 | Artaxerxes |  |
SCENE XIII.
Enter Megabyzus, with Arbaces disarmed and guarded.Mega.
Arbaces is the criminal.
Artax.
Ye powers!
Mega.
See in those looks the marks of conscious guilt.
[pointing to Arb.
Artax.
My friend!
Artab.
My son!
Sem.
My brother!
Man.
My Arbaces!
Artax.
And does Arbaces thus return before me?
And could thy soul conceive so black a crime?
Arb.
I am innocent.
Man.
O grant it, gracious Heaven!
Artax.
If thou art innocent, defend thyself;
Remove our doubts, clear up each mark of guilt,
And let thy innocence to all appear.
23
I am not guilty—this is my defence.
Artab.
Grant he may still be silent!
[aside.
Man.
Yet thy anger
Against my father—
Arb.
O! 'twas just.
Artax.
Thy flight—
Arb.
'Tis true, I fled.
Man.
Thy silence—
Arb.
Fate demands it.
Artax.
Thy looks confus'd—
Arb.
They suit my present state.
Man.
Thy sword besmear'd with blood—
Arb.
'Tis true; my hand
That weapon bore.
Artax.
And yet thou art not guilty?
Man.
Thou didst not kill him?
Arb.
I am innocent.
Artax.
Arbaces, still appearances condemn thee.
Arb.
I own it—yet appearance is fallacious.
Artax.
Speaks not Semira?
Sem.
O! I am all confusion!
Artax.
Why speaks not Artaban?
Artab.
O Gods! I am lost
In vainly seeking some pretence to save him.
24
Relentless powers! what now remains for me!
And must I punish in my dearest friend
My most inveterate foe? Cruel Arbaces!
Say, wherefore didst thou give me once such proofs
Of faith and truth? Were then thy gentle manners,
That outward semblance of a steady virtue,
The specious covering of a guilty soul?
Could I but blot that hour from my remembrance,
What time you rais'd me, where oppress'd I fell
Encompass'd round with foes, and bravely shed
With generous zeal your blood to ransom mine;
That while I now revenge a parent's death,
I might not seem ungrateful to a friend.
Arb.
Let not the guiltless lose your former love,
If ever I deserv'd, I still deserve it.
Artab.
Presumptuous! canst thou claim without a blush
The affections of thy prince? Perfidious son!
Thy father's shame, thy father's punishment.
Arb.
Art thou, my father, too conspir'd against me?
Artab.
What wouldst thou have from me? Shall I partake
Thy guilt by parlying with thee? No, my lord,
[to Artaxerxes.
Prove, prove thy justice; I myself solicit
His speedy sentence; plead not in his favour
That Artaban's his father—O forget
25
In danger's field I lavish'd for my country,
And mingle his with what I've shed before.
Artax.
O wondrous faith!
Artab.
Resolve—and if you still
Retain some kindness for him, now forget it.
Artax.
I will resolve—but hard must prove the trial!
Ah! cease awhile, your counsel cease;
One moment let me breathe in peace:
In vain my reason would resolve;
In vain, alas! I now revolve
The thoughts that in my bosom spring:
This way and that my heart they rend;
At once I'm lover, judge, and friend,
And criminal, and king!
[Exit.
| Artaxerxes | |