University of Virginia Library

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.