University of Virginia Library

6. PART VI.

SCENE, Daniel's House.
DANIEL, ARASPES.
ARASPES.
Still let me follow thee; still let me hear
The voice of Wisdom, ere the silver cord
By Death's cold hand be loosen'd.

DANIEL.
Now I'm ready!
No grief; no woman's weakness, good Araspes!
Thou shou'dst rejoice my pilgrimage is o'er,
And the blest haven of repose in view.

ARASPES.
And must I lose thee, Daniel? must thou die?

DANIEL.
And what is death, my friend, that I shou'd fear it?
To die! why 'tis to triumph; 'tis to join
The great assembly of the good and just;
Immortal worthies, heroes, prophets, saints!
Oh! 'tis to join the band of holy men,
Made perfect by their suff'rings! 'Tis to meet
My great progenitors! 'tis to behold
Th' illustrious Patriarchs, they with whom the Lord
Deign'd hold familiar converse! 'Tis to see
Bless'd Noah and his children, once a world!
'Tis to behold (oh! rapture to conceive!)
Those we have known, and lov'd, and lost, below!
Bold Azariah, and the band of brothers,
Who sought, in bloom of youth, the scorching flames!
Nor is it to behold heroic men
Alone, who fought the fight of faith on earth;
But heav'nly conquerors, angelic hosts,
Michael and his bright legions, who subdued
The foes of Truth! To join their blest employ
Of love and praise! To the high melodies
Of choirs celestial to attune my voice,
Accordant to the golden harps of saints!
To join in bless'd hosannahs to their King!
Whose face to see, whose glory to behold,
Alone were heav'n, tho' saint or seraph none
There were beside, and only he were there!
This is to die! Who wou'd not die for this?
Who wou'd not die that he might live for ever?

DARIUS, DANIEL, ARASPES.
DARIUS.
Where is he? where is Daniel? Let me see him!
Let me embrace that venerable form
Which I have doom'd to glut the greedy maw
Of furious lions!

DANIEL.
King Darius, hail!

DARIUS.
O, injur'd Daniel! can I see thee thus?
Thus uncomplaining? can I bear to hear
That when the ruffian ministers of death
Stopp'd thy unfinish'd pray'r, thy pious lips
Had just invok'd a blessing on Darius,
On him who sought thy life? Thy murd'rers dropt
Tears of strange pity. Look not on me thus,
With mild benignity! Oh! I cou'd bear
The voice of keen reproach, or the strong flash
Of fierce resentment; but I cannot stand
That touching silence, nor that patient eye
Of meek respect!

DANIEL.
Thou art my master still.

DARIUS.
I am thy murd'rer! I have sign'd thy death!

DANIEL.
I know thy bent of soul is honourable:
Thou hast been gracious still! Had it been otherwise,
I wou'd have met th' appointment of high Heav'n,
With humble acquiescence; but to know
Thy will concurr'd not with thy servant's fate,
Adds joy to resignation.

DARIUS.
Here I swear,
By him who sits inthron'd in yon bright sun,
Thy blood shall be aton'd! On these, thy foes,
Thou shalt have ample vengeance.

DANIEL.
Hold, O king!
Vengeance is mine, th' eternal Lord has said;
And I will recompence, with even hand,
The sinner for the sin. The wrath of man
Works not the righteousness of God.

DARIUS.
I had hop'd
We shou'd have trod this busy stage together,
A little longer; then have sunk to rest,
In honourable age! Who now shall guide
My shatter'd bark in safety? Who shall now
Direct me? O, unhappy state of kings!
'Tis well the robe of majesty is gay,
Or who wou'd put it on? A crown! what is it?
It is to bear the mis'ries of a people!
To hear their murmurs, feel their discontents,
And sink beneath a load of splendid care!
To have your best success ascrib'd to Fortune,
And Fortune's failures all ascrib'd to you!
It is to sit upon a joyless height,
To every blast of changing fate expos'd!
Too high for hope! too great for happiness!
For friendship too much fear'd! To all the joys
Of social freedom, and th' endearing charm
Of lib'ral interchange of soul unknown!
Fate meant me an exception to the rest,
And, tho' a monarch, bless'd me with a friend;
And I—have murder'd him!

DANIEL.
My hour approaches!
Hate not my mem'ry, king! protect Araspes.
Encourage Cyrus in the holy work
Of building ruin'd Solyma. Farewell!

DARIUS.
With most religious strictness I'll fulfil
Thy last request. Araspes shall be next
My throne and heart. Farewell!
[They embrace.
Hear, future kings!
Ye unborn rulers of the nations, hear!
Learn from my crime, from my misfortune learn,
Never to trust to weak, or wicked hands,
That delegated pow'r which Oromasdes
Invests in monarchs for the public good.