 | Mariamne |  |
SCENE II.
MARIAMNE, SOHEMUS, ELISA, AMMON. SOLDIERS OF HEROD AND SOHEMUS.SOHEMUS.
Away vile slaves
Who hold your queen in bondage! Ruffians, hence!
200
[The guards go off with the soldiers of Herod.]
Now Mariamne
Haste! Our attempt hath prosper'd, use it well—
Fly! Follow me! March o'er the heaps of slain!
Thy persecutors boast their power no more,
They could not bar my entrance. Mazael lies
Bathed in his traitrous blood, and this right hand
At least hath half avenged thee. Linger not.
Seize this auspicious moment. From the storm
Shelter that form august. Haste! Follow me!
MARIAMNE.
Sohemus, no. Tho' generous thy intent
To snatch me from my enemies, I dare not
Accept it now. After the vile affront,
The grimed spot which Herod's jealousy
Hath on my glory cast, I should deserve it,
Could I receive thy proffer'd aid. That aid
Hath more of danger and inspires my soul
With greater dread than his barbarity.
To owe my life to thee; reproach and shame
Attend the deed; the very purpose, honour
Now constitutes a crime. This I must expiate,
And wait, with patience wait, till death acquits me.
SOHEMUS.
What words are these! Alas! Ill-fated princess,
Destruction instantly may light upon thee.
Dubious the conflict: urgent is the time.
Oh! Think with terror on the approach of Herod
Arm'd with despair!
MARIAMNE.
On conscious shame alone
I look with terror, and I know my duty.
SOHEMUS.
Am I then doom'd for ever to offend,
When most I strive to serve thee?—But I go
201
Yes, I will meet the tyrant, whom in vain
Thou would'st preserve; again I seek the fight,
And this keen sword—
MARIAMNE.
Stay; I detest a triumph
Purchased by crimes; to me the life of Herod
Is sacred, and demands my care; his rights—
SOHEMUS.
Are forfeited by his ingratitude.
MARIAMNE.
By the most hallow'd ties—
SOHEMUS.
They all are broken.
MARIAMNE.
Duty unites us.
SOHEMUS.
Guilt divorces you.
Retard no more my eager step. Revenge
Thy wrongs on the barbarian! Oh! preserve
So many virtues!
MARIAMNE.
Thou dishonour'st them.
SOHEMUS.
He seeks thy life.
MARIAMNE.
'Twere sacrilege in me
To aim at his.
SOHEMUS.
His hands are drench'd in blood,
Thy father's blood.
MARIAMNE.
I know what he hath done,
And what I ought to do. Prepared to meet
His utmost fury, here I stand resign'd.
Th'example of his guilt my soul disdains.
202
O fortitude! O constancy! O heart
Not to be shaken! Gods! How doubly black
Appear the crimes of Herod, when compared
With this transcendent virtue! Thy commands
Not to protect thee, urge me but the more
To disobedience. What thy honour shuns,
Mine bids me execute. No power can stay,
Or daunt me in my course. I fly to find
This odious tyrant, and repair the time
Which I have lost, not fighting in thy cause.
MARIAMNE.
O prince!—
| Mariamne | |