University of Virginia Library

Scene IX.—Ecbatana.

Arsinoe
(On a balcony of Drypetris' Palace).
She sleeps. Thou blessed sleep that most dost bless us
When we in thy great gift forget the gift,
Oh, call us not ingrate! She sleeps: there's nought
Like sleep to help a heavy heart; not music;
That brings her back the memory of old times;
Not love like mine; that whispers of another's;
Not flowers nor song of birds, nor airs sweet-laden:
If these poor flatteries force a smile upon her,
Brief infidelity how soon avenged,
The unwonted apparition leaves her dim;
And those sad eyes make inquest without words,
“Shall we no more behold him?”

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Silent stars
That flash from yonder firmament serene,
Ye have no portion in these pangs of earth;
Ye mock not man with infirm sympathy:
I thank you for your clear, unpitying brightness
That freezes Time's deceits. The Lord of Light
Sternly in you hath writ his four great Names
Truth, Justice, Wisdom, Order. Ye endure:
Our storms sweep o'er you but they shake you not:
Darkness, your foe, but brings your hour of triumph:
Your teaching is—to bear.
The Lord of Light—
Is it a woman's weakness that would wish him
Another, tenderer name, the Lord of Love?
A love that out of love created all things;
A love that, warring ever, willeth peace;
A patient love, from ill educing good;
A conquering love, triumphant over death?
Ah me! No land there is that clasps this Faith!
To hold it were to feel from heaven a hand
Laid on the aching breast of human kind,
Laid on our own, and softer than the kiss
Of some imagined babe. Come quickly, Death!
Beyond thy gate is Truth.

A Lady
(entering).
Madam, but now
Your sister woke, and gently breathed your name,
But slept ere I could answer.

Ars.
Watch beside her:
When next she moves, make sign.
Eternal Truth,
Why has our Persia missed you? Truth she loved:
She trained her sons in valour and in truth:
And yet in vain for you our Magians strained
Their night-dividing eyes! From sceptred watchers

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Turned she her all-pure countenance to reward
More late some humbler vigil? It must be!
The unceasing longing cannot be in vain:
The agony of virtue crownless here,
And great love sorrow-crowned. If earth can find,
Indeed, no answer to her children's cry,
Wandering from yon bright host a star will lead
The lowliest of her wanderers, lowly and wise,
In age still faithful to their childhood's longing,
To where in some obscurest spot lies hid
The saviour-soul of self-subsistent Truth,
Some great world-conquering, world-delivering Might,
The future's cradled Hope.

The Lady
(re-entering).
Madam, she wakes.