University of Virginia Library

SCENE XIII.

Enter Roxana.
Rox.
I scarcely, Xerxes, can believe—

Xer.
Ah! princess,
Whoe'er could have believ'd it? In my palace,
Before the world Themistocles insults me.
He worships Athens still; he boasts for her
His faith unshaken; for her sake, with scorn
Foregoes the friendship and the gifts of Xerxes.

Rox.
[aside.]
My hopes revive— [to Xer.]
Who knows? Perhaps the daughter
May change his will.

Xer.
The daughter and the father
Alike to me are foes.—Yes, every Greek,
By natural instinct, bears to Xerxes hatred:
I will on both have vengeance.

Rox.
[aside.]
Happy change!
[to Xer.]
All have not, sir, the heart of your Roxana.

Xer.
I know it well, and blush at what is past.

Rox.
And yet I fear that if again Aspasia
Should now return—

Xer.
Aspasia? O! she dares not
So far presume.