Mariamne A Tragedy |
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| 1. | SCENE I. |
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 | Mariamne |  |
SCENE I.
SALOME, MAZAEL.MAZAEL.
Thus soaring o'er thy rival, who is lost
Beyond recovery; reinstated firm
In Herod's favour; every wish complete;
Why thus to melancholy thoughts a prey?
Avenging his own injuries, the king
Is thy avenger; to the highest pitch
His fury swells; with horror I beheld
The fatal evils which myself had caused.
Thou too the dreadful spectacle hast seen;
The trembling slaves pierced by his desperate sword
Weltering in blood; the queen beside them sunk,
Pale, faint and half expiring; o'er her head
His arm up-raised, prepared to take her life;
Her agonizing children, bathed in tears,
Struggling to grasp his knees, and offering each
Their tender bosoms to the murderer's steel.
What wouldst thou more? What fears can reach thee now?
SALOME.
I fear the king, those powerful charms I fear
Which he adores; that arm so prompt to strike,
So easily unnerved; in short that anger
So soon enflamed, but which irresolute
And blind for ever, loses all its force
In sudden transports. From his frantic fit
What gain shall I experience! Will Sohemus
Cast a more favourable eye on me?
No, this will fix his hatred; and my brother
Unhappy as he is, thus forced to punish
A faithless wife, will never cease t'upbraid me
With her dishonour, and his own misfortunes.
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Is torn with inexpressive pangs to lose
This darling object, while on me alone,
Could he pursue his will, would vengeance fall.
Ah! What perplexities, what doubts impede
My fatal triumph! twice, in one short day,
My destiny hath changed, twice have I seen
Stern ire by love succeeded; we are ruin'd
Should he again behold her.
| Mariamne | |