ever had such an order: even I,[z]

Your most austere of counsellors, would now Suggest a purpler beverage.

_Sar._ Blood--doubtless.

But there's enough of that shed; as for wine, I have learned to-night the price of the pure element: 350 Thrice have I drank of it, and thrice renewed, With greater strength than the grape ever gave me, My charge upon the rebels. Where's the soldier Who gave me water in his helmet?[20]

_One of the Guards_. Slain, Sire!

An arrow pierced his brain, while, scattering[aa]

The last drops from his helm, he stood in act To place it on his brows.

_Sar._ Slain! unrewarded!

And slain to serve my thirst: that's hard, poor slave!

Had he but lived, I would have gorged him with Gold: all the gold of earth could ne'er repay 360 The pleasure of that draught; for I was parched As I am now. [_They bring water--he drinks_.

I live again--from henceforth The goblet I reserve for hours of love, But war on water.

_Sal._ And that bandage, Sire, Which girds your arm?

_Sar._ A scratch from brave Beleses.

_Myr._ Oh! he is wounded![ab]

_Sar._ Not too much of that; And yet it feels a little stiff and painful, Now I am cooler.

_Myr._ You have bound it with----

_Sar._ The fillet of my diadem: the first time That ornament was ever aught to me, 370 Save an inc.u.mbrance.

_Myr._ (_to the Attendants_). Summon speedily A leech of the most skilful: pray, retire: I will unbind your wound and tend it.

_Sar._ Do so, For now it throbs sufficiently: but what Know'st thou of wounds? yet wherefore do I ask?

Know'st thou, my brother, where I lighted on This minion?

_Sal._ Herding with the other females, Like frightened antelopes.

_Sar._ No: like the dam Of the young lion, femininely raging (And femininely meaneth furiously, 380 Because all pa.s.sions in excess are female,) Against the hunter flying with her cub, She urged on with her voice and gesture, and Her floating hair and flashing eyes,[21] the soldiers, In the pursuit.

_Sal._ Indeed!

_Sar._ You see, this night Made warriors of more than me. I paused To look upon her, and her kindled cheek; Her large black eyes, that flashed through her long hair As it streamed o'er her; her blue veins that rose Along her most transparent brow; her nostril 390 Dilated from its symmetry; her lips Apart; her voice that clove through all the din, As a lute pierceth through the cymbal's clash, Jarred but not drowned by the loud brattling; her Waved arms, more dazzling with their own born whiteness Than the steel her hand held, which she caught up From a dead soldier's grasp;--all these things made Her seem unto the troops a prophetess Of victory, or Victory herself, Come down to hail us hers.[22]

_Sal._ (_aside_). This is too much. 400 Again the love-fit's on him, and all's lost, Unless we turn his thoughts. (_Aloud_.) But pray thee, Sire, Think of your wound--you said even now 'twas painful.

_Sar._ That's true, too; but I must not think of it.

_Sal._ I have looked to all things needful, and will now Receive reports of progress made in such Orders as I had given, and then return To hear your further pleasure.

_Sar._ Be it so.

_Sal._ (_in retiring_). Myrrha!

_Myr._ Prince!

_Sal._ You have shown a soul to-night, Which, were he not my sister's lord----But now 410 I have no time: thou lovest the King?

_Myr._ I love Sardanapalus.

_Sal._ But wouldst have him King still?

_Myr._ I would not have him less than what he should be.

_Sal._ Well then, to have him King, and yours, and all He should, or should not be; to have him _live_, Let him not sink back into luxury.

You have more power upon his spirit than Wisdom within these walls, or fierce rebellion Raging without: look well that he relapse not.

_Myr._ There needed not the voice of Salemenes 420 To urge me on to this: I will not fail.

All that a woman's weakness can----