University of Virginia Library

SCENE XI.

A garden belonging to the palace of the kings of Armenia, inhabited by Tiridates.
Tiridates, Mithranes.
Mit.
'Tis all too true: too well you now conceive
The words of Ægle.—Yes, Zenobia's love
Is fix'd on Rhadamistus: when she heard
Your troops had made him prisoner, from her cheek
The colour fled: with eager speed she flew
To reach the tents, and sought admittance to him,
But found access denied.

Tir.
And yet, Mithranes,
I cannot, must not think—

Mit.
By her you soon
Will find the truth confirm'd.—She comes to ask
Of you the prisoner's life.

Tir.
O Heaven! she dares not
Insult me thus.

Mit.
Ere this she had preferr'd
To you her suit, but that two Roman warriors,
Who bring a written message from their camp,
Detain her now impatient on the way.

Tir.
She must not meet my eyes—O! no, th' ingrate,
I cannot bear her presence.

Mit.
See, she comes.