University of Virginia Library

SCENE XII.

Enter Adrian with a drawn sword and guards.
Adr.
[meeting Phar.]
Stay, traitor.

Phar.
Mighty Gods!
What do I see!

Adr.
Ho! guards, stop every pass
That favours flight.

Phar.
I am motionless with wonder.

Emir.
[advancing to listen.]
Alas! we are discover'd.

Adr.
Dost thou gaze
To see me yet alive? Ungrateful man!
Who hop'd but now to pierce the breast of Adrian.
Thy barbarous insults, when the stroke was given
Reveal'd thy impious purpose.

Emir.
[listening.]
Yes, the error
Is now apparent; he who lurks conceal'd,
He is the traitor.

Adr.
Dost thou answer nothing?
Perfidious! wherefore cam'st thou? What design
Urg'd thee to this? Who loos'd thy fetters? Speak.

Phar.
I cannot speak.

Adr.
Not speak!—Let him be dragg'd
By force to prison—hence.

Emir.
[discovering herself.]
Hold! hold! and hear me—
O! he is innocent.

Phar.
Alas!

Emir.
Look there:
That grove conceals the traitor.

[goes towards Osrhoes.
Phar.
Heavens! forbear.

[to Emir.
Emir.
Behold him, Cæsar.

[pointing to Osrhoes, who comes forward.
Osr.
Yes—behold in me
The man you seek.

Emir.
[motionless.]
My father!

Adr.
Parthia's king
Cloth'd in a Roman garb! Are all alike
In treason leagu'd against me?

Osr.
I alone
Thirst for thy blood: 'tis true my sword has err'd,
But, if thou giv'st me life, this hand shall yet
Retrieve its first mistake.

Adr.
To assault me thus
With treacherous rage in darkness? Then to seize
The moment when I fell.

Osr.
Malicious fortune!
'Twas this deceiv'd me. Thy attendant's art
Had plann'd a fall with purpose to betray thee;
But by thy casual fall I miss'd the signal,
And slaughter'd him for thee.

Adr.
Is this, barbarian,
Is this my recompense? Depress'd and vanquish'd
I bade thee welcome to imperial Rome,
And offer'd thee her friendship—

Osr.
Impious Romans!
Such is your name indeed for tyranny:
Your friends are slaves, and over these you reign.

Adr.
We are but faithful guardians of the laws:
Who seek to league with us are not subjected
To us, but justice; though with you I know
Justice is tyranny.

Osr.
And who, proud Romans,
Made you her guardians and interpreters?
Do you partake with Gods their heavenly councils?
Or are you Gods yourselves?

Adr.
Though far, O! far
From us the name of Gods, at least their virtues
We seek to imitate; and he, whose mind
Is fram'd like theirs, to others is a God.

Osr.
Are these your marks of deity, to thirst
For plunder'd wealth? To desolate a kingdom?
To give a loose to lawless love? To oppress
A guiltless rival? To betray a woman—

Adr.
Thou dost too much abuse my clemency.
Ho! guards, to separate dungeons bear these traitors
To await their punishment.

Phar.
And Emirena?

Adr.
The ingrate shall suffer.

Phar.
O! unjust and cruel!
What crime in her can merit Cæsar's vengeance?

Adr.
You know on each my wrath should fall,
Since all are foes, with insults all
Against my peace combine.
Here jealous Rage and stern Disdain,
Remorse and Love unfeeling reign,
Here all their torments join.
[points to his breast.
The Furies on the dreary shore,
Where black Cocytus' waters roar,
Can add no pangs to mine.

[Exit.