 | Mariamne |  |
SCENE II.
MARIAMNE, ELIZA, SALOME, MAZAEL, NARBAS.SALOME.
I come,
A most sincere partaker of thy joy.
Benignant Rome to me a brother gives,
To thee a husband, crown'd, begirt with power,
And worthy Mariamne. His bright deeds
His former triumphs, all his future plans
To swell the glorious catalogue, the name
Of Great with which the applauding world conspires
To grace his prosperous fortune, the full trust
Of the imperial senate, and it's rights
To him consign'd; these are the gifts he brings
To lay before thy feet. Henceforth possess
His soul, his empire; this with ardent zeal
My warmth of friendship covets for thy virtue.
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The happy bond which must for ever join
Thy heart and his in one.
MARIAMNE.
The cares of Salome
I neither ask for, nor expect, too well
I know her heart, and have with justice scann'd it.
I know by what base plots, what mazy snares
Her ineffectual hatred hath pursued
The life of Mariamne. From herself
Judging of me, she dreads perhaps my vengeance.
But learn, and mark the difference of our souls!
Banish thy groundless fear, for I despise
The treacherous crime, nor stoop I to avenge it.
I've seen each little art, and pardon all.
I leave thee to reflection, to remorse,
If after such attempts, such vile endeavours,
A heart like thine can listen to their voice.
SALOME.
Surely too far by prejudice impell'd
These taunts severe proceed; against their force
I set my conduct, my assiduous toil,
And Herod's approbation; Mariamne
Will own perhaps the justness of their plea.
MARIAMNE.
I have already told thee that my mind
Will bury in oblivion every wrong.
Conscious superiority, and glory
Demand this sacrifice. I can forgive,
But I can ne'er believe thee.
MAZAEL.
By the power
Who rules above, thrice-honour'd Mariamne
I swear, that in my duty, with regret—
MARIAMNE.
Mazael no more: for each excuse of thine
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That is thy office. To my tyrants sold,
Be thou their faithful drudge, subservient still
To the behests of fury and revenge;
I shall not in abasement stoop so low,
E'er to complain of thee.
Why linger here?
[To Salome.
Go; to the king my secret thoughts disclose;
No mighty force is needful to revive
That rage within his bosom, which my eyes
Shall scorn to soothe. With blackest calumny
Your bands of infamous accusers arm!
Long have I borne their obloquy unpunish'd,
And insolence hath prospered. Still the same;
Nought to each base attempt shall I oppose
But spotless virtue, and a just disdain.
SALOME.
Insufferable arrogance!—Perchance
Had prudence dictated, she would have taught
Not thus with open rashness to have braved
The sister of thy Lord. Vain as thou art
To think that all must bend and meanly crouch
In homage to thy charms: because I seem
A desperate loser, that the total sum
Of power thy hands can grasp. Mistaken rival!
Thy victory may be fatal. Triumph now!
But looking forward—dread the dire event!
| Mariamne | |