University of Virginia Library

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE THE FIRST.

An Apartment in the Palace.
Semiramis and Otanes discover'd.
OTANES.
Be comforted, O Queen!

SEMIRAMIS.
Never again
Shall peace or joy their welcome visit pay
To guilt like mine.
Say, is that wretch Assures yet inform'd
Of all these strange events?—and do my people
Know that Arzaces is their long-lost prince?

OTANES.
No tongue has yet reveal'd the horrid secret.
The people, as some oracle, adore
The shade of Ninus; but they strive in vain
To fathom its impenetrable meaning,
And prostrate at the altars they remain,
Till yonder tomb shall ope its pond'rous jaws
T'admit the prince—who with the holy pontiff
Entreats the gods to fortify his arm,
And grant him power to strike the unknown victim.

SEMIRAMIS.
But where's Assures, and the fair Azema?

OTANES.
With horror in her looks, death in her eyes,
Azema wanders near the sacred tomb,
And ever and anon in fervent prayers
Entreats great Jove to shield her dear Arzaces.

SEMIRAMIS.
O shade of my dead lord! thou read'st my heart,
Thou see'st that tho' 'twas pityless towards thee,
It boasts at least the feelings of a mother.

[Exit Otanes.

SCENE THE SECOND.

To her enter—Azema hastily.
AZEMA.
Forgive me, gracious Queen, if I presume
To rush into your presence.—This sad heart
Is rack'd with doubts and agonizing fears,
Permit me then to fall thus at your feet.

[Kneels.
SEMIRAMIS.
Rise, princess, rise, and speak your pious wishes.

AZEMA.
O snatch a hero from impending danger,
Step between him and guilt, and save Arzaces!

SEMIRAMIS.
Arzaces! what of him?—thou ravest.

AZEMA.
This day
I know he is destin'd to become your husband.

SEMIRAMIS.
I wed Arzaces!
O ye immortal gods—

AZEMA.
Ev'n now the priest
Prepares the nuptial rites—

SEMIRAMIS.
These rites are dreadful,
Arzaces is—but speak—my blood runs cold.
Be quick, and name these dangers.—

AZEMA.
Mighty Empress,
You know that at this hour—the demi-god,
At thought of whom I shudder—doth expect
A secret sacrifice should be perform'd
In yon dark labyrinth to Ninus sacred.
And even now that impious wretch Assures
Doth rend the holy cerements of the tomb,
And dares to violate that sanctuary
Never as yet by mortal foot profaned.

SEMIRAMIS.
How know'st thou this?—Say, wherefore should Assures
Thus dare t'insult my husband's sacred ashes,
And brave th'infernal Powers?

AZEMA.
—For a vile one.
Eternal night reigns in these dreadful caverns,
Hid in the friendly covert of whose darkness,
He means to raise his sacrilegious hand
Against the sacred life of his new monarch.

SEMIRAMIS.
What spectre, or what god reveal'd this deed?

AZEMA.
Deep-searching love has probed his dark designs.—
E'en now the monster's boldly marching on
To sacrilege and murder.—Thro' the city
He's caused it to be rumour'd that Arzaces
Is the devoted victim—in whose death
Ninus will wash away his mighty wrongs.

SEMIRAMIS.
Thou hast no cause for fear—virtue like thine
The gods themselves protect—sure thou may'st trust
A parent's care and fondness.—Lov'd Azema,
This instant both our fates shall be accomplish'd,
Haste, pious maid, and supplicate great Jove
To shield Arzaces—whilst I fly to save
Your husband and my son.

AZEMA.
O mighty pow'rs,
What is't I hear!—Is then Arzaces Ninias?

SEMIRAMIS.
The gods themselves enlighten'd my dark soul
When they beheld me plunging into crimes.
Once more methinks they inspire a wretched mother,
And in their endless mercy deign to shed
Soft peace and new-born joy on my sad heart.
They bid me fly to save a much-lov'd son,
And free him from a dark assassin's toils.
[Exit Semiramis.

Manet AZEMA.
What sudden cause thus animates the Queen?
What are her great designs? why does her heart
Thus heave and swell as it would burst her breast?
This prodigy surpasses all my hopes.
The prince is found! O blest, yet fearful tidings!
My fond love whispers, that his anxious mother
Will come too late to shield him from the traitor.
O why, ye cruel gods, was he restor'd,
Thus soon to tear him from my bleeding heart.
[Exit Azema.

SCENE THE THIRD,

Changes to the Mausoleum, and the Queen re-enters, arm'd with a Sword.
SEMIRAMIS.
Shade of immortal Ninus! lo I come
Prepar'd t'avenge thy manes—for behold
The fatal hour is now arriv'd, in which
Thou did'st thyself declare it should be lawful
For me to penetrate this dark abode.
Still am I bound t'obey thee; and these hands,
Which heretofore have held the reins of empire,
At thy command are arm'd to aid thy son.
O mighty Jove,
Thou know'st the purity of my intents,
'Tis thine t'assist me in this hour of terror.

[Enters the Mausoleum.

SCENE THE FOURTH.

Enter Ninias and Azema.
AZEMA.
Do I behold you once again in safety,
And in these arms enfold the son of Ninus!
My long-lost sovereign, and my destin'd spouse?

NINIAS.
Yes, my belov'd Azema, you embrace
Your long betroth'd, your ever faithful prince.
Yet know, this blood curdles within these veins.
The dreadful mystery has been reveal'd;
And lo! I tremble now to know myself.
Dispel these horrors, that surround my soul!
Strengthen my heart, and nerve this drooping arm,
Bid it revenge a father—

AZEMA.
Prince, take heed
How you fulfil this dreadful oracle.

NINIAS.
From me the gods demand a sacrifice.
I've sworn, and must obey.

AZEMA.
And canst thou think
Ninus requires his son should prove the victim?

NINIAS.
I understand thee not—

AZEMA.
Thou shalt not enter
Into yon house of darkness—there a traitor
Ev'n at this instant spreads a deadly snare,
And by a coward's plan means to destroy
His unsuspecting prince.

NINIAS.
Shall I not enter?
No pow'r on earth shall stay me—nought deter me.

AZEMA.
[kneeling.]
Thus humbly on my knees let me implore thee
To hear and take my counsel—base Assures
With sacrilegious steps doth violate
Thy father's sacred tomb, and there ev'n now,
Arm'd like a dark assassin, he awaits
To lift his rebel arm against thy life!

NINIAS.
Great Gods, all is reveal'd! 'tis ye who've dragg'd
Forth to the light these deeds of guilt and darkness!
My fears are now remov'd, my victim's known.
And hark! my father, by this monster poison'd,
Now cries aloud, and doth demand his blood.
Instructed by the priest, led on by Jove,
By Ninus' self thus arm'd—within yon tomb
Fearless I'll strike the blow, and yield to Fate.

[Enters the tomb.

SCENE THE FIFTH.

AZEMA.
May every guardian pow'r shield and protect him,
And guide his steps in yon dark cave of death!
Ye horrid caverns, ye whose dreadful wombs
Brought forth dead Ninus! once again yawn wide,
And be the victim murderous Assures.
And thou, great Ninus, his too cruel sire,
Thou who would'st not permit his weeping mother
T'attend him in thy tomb—war on his side.
But soft! methought I heard his well-known voice
Mingled with dying groans.
[It thunders.
Hark! the loud thunder rolls, vindictive lightnings
Inflame the heav'ns, and shake the guilty earth,
Yet I'm not lost to hope—See where he comes!
The conqueror—the avenger!

SCENE THE SIXTH.

It thunders and lightens.
NINIAS.
Ye gods! where am I?

AZEMA.
Alas! my lord, horror sits on your brow,
You're breathless, pale, and bloody.

NINIAS.
'Tis the blood
Of that vile parricide who slaughter'd Ninus.
My father was my guide, his sacred shade
Mark'd where I should perform this act of justice.
Behind a pillar, one funeral lamp
Darting its feeble ray, scarce yielded light
Sufficient to behold the glittering sword
Which base Assures brandish'd, whilst his arm
Trembled thro' guilt—and I with tenfold rage
Twice plung'd my vengeful steel deep in his breast.
Still was revenge unsated; and my arm,
Dyed in the assassin's blood, with fury dragg'd him
Near to the entrance of the gloomy cavern.

AZEMA.
Say, wherefore have you left his impure corse
Within those hallow'd walls?

NINIAS.
Belov'd Azema,
I must confess the traitor's deep-fetch'd groans,
Which seem'd at this last hour to rend his heart,
Unstrung my nerves, forc'd me to quit my prey,
And to abandon my still-bleeding victim.
But say, Azema, wherefore is my soul,
Tho' pure and undefil'd, yet chill'd with fear?
Wherefore am I still destin'd to endure
The pangs of keen remorse?

AZEMA.
Fear not, brave prince!
The deed was pleasing to the gods—at length
The demons of revenge are satisfied,
And Ninus' restless spirit sleeps in peace.
And, since the curst Assures is no more—

[Assures appears at the further End of the Stage, with some of his Party.
NINIAS.
Just Gods! what do I see? that hateful traitor
Living, and in my presence!—
What act has then my erring hand perform'd?
Now will I drag thee to my father's tomb,
And there, as he commanded, will perform
That sacrifice ordain'd by Jove himself.

ASSURES.
Know I despise thy threats, scoff at thy vengeance.
My greatest torment I endure already,
'Tis to view thee my sovereign.
[Exit Azema.
[They fight, and Assures falls.]
Yet, fond youth,
I leave thee far more wretched—see yon tomb!
Look and contemplate thy late glorious act!

[Dies.
[Semiramis appears wounded, leaning on a Priest, at the Entrance of the Tomb.
NINIAS.
O horror! horror! has my blinded rage
Struck at my mother?

Enter Oroes and Azema.
OROES.
Prince, haste to the temple,
And at the altars purify those hands,
Whilst you replace in mine that fatal blade
Which Heav'n ordain'd its instrument of vengeance.

NINIAS.
Off!—let me plunge it in my guilty breast!

SEMIRAMIS.
O much-lov'd son, haste to revenge my death;
For in thy father's tomb I'm fall'n the prey
To an assassin's sacrilegious hand!

NINIAS.
O hour of horror! O unheard-of crimes!
That sacrilegious monster was thy son.
But I will follow thee down to the tomb,
And thou shalt die reveng'd.—

SEMIRAMIS.
Alas, my child!
Into that house of darkness I descended
To save thy precious life, thy wretched mother
Went thither to defend and to assist thee;
But O unerring justice! I've receiv'd
From thy dear hands that death I've long deserv'd.

NINIAS.
This deed shall prove the last accursed act
Of my loath'd life—I call the gods to witness,
Those cruel gods who led me on to murder—

SEMIRAMIS.
It is enough—I pardon thee my death,
If thy dear hands will deign to close my eyes.
Come to these arms! I crave it in the name
Of that same blood from which thou sprang'st, which now
In purple tides flows from thy mother's heart.
O my lov'd son, let us exchange forgiveness!
Thy will conducted not thy cruel hand,
And lo, I'm justly punish'd.—My son!—Azema!
Let your expiring mother join your hands.
May ye live long, blest in each other's goodness;
And may your reign be prosperous as 'tis just!
Ah! now death hastens on, I feel him now
Thro' all my senses—O farewell, my son,
My dearest son!—O mercy, mercy, Heav'n!
It's past—it's finish'd—Oh!

[She dies.
NINIAS.
Farewell much-lov'd, yet O too guilty mother!
Let the remembrance of thy crimes, O Queen,
Sleep with thee in the tomb, while thy great deeds
Live in the bosom of thy mournful son.

OROES.
Such sad examples should instruct mankind,
The higher they are plac'd in this bad world
The stricter they are call'd to their account,
The more severely punish'd.—O that all, then,
Wou'd set due bounds to fierce o'erbearing passion,
And seek the paths of never-erring virtue!
Then should they meet a bright reward on earth,
With peace, and joys ineffable hereafter.