 | Semiramis |  |
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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
| Semiramis | |