University of Virginia Library

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE THE FIRST.

A Royal Gallery in the Palace.
Enter Semiramis and Otanes.
SEMIRAMIS.
Who would believe, Otanes, that the gods,
Offended as they are at my transgressions,
Would deign to shed a ray of comfort round me,
And cheer with hope my dark, despairing soul?
The hand of Heaven has led Arzaces hither;
Doubtless 'tis they dispose of human hearts;
And mine exults t'obey their sacred laws.
My fate is fix'd, I yield, and I behold
Mine and the world's great master in Arzaces.

OTANES.
In him! in young Arzaces?

SEMIRAMIS.
Yes, Otanes.
When Persia was reveng'd, and Asia conquer'd,
This hero fought on the rude plains of Scythia;
Surrounded as he was by death and carnage,
And crown'd with laurels, yet his youthful front
Was crimson'd with the blush of modesty.
At the first glance of this young hero's charms,
Wonder and joy seized on my astonished senses;
All other men were objects of my scorn,
While something seem'd to whisper to my soul,
To favour and protect him from this instant.
This did not 'scape the cunning of Assures,
He hates the noble youth—whose glorious image
Was 'graven on my heart, long ere I knew
That Heaven had doom'd him to partake my throne.

OTANES.
Is it decreed then that your daring spirit,
Your proud unconquer'd heart, at last should yield?

SEMIRAMIS.
No—'tis not love inclines me toward Arzaces;
I pay to beauty the reward of valour.
Is't for a wretch like me, to yield to love?
To own its fatal laws, and court its bonds?
Hast thou forgot, that I was once a mother?
Hast thou forgot, that scarce these wretched arms
Embrac'd the fruit of my unhappy union,
When Heav'n in anger tore him from my bosom?

OTANES.
The world has long bewail'd the prince's loss.

SEMIRAMIS.
Mankind had cause to mourn—what then had I?
I fled my court, I wish'd to fly myself;
I sought repose amidst these sacred tombs,
But rest fled from me—now with joy and wonder
I see soft Peace return to cheer my soul;
The gentle goddess comes, and with her brings
Divine Arzaces, to dispel my sorrows.

OTANES.
This deed of thine, O Queen, will cause the heart
Of proud Assures to o'erflow with rage.
The people's voice, joined to his own ambition,
Have taught him long to cherish the fond hope
That he should prove your choice.

SEMIRAMIS.
I've not deceiv'd him,
And know, Otanes, I disdain to fear him.
I am no stranger to his tow'ring views,
But still I've set due bounds to his ambition.
What shall I dread then?—shall he dare t'oppose
Semiramis, united with Arzaces?
'Twould prove an insult to the sacred shade
Of my dead lord, to wed with his assassin.
The oracles of Jove approve Arzaces,
And Ninus quits the bosom of the tomb,
To urge this union.—Now no more I'm aw'd
By the superior virtue of the pontiff;
I bad him strait attend to know my will.

OTANES.
The holy priest approaches—he'll declare
If this your choice be pleasing to the gods.
[Exit Otanes.

SCENE THE SECOND.

Enter Oroes to Semiramis.
SEMIRAMIS.
August successor of great Zoroaster,
This day I mean to name the Assyrian king;
'Tis yours to place the diadem on his brows.
Is all prepar'd for this solemnity?

OROES.
The magi and the nobles are assembled;
Your will is done, and there my duty ends.
I'm bound to obey, but not to judge our monarchs;
That task is fitting only for the gods.

SEMIRAMIS.
These obscure phrases, this mysterious language,
Shew that in secret you condemn my choice.

OROES.
I know it not—O may it prove a bless'd one!

SEMIRAMIS.
The oracle demands a sacrifice.

OROES.
True, mighty Queen; Ammon shall be obey'd.

SEMIRAMIS.
Say, venerable pontiff—have the sacred altars
This morn receiv'd the off'rings of Arzaces?

OROES.
They have, O Queen,—and Heaven doth hold them precious;
He and his gifts are pleasing to the gods.

SEMIRAMIS.
I do believe thee—and thy sayings, priest,
Do cheer my soul.—May I not trust Arzaces?

OROES.
He is the firmest pillar of the state;
The gods have led him hither, and his glory
Is their own work.

SEMIRAMIS.
With joy, with heart-felt transport
My ears imbibe these tidings—Hope and peace
Shall calm ere long the tempest in my soul.
Haste, and let all your altars smoke with incense,
Your holy roofs resound with notes of praise.
And strait do thou and all the magi join
In supplications to the gentle gods
To shed their choicest blessings on these nuptials.

[Exit Oroes.

SCENE THE THIRD.

Manet Semiramis.
SEMIRAMIS.
The gods smile on me while I chuse Arzaces.
Thus I become the minister of Heaven.
How will this sudden, this unhop'd-for greatness,
Fill his astonish'd soul with joy and wonder!
How will Assures and his minions droop,
When ev'n the man whom most they hate shall rule them!

SCENE THE FOURTH.

Enter Otanes.
OTANES.
Arzaces waits your will.

SEMIRAMIS.
Bid him approach.
Ye gods, defenders of the Assyrian throne!
Who now inspire me, and direct my deeds:
Thou restless spirit of the murder'd Ninus,
And thou, O blessed shade of my dead son,
Unite your powers, and favour my Arzaces.

SCENE THE FIFTH.

Enter Arzaces. Kneels before her.
ARZACES.
O Queen, my life's devoted to your service,
I owe you all my blood. When I've beheld
Its purple drops gush forth, I've been o'erpaid,
Since 'twas for you it flow'd.—My warlike father,
Leading your troops to conquest, fell in battle.
But wherefore dare I to remind my sovereign
Of my dead father's merits?—Will she therefore
Deign to forgive the rashness of his son,
Who even now thus prostrate at her feet,
Dreads to offend her, and to urge his suit?—

SEMIRAMIS.
Rise, Arzaces!
Thou surely ne'er wast born to give offence.
Dismiss thy fear, and boldly name thy suit.

ARZACES.
This day, O Queen, you give your hand and empire;
The proud Assures now prepares to triumph;
Hither ev'n now he bends his haughty steps,
As 'twere to claim the conquest. The whole realm
Have fix'd on him, as sprang from your high blood,
To share your throne;—may he prove worthy of it!
But O, I feel my mind is too exalted
Here to adore the man whose power I've braved.
Suffer me then to fly his hated presence,
And seek that land where late I fought your battles.
Tho' I might well defy his tyranny,
If you, O Queen, would crown my aspiring wishes
And grant me—

SEMIRAMIS.
Gracious powers! what do I hear!
Would'st thou then fly my court? Say, would'st thou leave me?
And can'st thou dread Assures?

ARZACES.
No—I'm doomed
To fear nought else on earth, except your anger.
But now perchance my vain desires are known,
Your indignation may destroy my hopes,
I tremble—

SEMIRAMIS.
Thou hast no cause—ere long you'll find
Assures is not destined for thy sov'reign.

ARZACES.
'Tis well—for I must own, with ten-fold horror
I should have seen him fill the throne of Ninus.
But since 'tis now forbad him to aspire
To these august espousals, is't decreed
That he must therefore wed the fair Azema?
Pardon, O Queen, th'excess of my presumption.
Tho' but a subject—yet 'gainst him I durst—

SEMIRAMIS.
Subjects like you, are pillars to my throne.
My eyes are now enlighten'd, and I view
What tends to the true interests of the state.
I name you arbiter; you shall support them.
My word shall break the concord 'twixt the princess
And proud Assures—Trust me, I've foreseen
And will prevent the dangers of this union.

ARZACES.
And shall this curst alliance then be broken?
Now I perceive thy penetrating wisdom
Reads my desires, and dives into my soul.

SEMIRAMIS.
Here break we off—ere now the hall of audience
Is fill'd with nobles, and Assyrian princes,
Follow, Arzaces: let us haste to join them,
And witness with them my august decision.

[Exeunt.

SCENE THE SIXTH.

The Scene draws and discovers a large magnificent Saloon. Many of the great Officers of State enter in Procession, bearing the Marks and Ensigns of their Dignity—then enter Oroes, with the other Priests —A Throne is raised in the Midst of the Salloon, on which the Queen having seated herself, is surrounded by Azema and her Women. The Satraps are placed next the Throne, with Assures and Arzaces, Guards and Attendants.
OROES.
Princes! priests! warriors! Babylon's support!
Here by the Queen's command this hour assembled,
To you great Jove's decree shall be reveal'd.
The gods themselves watch o'er this mighty empire,
And now the great, the important day's arrived,
Which they have destin'd shall new mould the state.
He whom the Queen shall deem most fit to rule,
He whom she chuse to share her bed and throne,
Our part is to obey.—Lo, in the name
Of all the magi do I bring that homage
Due to our monarch—prayers, and pious vows,
For her own safety, and this kingdom's welfare.

AZEMA.
Ev'n now, my Lords, the Queen shall name your sovereign.
Th'imperial choice can injure only me;
But I was born her subject, and remain so.

ASSURES.
Whate'er may be the mystic will of Heaven,
Who this auspicious day directs our monarch,
We're bound t'obey—Swear we then by this throne,
And by the name of great Semiramis,
Humbly to yield to her sublime commands,
To own 'tis justice, to submit in silence.

ARZACES.
I swear—and this my arm, and my good sword,
With every drop of blood within these veins,
I dedicate henceforth to my new King,
With that same duty, and that heart-felt zeal,
With which they long have strove to serve my Queen.

OROES.
We wait the will of Heaven, and our Sov'reign.

SEMIRAMIS.
Princes, and ye most holy priests, attend.
If now for more than fifteen years the world,
Fill'd with my glories and my great exploits,
Has seen, and has rever'd, the sword and scepter
Placed in a woman's hand, ev'n in that hand
Which tyrant custom, and the laws of Ninus,
Had destin'd to the distaff;—if alone
(Surpassing ev'n my subjects' fondest hopes)
I have sustain'd the weight of this vast empire,
Throughout the world victorious and adored,
I've scorn'd t'accept a partner in my greatness;
Yet now this empire shall acquire new force,
Since, in obedience to great Jove's decree,
I deign to give my hand, and share my power.
I might have chosen a husband from the kings
Whose states surround the borders of my realms;
But they're my tributaries, or my foes.
My scepter is not made for foreign hands;
My subjects are far greater in my eyes
Than all these petty kings, which their brave arms
Can conquer and enslave;—therefore this hour
My diadem shall bind a subject's brows.
Say, is there one amongst you who presumes,
Ev'n though in secret, to condemn my purpose?

ASSURES.
No, mighty Queen, all must applaud the deed,
And own the wisdom of their monarch's choice.

SEMIRAMIS.
Belus was born a subject, and his crown
He ow'd to his own merits, and his people:
'Tis by those very rights that now I reign,
And sway a mightier scepter.—I have taught
Full twenty eastern Kings to own your laws,
Nations far distant, and unknown to Belus;
It was for me to finish his great works.
And now, my people, you demand the hero,
Worthy to rule this wide-extended empire,
Worthy his subjects, and the hand that crowns him.

ARZACES.
With deference we wait your great commands.

SEMIRAMIS.
Sages, and legislators of the land!
The oracle of thunder-bearing Jove,
The welfare of this state, the world's great interest,
All these have I consulted; they decree
This union shall effect a general good,
And shed unnumber'd blessings on mankind.
Haste and adore this hero who shall rule ye;
In him the princes of my race revive:
My husband, and this monarch is—Arzaces.

[She descends from the throne, and they all rise.
AZEMA.
O perfidy! Arzaces!

ASSURES.
O for vengeance!

ARZACES
to AZEMA.
Trust me, my love, my faith's inviolate.

OROES.
Just Heaven, dispel these horrors!

SEMIRAMIS
to the Priests.
O ye, who sanctify the purest vows,
Now plight our faiths, and join our willing hands.

[It thunders.
OROES.
Break off these rites, for Heaven itself frowns on them.
Depart we, mighty Empress; on this instant
Seek we great Ninus' tomb, and to his shade,
Strait offer pious prayers, with vows and incense.

[Exeunt the Queen and Arzaces, followed by Oroes.
The Scene shuts.—Manent Assures and Azema, &c.
AZEMA.
Gods, is it possible! is this the prince
So warlike, so renown'd? is he confederate
With a deceitful Queen and crafty Priest?
And will they dare usurp the name of Heav'n
To give some colour to their dark proceedings?

ASSURES.
Such is their plan; and rest assured, sage princess,
'Tis meet we should compose our amorous broils,
And re-unite these hands, which this rough soldier
Has, by his presence, rudely torn asunder.

AZEMA.
Say I should yield, what good shall thence accrue
To poor Azema?

ASSURES.
Ask you this, bright maid?
Our mutual strength and pow'r will prove too strong
For this bold youth to oppose—and shou'd the Queen
Vainly presume to uphold her daring ruffian,
She then will feel what 'tis to insult Assures.
But can Azema lose her sex's pride?
Can she forget her youth, her charms disgrac'd?
Say will not this inspire a cold contempt,
And teach her heart to feel its mighty wrongs?

AZEMA.
Alas! the traitor takes my lover's part,
And fain wou'd cherish the false hopes he gave me.

ASSURES.
Away with love, when love repays it not;
'Tis the mind's sickness, worthy vulgar souls.
Azema, sprung from heroes and from kings,
Shou'd soar above her sex's common views.
Her every wish should comprehend a world;
Empire and universal sway her object?
Such do I bring, such offer to her beauty;
Nay more, the godlike joy of just revenge!

AZEMA.
Revenge! ye pow'rs, on whom? on my Arzaces?
Alas, my perjur'd love! ambition may
Cancel thy vows, tho' register'd in Heaven;
Unshaken still, mine shall defy its power.
Be false and safe, 'tis man's prerogative;
But let Azema prove her sex's virtue,
And faith, tho' injur'd, triumph over falsehood.

[Exit.
ASSURES.
Curse on the wayward sex, she loves him still,
Nor can my arts subvert her girlish passion.
Then be it so; sure means shall be employ'd.
True politicians first essay to gain
Their fav'rite points by stratagem and cunning;
Yet disappointed, never quit their aim,
But boldly re-assume the road of pow'r.
Come then Revenge! Ambition fire my soul!
At once be all its feelings gratified.
The stripling who has dar'd to brave my vengeance,
This hour shall feel it; and with heart-felt transport
I'll give him death, and mount the throne of Ninus.

[Exit.
Scene opens, and discovers the Tomb, at which are Semiramis, Arzaces, and Oroes.
SEMIRAMIS.
Yet, Oroes, hold; for wherefore shou'd we pause
To know Jove's will, for what his oracle
So late declar'd. This hand is thine, Arzaces.
And now I charge thee by thy function, Pontiff—
[It thunders, and the shade of Ninus appears.
It is the voice of Jove; he speaks in thunder.
See, the tomb opens, and the hallow'd shade
Of my dead lord bursts forth!—I faint—I die.

ARZACES.
Lo where I stand!—look down, O sacred phantom,
Speak, and reveal thy terrible commands.

SEMIRAMIS.
O speak thy dreadful errand. Art thou come
To pardon or destroy?—
Judge if this hero well deserves thy crown.
Pronounce, I am bound t'obey—

SHADE
to ARZACES.
It is decreed
That thou shalt reign, Arzaces; but thou'rt doom'd
To expiate first fell crimes and blackest treasons.
There is a sacrifice thou must perform
Here in my tomb, and to my sacred ashes,
And serve thereby me and my son—be mindful
Of thy dead King, and listen to the Pontiff.

ARZACES.
Blest Shade, whom I revere, whose matchless spirit
Inhabits yet, and animates these climes,
This thy strange visitation doth not shake
My soul with fear, but fills it with new strength.
And here I swear to do thy sacred will,
Tho' peril, or the death, await the act.
Speak hero, demi-god—O name the task
To which this arm is destin'd.—

SEMIRAMIS.
[kneels.]
Mighty Ninus,
Suffer thy wife thus prostrate on the earth,
If deep contrition, and if heart-felt sorrow,
If I've not sinn'd beyond all hopes—

SHADE.
Forbear;
But rest assur'd the hour now hastens on
When 'twill be lawful for thee to descend
Into this house of death.

[He re-enters, and the Mausoleum closes.
SEMIRAMIS.
Haste, Pontiff, haste!
Bid all the magi follow to the temple;
Speak comfort to my people, calm their fears!
My husband's manes yet may be appeas'd,
They favour me since they protect Arzaces.
The gods inspire me, Ammon names your King.
Do present sacrifice, let victims bleed!
And with fit orisons implore great Jove
To bless that monarch he himself hath chosen.

[Exit.