 | Artaxerxes |  |
SCENE XIII.
Enter Mandane in haste.Man.
Stay, my brother;
Great news I bring—the tumult is appeas'd.
Artax.
Is't possible? Say, how?
Man.
The rebel crowd,
By Megabyzus led, had reach'd already
The inner palace-yard, when brave Arbaces,
Rouz'd by the maddening clamour, came to aid thee;
What said, what did he not for thy defence?
He painted all the horrors of their crime,
And show'd the praise that waits on loyalty.
He set thy merits and thy fame before them:
On some with threats he wrought, on some with prayers;
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Till each laid down his arms, and Megabyzus,
The impious cause of all, alone remain'd;
But him he conquer'd, slew, and thus reveng'd thee.
Artab.
Rash, inconsiderate son!
[aside.
Artax.
Some friendly power
Inspir'd me to preserve him—Megabyzus
Was author then of every crime committed.
Artab.
Most fortunate delusion!
[aside.
Artax.
Where is now
My lov'd Arbaces? Find and bring him hither.
| Artaxerxes | |