 | Artaxerxes |  |
SCENE XI.
Enter Artaban.Artab.
In vain
Is all our proffer'd pity: for his safety
He heeds it not, or now despairs to find it.
Artax.
Ingrate! and will he force me to condemn him?
Sem.
Condemn him!—Too inhuman Artaxerxes!
Shall then Semira's brother, Persia's glory,
The friend of Artaxerxes, his defender,
Bend to the fatal ignominious axe?
Wretched Arbaces! All my tears are vain!
O unregarded grief!
Artax.
Falsely, Semira,
48
Thou see'st Arbaces offers no defence:
What would'st thou do, or what would Artaban?
Guards, let Arbaces be conducted to me:
The father's self shall judge his son, shall hear,
And, if he can, acquit him; to his hand
I trust, in this, my right of sovereign power.
Artab.
What have you said?
Man.
Shall friendship thus prevail
Above your duty? Sure you never sought
His punishment, since to a father's voice
You thus commit the sentence of the guilty.
Artax.
Yes, I commit the sentence to a father,
Whose truth is known, who has himself accus'd
A son whom now I vainly would defend;
A father, who has greater cause than I
To enforce his doom.
Man.
Yet is he still a father.
Artax.
Thence has he double cause to punish him:
I on Arbaces only would revenge
The death of Xerxes slain; but Artaban
Must on his son revenge, with greater rigour,
The death of Xerxes, and his own dishonour.
Man.
Then thus—
Artax.
Should then Arbaces' guilt be prov'd,
I thus secure a victim for the king,
Without ingratitude to my preserver.
49
Such trial, sir—
Artax.
Is worthy of thy virtue.
Artab.
How will the world approve your choice?
Artax.
Can aught
Be urg'd against it? Speak, ye peers, declare,
[to the Grandees.
Is there a doubt that prompts you to dissent?
Mega.
Each, by his silence, seems to approve the choice.
Sem.
See where my brother comes.
Man.
Ah me!
[aside.
Artax.
No more:
Let him be heard.
[Artaxerxes ascends the throne, and the Grandees take their places.]
Artab.
Now, now my soul, conceal
Thy inward pangs.
[aside.]
[takes his seat at the table.
Man.
Be still my beating heart!
[aside.
| Artaxerxes | |