 | Semiramis |  |
SCENE THE FIRST
continues.Semiramis appears leaning on her Woman, as in the deepest Affliction:—at length she comes forward, followed by Otanes.
SEMIRAMIS.
Oh that the friendly hand of death would cast
His darksome veil o'er these unhappy eyes,
Grown dim with tears, and weary of the sun!
—Is not Arzaces yet arrived?
OTANES.
He is;
This day, O Queen, he enter'd these proud walls.
SEMIRAMIS.
'Tis well—for know, Otanes, this dread voice
Piercing the ear of night, has warned thy Queen,
That when Arzaces should arrive, her woes
Should meet a respite, and her torments cease.
OTANES.
Shall not these tidings then dispel this gloom,
And stop the current of these endless tears?
SEMIRAMIS.
They form a ray of hope, my soul methinks
Will lose its terrors in Arzaces' presence.
15
Banish all recollection of that deed,
Which freed you from the fatal marriage yoke;
The act was almost justice, for the King
Had basely driv'n you from his bed and throne;
And sure the various blessings you've diffused,
Join'd to the grateful prayers of many nations,
Shall plead so strongly at Heav'n's high tribunal,
That were the gods incensed at Ninus' death,
They'd blunt the sword of vengeance.—See Assures,
His crime surpasses yours, he mix'd the draught;
Yet prosp'rous still, rejoices in his greatness,
Nor dreads, nor feels the anger of the gods.
SEMIRAMIS.
Alas! my guilt was greater, as my ties
Were far more sacred, for I was the wife
Of murder'd Ninus, and my fix'd despair
Accuses me to all the pow'rs of vengeance.
I once had hopes, that when my darling son
By untimely death was torn from my fond arms,
Vengeance divine had ceas'd; but since this phantom,
This dreadful vision, has disturb'd my peace,
I often seek that tomb, revere from far
The ashes of my lord, invoke his shade,
Then shrieks, long and loud groans answering my vows,
Seem to foretell some dire event.—Perchance
16
OTANES.
Might not your sorrow conjure up this spirit?
Perchance the offspring of your troubled mind?
SEMIRAMIS.
Too sure these eyes beheld it—'twas no child
Of fancy or of sleep, for sleep has long
Fled from these eyelids—Wakeful on my bed,
Pondering on my sad lot, I heard a voice
Exclaim “Arzaces!” at which name did joy
Dawn on my heart, that heart which curst Assures
Has pierc'd with horror; for I hop'd Arzaces
Might dare t'oppose him, and his pow'r restrain,
Who, as the foul accomplice of my crime,
Aspires to share my scepter;—for an instant
My sorrows ceas'd, when lo in Ninus' form
Sudden the minister of death appear'd,
His threat'ning sword besmear'd with clotted blood.
Methinks ev'n now I view the injur'd shade,
Methinks I hear him groan!
OTANES.
Say, mighty Empress,
What did the shade reveal?
SEMIRAMIS.
He would not speak
His direful purpose; therefore I remain'd
In dark suspence, dreading uncertain ill,
A state so curst—the heavy load of life
17
And dreading to consult the sainted pontiff
Whom Babylon reveres,
Proudly disdaining that a priest should view
His monarch trembling in a mortal's presence,
I sent to Memphis to consult great Jove,
With gifts and incense, tho' too well convinc'd,
That neither gifts nor incense can atone
For crimes so great as mine.
OTANES.
Oft do these oracles direct the steps
Of erring mortals.—
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER.
Great Queen, the Egyptian pontiff is arriv'd.—
[Exit Messenger.
SEMIRAMIS.
I go to meet him.—May the gods remove
The veil 'twixt me and fate, and may I read
My destiny to come! whether I'm doom'd
To sink beneath my suff'rings, or find
A period to my sorrows in Arzaces.
[Exeunt.
| Semiramis | |