 | Siroes |  |
SCENE XIII.
Enter Medarses.Med.
[entering.]
Fear not, guards,
The king has sent me.
Em.
O! ye Powers!
Med.
Hydaspes
Already here, and here without thy sword
In my defence?
Em.
But now, upon my entrance,
The guards disarm'd me—Would to Heaven Araxes
Were yet arriv'd!
[aside looking out.
Sir.
And does Medarses come
Again to insult me? On what distant shore
Can Siroes hide him from a faithless brother?
Med.
Peace, or thou diest.
[draws his sword.
Em.
The guilty little suffer
In meeting death they wish: some moments still
Suspend the stroke: reflection then will shew him
Its utmost horrors: I meantime may vent
My hatred in reproaches: well you know
He is my foe, that even within the palace
230
Sir.
Must I endure all this?
Em.
[aside.]
O! would to Heaven,
Araxes were arriv'd!
[looking out.
Sir.
And can Hydaspes,
Forgetting faith and friendship, join a traitor?
Med.
Peace or thou diest.
Sir.
Kill, kill me, cruel man;
The death were doubly welcome, that remov'd
Such objects now, so painful to my sight.
Med.
Die then—my heart recoils.
[aside.
Em.
[aside.]
Help, mighty Gods!
Med.
[aside.]
I feel, I know not how, some secret horror
Unnerve my arm.
Sir.
Barbarian! why this pause?
Em.
[aside.]
And yet he comes not.
[looking out.
Med.
[aside.]
What unmans me thus?
Em.
[to Med.]
Thy colour changes: to my hand resign
The weapon, and by me shall justice pierce
His treacherous heart. Hydaspes can alone
Exact revenge for those his deeds have wrong'd.
Med.
There, use it in my stead.
[gives the sword to Em.
231
[to Em.]
And am I then
So hateful to thee?
Em.
[to Sir.]
Now, thou false-one, see
What hope for thy escape—Defend thyself,
My dearest Siroes!—this shall guard thy life.
[delivers him the sword.
Med.
What hast thou done, Hydaspes? Wilt thou thus
Betray me, him who trusts his all to thee?
Em.
No! thou art deceiv'd; no longer I'm Hydaspes—
Behold in me Emira.
Sir.
Ha! what means
Emira now?
Med.
Ah! traitors! at my voice
The guards shall seize on both.
Sir.
Peace or thou diest.
[threatens him.
| Siroes | |