University of Virginia Library

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE THE FIRST.

Enter Arzaces and Azema.
ARZACES.
O add not to the burthen of my woes
By thy severe reproaches and complaints.
This oracle is more replete with horror
Than thou conceiv'st.—Astonish'd nature groans
With endless prodigies—While my own grief
Lays heavy on my soul, the cruel gods
Have ravish'd from me all my fondest wishes;
I have lost Azema—

AZEMA.
Cease, thou perjur'd man,
Cease to increase the horrors of this day,
By bringing thy false love to my remembrance.
I do not mean to oppose the hand that crowns thee,
Much less to thwart the sacred will of Ninus.
Of all the prodigies I've this day seen,
That which most tends to freeze my soul with horror
Is thy inconstancy, thy barbarous falshood.
Complete thy work, say Ninus bids thee strike.
Begin by me thy horrid sacrifice;
Strike, thou base ingrate.

ARZACES.
Gods, it is too much.
'Gainst the sharp arrows of all other woes,
Methinks my sad despairing breast was arm'd,
But O, what shield shall blunt the poison'd shafts
Levell'd against me by Azema's rage?
Judge of my grief at the Queen's fatal choice,
Judge of the precipice to which it drives me.
Now hear what Heaven decrees.

AZEMA.
I've heard already.

ARZACES.
This empire is not destin'd to my rule,
Nor shalt thou sway its scepter—for the son
Of royal Ninus, whom I've sworn to serve,
He who was born my rival and my master,
Yet lives.

AZEMA.
Ye mighty gods! does the prince live?

ARZACES.
He breathes, he lives—ere long he shall appear
Within these walls.

AZEMA.
And sad Semiramis?

ARZACES.
Thus long deceiv'd has mourn'd for her lost son.
As yet he knows not this important secret,
Which has lain buried in the pontiff's breast.

AZEMA.
Alas, these mysteries perplex my soul,
For the Queen weds thee, and the shade of Ninus
Foretold that thou should'st reign—

ARZACES.
But Ninus' son
Is destin'd for thy husband.—Who can unfold
These dreadful prophecies, and dark predictions?

AZEMA.
Yet speak, declare—why comes he not this instant?
What secret mystery conceals the monarch?
Not he himself, nor great Semiramis,
Should tempt me to forget my vows to thee,
And by black perjury defile my soul.
And now, Arzaces, deeply probe thy heart,
There read, if thy fond passion equals mine.
And now farewell—go and receive the sentence
Which angry Ninus threatens to pronounce.
Thy lot depends on Heaven, my fate on thee.
[Exit Azema.

ARZACES.
Arzaces is thy own.—Stay, cruel maid—
Methinks my soul's bewilder'd, and I'm lost
In this strange mixture of delights and horrors!
But see where Oroes comes to clear my doubts,
And calm my restless mind!—

SCENE THE SECOND.

Enter Oroes, bearing the Offerings of Arzaces.
ARZACES.
O holy father,
Remove this dreadful darkness from my eyes,
And snatch me from the abyss in which I'm plung'd.

OROES.
The hour now comes, my son, when that dark veil
Which thus obscures thy sight, shall be remov'd.
Now in his dismal, his profound abode,
Ninus expects thee, from thy hand awaits
The offering, and the destined sacrifice
Reserv'd by fate to appease his injur'd manes.

ARZACES.
O name this offering which his shade demands.
But sure it ill becomes me to revenge
The wrongs of Ninus, while his son survives.

OROES.
'Tis his sire
Who now by me issues his dread commands.
Thy part is to obey. Some half hour hence
Be found near Ninus' tomb, armed with this sword,
This sacred steel, which well becomes thy hand;
Thy warlike front, bound with this diadem,
Which heretofore the brows of Ninus graced,
Which thou brought'st hither.

ARZACES.
But say, wherefore thus?
Why with the crown of Ninus deck my temples?

OROES.
'Tis so decreed—
Within that tomb the victim will be found,
Whose blood thou hast swore to shed—fear not, but strike,
Great Ninus' manes shall direct the blow.

ARZACES.
Should he demand my blood I will obey him.
But yet thou speak'st not to me of the young prince,
Nor hast thou yet reveal'd from what strange cause
Ninus approves that I should wed the Queen,
Or how by such espousals I shall reign?

OROES.
Thou wed Semiramis!—at thought of this
The infernal powers themselves turn pale with horror.
Now read thy fate, Arzaces.
Know too, that this vile woman—

ARZACES.
Who, the Queen?

OROES.
Cut short the thread of her dear husband's life,
And robb'd the world of Ninus—base Assures
Mixt the curst draught, and minister'd the poison.

ARZACES,
after a short Pause.
This crimes suits the fell nature of Assures.
But can I think this Queen, this wife of Ninus,
So lov'd of nations, so rever'd by monarchs,
Would e'en attempt a deed more black than hell,
And dye her guilty hands in her King's blood?

OROES.
This doubt, O youth, proclaims thy noble soul,
But now 'twould ill become me to dissemble:
Cease then to wonder if offended Ninus
Rises from death, and once again revisits
These guilty walls—he rises to forbid
This monstrous union—comes to rend asunder
These chains of wedlock by the Furies forg'd:
He comes to save his son from horrid incest.
Hark! now he speaks! he warns thee! he's thy father—
Thou art thyself the prince—the Queen's thy mother.

NINIAS.
Thou hast spoke poniards, priest!—Wounded at once
With all these mortal strokes—I stand envelop'd
By these dark shades of death, and tenfold horror!
Can it be possible that I am the son
Of murder'd Ninus?

OROES.
Thou'rt his royal offspring:
And know, O prince, that when thy godlike sire
Perceiv'd the effect of the too subtle poison,
And with accumulated grief beheld
That a like baneful and destructive draught
Attacked the sources of thy infant life,
He snatched thee dying from this impious court.
But while all Babylon deplor'd thy loss,
Thou wast committed to the pious care
Of good Phradates—who with healing juices
Of plants and herbs known to the Persian sages,
Expell'd the deadly venom from thy veins,
And having lost his only son in battle,
He adopted thee, and call'd thee in Arzaces.

NINIAS.
O loyal act!—he was indeed my father.
What if Assures prove the only traitor,
If he alone were guilty?
[Oroes giving him a Scroll.
View this scroll,
Behold these sacred characters, Arzaces;
Can'st thou still doubt?

NINIAS.
Give me the writing, and thereby root out
The last remains of hopes, and flatt'ring doubts.
[Reads.]
“Expiring Ninus to the true Phradates.
“I die by poison—O preserve my son,
“Haste to snatch Ninias from his murderers.
“My guilty wife—”

OROES.
Dost thou lack further proof?
Thou know'st 'twas from thy hand that I receiv'd
This dreadful testimony—which the monarch
Had surely finish'd—but that death approach'd
And froze his feeble hand.—Fear nought but guilt.
Go on, brave prince, while thro' this night of horrors
The great gods
Themselves shall guide thee—Mark'd with Heaven's seal,
To thee th'immutable decrees of fate
Are now intrusted—yet thou art but mortal,
Ordain'd the feeble instrument of vengeance;
'Tis not for thee to interrogate great Jove.
Remember, prince, thou hast been sav'd from death;
Therefore exalt thy voice in grateful praise;
Think what thou ow'st to Heaven, nor dare to murmur.
[Exit Oroes.

SCENE THE THIRD.

NINIAS.
No—nought shall e'er restore my pristine peace.
O dreadful thought! Semiramis my mother!

SCENE THE FOURTH.

To him enter Semiramis.
SEMIRAMIS.
The Hymenal rites now wait thy presence,
Great monarch of the earth—haste to the altar,
Thy fate and mine, join'd to the kingdom's welfare,
Depend on this our union—Lo, with transport
I see the pontiff's hallow'd hands have placed
That sacred diadem on thy brow—sure proof
That Heaven approves, and doth confirm my choice.
Even the daring party of Assures,
Struck with religious awe, falls down and trembles.
The people's hands, their very hearts are ours;
You reign securely, and your Queen adores thee;
In vain Assures rages.—

NINIAS.
Curst Assures,
Why do I thus delay to seek the monster?
Now shall he make atonement, and wash out
The filthy stains of parricide and treason
In his perfidious blood;—the shade of Ninus
Shall be appeas'd.

SEMIRAMIS.
How's this?—the shade of Ninus!
Just Heaven! I named not Ninus—'twas Assures.
Why are those eyes fix'd as in anger on me?
Is this the tender, the submissive heart,
Which I so fondly hoped thou would'st have offer'd,
And which from thee had proved a grateful tribute
To her who gave thee empire?
Dismiss thy fears of Ninus, and his anger,
And let me find new comfort in thy arms,
My woe's last refuge!—my belov'd Arzaces;
My kingdom's best support, my lord, my husband!

NINIAS.
[turning from her.]
It is too much; forbear, I charge thee.

SEMIRAMIS.
Why is my lord abandon'd thus to sorrow?

NINIAS.
Hear me, Semiramis!

SEMIRAMIS.
I'm all attention.

NINIAS.
Alas! I've not the power to speak my purpose;
Doom me to death, or fly my sight for ever.

SEMIRAMIS.
For pity's sake, my lord, reveal the cause
Of this disorder in your troubled senses:
The traces of despair are in your visage,
Those fatal glances freeze my soul with horror.
Some unknown power, with force invincible,
Drags me towards you, and at the same instant
Tears me from your embrace, seeming to join
The deadliest terror to the purest love.

NINIAS.
Leave and abhor me.

SEMIRAMIS.
Ha! what that writing, that
On which so oft you cast your angry eyes,
And moisten with your tears? Does it contain
The cause of all your woe?

NINIAS.
Too sure it does.
Dar'st thou peruse it?

SEMIRAMIS.
Wherefore should I fear?
Whence hadst thou it?

NINIAS.
It was the gift of Heaven.

SEMIRAMIS.
Whose characters are these?

NINIAS.
They are—my father's.

SEMIRAMIS.
What say'st thou?

NINIAS.
Tremble!

SEMIRAMIS.
Let me read my fate.

NINIAS.
Forbear—each word's a poniard to thy soul.

SEMIRAMIS.
I care not—thou shalt solve my dreadful doubts.
If still thou dost resist—I deem thee guilty.

NINIAS.
Great gods, who guide my deeds, 'tis ye who force me!
Take it—and may the pangs which it shall cause,
Prove the sole punishment which heavenly justice
Reserves for thy high crimes.

SEMIRAMIS.
What do I see!
Support me.

NINIAS.
'Tis reveal'd.

SEMIRAMIS.
[after a long silence, recovering.]
It is my son!—Delay not—but fulfil
Thy destiny. Now do the work of Fate,
Punish this guilty, this accursed wretch,
Revenge thy father's most unnatural murder;
Prove thou art his son, and pierce thy mother's breast.

NINIAS.
O sooner shall my sword drain the last drop
Of that unhappy blood which flow'd from thine;
Sooner this heart shall bleed, which still retains
The sacred stamp and duty of a son.

SEMIRAMIS.
[falling on her knees.]
Behold thy mother kneeling on the earth
Entreats her son to strike, and to appease
The manes of great Ninus!—Gracious powers,
What is't I see? thy tears mingling with mine!
O day replete with horror and with transport!
Yet, Ninias, ere thou giv'st the death I ask,
Let Nature's powerful voice once more address thee;
Permit, at least, thy guilty mother's tears
To bathe this hand, so fatal, so belov'd.

NINIAS.
[raising her.]
Forget not I'm your son;—it ill becomes you
T'embrace my knees, and sue to me for pardon.
Be patient, and lay comfort to your soul;
You've this day gain'd a new and loyal subject.
Heaven is appeas'd, and has restor'd your son.
But O, I warn you, sacrifice Assures
To that relenting God who pardons thee.

SEMIRAMIS.
This goodness is unhoped for—yet, my son,
Let me make some atonement for my crimes,
And to thy hands this instant yield that scepter
Which has too long been sullied in my own.

NINIAS.
Forbear! forbear! Still shalt thou reign our Empress,
Whilst I with all the sons of Asia join
T'admire the wisdom of thy rule

SEMIRAMIS.
It must not be—Hast thou forgot, my son,
What Ninus has decreed?—how he foretold
That thou should'st fill my throne?—Beware, my son,
How you insult his shade!

NINIAS.
He shall be soften'd
By his son's tears, and by his wife's remorse.
And oh! my Queen, my mother, calm thy grief!
And in the name of every God I charge thee
Keep safe this secret in thy faithful breast,
And hide this dreadful myst'ry from the world.