University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

Rhadamistus. Zopyrus apart.
Rhad.
O! princess, worthy of a spouse less cruel;
Generous Zenobia! When was ever known
A spirit more exalted?—You, who seek
With envy to detract from female glory,
Say, which of all our heroes e'er could boast
A virtue more sublime?

Zop.
[coming forward,]
Where, where, my prince,
Have you at distance wander'd? Is it thus
You waited my return?

Rhad.
O! come and share
With me my happy fortune—my Zenobia—

Zop.
Zenobia lives.

Rhad.
And dost thou know it too?

Zop.
Would I had never known it!

Rhad.
Say'st thou? Wherefore?

Zop.
Wherefore? Enquire no further, Rhadamistus:
Forget her—She's unworthy of your love.

Rhad.
Tell me what cause—

Zop.
Ah! what avails, my lord,
To afflict you further?

Rhad.
Speak: thy silence more
Afflicts me than thy speech.

Zop.
I shall obey.
I saw your faithless spouse—but, prince, already
Your cheek is pale—Forgive me, sir; it better
Becomes me to be silent.

Rhad.
Speak, I charge thee.

Zop.
Since you command—then blame not me, my lord:
But late I with her Tiridates saw
Your faithless consort: from their view conceal'd,
I heard them speak of love.—He to her mind
Recall'd each promise given, while she to him
With solemn vows declar'd her former flame,
Long cherish'd, burnt with all its wonted warmth.

Rhad.
False traitor! peace—Too well I know Zenobia;
She ne'er could thus betray me.

Zop.
'Tis my duty
To suffer all from you; but, O! my prince,
This sure I merit not, for having seen
Your dearest peace betray'd: yourself compell'd me
At first to speak, and then—

Rhad.
O Heaven! I never
Would doubt Zenobia's truth.

Zop.
Without my speaking
You knew she fled you—but perchance you knew not
That all her soul was fix'd on Tiridates,
And that a first affection never dies.

Rhad.
Too true, by Heaven!

Zop.
[aside.]
'Tis well—the poison works.

Rhad.
Immortal Powers! Are women thus inconstant?
O! happy you, by friendly stars ordain'd
Inhabitants of old Arcadian shades,
If you, as fame reports, deriv'd your birth
From senseless trunks.

Zop.
Ere you, my lord, aspir'd
To gain her heart, 'twas given to Tiridates,
And whilst he lives he ever will possess it.

Rhad.
But shall not long—I fly to pierce his breast.

Zop.
Yet hold—What can you hope? Amidst his guard
Of troops in arms, you but in vain expose
Your life to hazard.—Could we draw him thence
Far from his friends to some sequester'd part—

Rhad.
But how?

Zop.
Who knows? Let me reflect a little—
We must secure the blow.

Rhad.
But rage like mine
Brooks no delay.

Zop.
Then hear—By my contrivance,
A wily message, in Zenobia's name,
Shall lure him to a place that suits our purpose.

Rhad.
But what if he mistrust the truth?—'Twere well
At least to cloak it with some specious token.
Ah! hold—this shall secure it—take this ring;
It was Zenobia's, given by Tiridates
When last they parted: she, that fatal day
Which saw our nuptial rites, (as if she meant
To abjure all memory of her former love,)
On me bestow'd it—then a treacherous pledge,
But now the faithful instrument of vengeance.

Zop.
[aside.]
Auspicious Fortune! [to Rhad.]
In the lonely valley
Where first we met—

Rhad.
But what—

Zop.
The charge be mine
To make our plot secure.

Rhad.

[Exit.