 | Dido |  |
SCENE XVII.
Enter Dido, attended.Osm.
O queen! we are betray'd, and if Arbaces
Had here delay'd his succour, great Æneas
This day had fallen beneath a barbarous hand.
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Where is the base assassin?
Osm.
See him there,
The murderous weapon in his grasp.
[pointing to Aras.
Did.
What fury
Enflam'd thy bosom to the treacherous deed?
Aras.
My sovereign's glory and my own renown.
Did.
How! did Arbaces disavow—
Aras.
I know it—
He reprobates the deed—I fear his anger,
But never can my conscious soul repent
What is not guilt.
Did.
And feel'st thou no remorse
For such a sacrilege?
Aras.
A thousand times
Would I repeat the daring.
Did.
I'll prevent thee—
Guards, take him hence—
[Exit Aras. guarded.
Æn.
[to Iar.]
O! generous foe! I knew not
In thee such virtue dwelt—come to my breast.
Iar.
Æneas, hold—Araspes sav'd thy life—
I sought thy blood—in me behold Iarbas!
Did.
Iarbas, thou!
Æn.
Thou sovereign of the Moors!
Did.
A kingly bosom harbours not such baseness:
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Iar.
None dare approach me. [draws.]
Death is in this weapon.
Osm.
[aside to Iar.]
Seem but to yield awhile, till time permit
To call our friends in aid—In me confide.
Iar.
Can I submit so tamely.
[aside to Osm.
Æn.
Hold, my friends,
'Tis mine to punish him.
Did.
[to Æn.]
Reserve thy valour
For nobler deeds—
[to Iar.]
What canst thou hope? Or yield,
Or fall a bloody victim at my feet.
Osm.
Reserve thee for a future noble vengeance.
[aside to Iar.
Iar.
There—take my sword.
[throws down his sword, which is taken up by the guards.—Exit Iarbas guarded, followed by Osmidas and Araspes.
| Dido | |