University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Siroes.
Sir.
At length, Laodice, you are reveng'd
And Siroes suffers for a fault of yours.

Laod.
Ah! prince belov'd! such anguish rends my bosom,
I dare not speak.

Sir.
And yet, Laodice,
You fear'd not to accuse me.

Laod.
Blind resentment
For your disdain impell'd a jealous woman
To such detested falsehood: O! forgive,
Forgive the madness of a love like mine,
And let my grief suffice for punishment:
I will disclose the whole, and Cosroes now
Shall know 'twas I—

Sir.
Your ruin, that would follow,
Cannot ensure my safety: were I clear'd
Of love to you, a crime of deeper dye
Is charg'd upon me. Cease, Laodice,
Thy pity may awaken new suspicions
Of our imputed loves.

Laod.
What shall I do
To merit your forgiveness? Tell me, Siroes,
Behold me ready now to atone my guilt.

Sir.
I blot it from my mind, and if you think
That such oblivion merits some return,
Henceforth forget to love me.

Laod.

[Exit.
Sir.
O! that my words could calm Emira's anger,
As now they have appeas'd Laodice.

[going.
Enter Emira.
Em.
Stay, faithless man!

Sir.
And cannot yet my sufferings
Suffice thy cruelty?

Em.
And art thou yet
Contented to betray me?

Sir.
Now perchance
Thou com'st again with cruel taunts to insult
A wretched guiltless prince.

Em.
And thou perchance,
Now seek'st thy father to reveal the secret
That paper had with-held.

Sir.
At least the paper
Offends not thee: the guilt is fix'd on Siroes:
I groan beneath the charge, and yet am silent.

Em.
And I, what did I, when I seem'd to insult
And most reproach thee? Firmly I secur'd
The confidence of Cosroes in my faith,
More for thy safety, than for my revenge.

Sir.
Ah! then, my love, do more for Siroes' sake;
Forgive his father; or at least, if still
You seek revenge, then seek it in this bosom.

Em.
I cannot so confound the son and father:
Cosroes I hate, but thee Emira loves;
I wish but to revenge a parent slain.

Sir.
And I, by nature's law, defend my own;
And justice higher sanctifies the duty
To guard the living than revenge the dead.

Em.
Go then—pursue thy nobler enterprise,
And leave to me my own: but knowst thou well
What both our duties claim? In us, the children
Of foes profess'd, our passion is a crime.
No, we should hate each other: duty bids thee
Reveal my purpose to the ear of Cosroes;
And duty bids me to prevent discovery.
Thou in Emira should'st behold a foe,
Cruel, implacable; in Siroes I
Detest the unworthy offspring of a tyrant:
Then henceforth let us both be deadly foes.

[going.
Sir.
Stay, stay, my life!

Em.
And call'st thou me thy life?
Would'st thou unite the lover with the foe?
At once thou but betray'st, what nature made thee,
A faithless lover and a feeble foe.

Sir.
You wrong me much, my love,—

Em.
Be silent—love
Is lost in hatred—speak to me of rage,
Of vengeance speak, and I with pleasure hear thee.

Sir.
And must I then—

Em.
O! yes, forget Emira.

Sir.
Farewell, Emira, thou wilt have me guilty,
Wilt have me dead—thou shalt be satisfied.
I'll to my father and avow his son
The secret traitor—thus thy cruelty
Shall be at full appeas'd.

[going.
Em.
Hold—go not yet.

Sir.
What wouldst thou have? Leave, leave me to my fate.

Em.
Yet hear—to make thee guilty nought avails
To me or Cosroes.

Sir.
'Tis enough for me
To perish innocent: hear me, Emira,
At length I find I'm more a son than lover;
I can no longer live, and still be silent:
If nothing less can save him from thy fury,
I will disclose the whole.

Em.
Go, traitor, go,
Accuse thyself or me. In spite of thee
Thy purpose I'll prevent: then see who most
Will gain belief.

[going.
Sir.
I see, too cruel maid!
My blood is sought and I will shed the stream,
Now sate thy cruel heart with Siroes' death.

[draws his sword.