Selected Poems (133 page)

155

Stood dull as in our temples, but she still

Embraced me, while I shrunk from her, as if,

In lieu of her remote descendant, I

Had been the son who slew her for her incest.

Then – then – a chaos of all loathsome things

160

Throng’d thick and shapeless: I was dead, yet feeling –

Buried, and raised again – consumed by worms,

Purged by the flames, and wither’d in the air!

I can fix nothing further of my thoughts,

Save that I long’d for thee, and sought for thee,

165

In all these agonies, – and woke and found thee.

MYRRHA
: So shalt thou find me ever at thy side,

Here and hereafter, if the last may be.

But think not of these things – the mere creations

Of late events, acting upon a frame

170

Unused to toil, yet over-wrought by toil

Such as might try the sternest.

SARDANAPALUS
:I am better.

Now that I see
thee once
more,
what was seen

Seems nothing.

[
Enter
SALEMENES
.]

SALEMENES
:Is the king so soon awake?

SARDANAPALUS
: Yes, brother, and I would I had not slept

175

For all the predecessors of our line

Rose up, methought, to drag me down to them.

My father was amongst them, too; but he,

I know not why, kept from me, leaving me

Between the hunter-founder of our race,

180

And her, the homicide and husband-killer,

Whom you call glorious.

SALEMENES
:So I term you also,

Now you have shown a spirit like to hers.

By day-break I propose that we set forth,

And charge once more the rebel crew, who still

185

Keep gathering head, repulsed, but not quite quell’d.

SARDANAPALUS
: How wears the night?

SALEMENES
:There yet remain some hours

Of darkness: use them for your further rest.

SARDANAPALUS
: No, not to-night, if ’tis not gone:

methought

I pass’d hours in that vision.

MYRRHA
:Scarcely one;

190

I watch’d by you: it was a heavy hour,

But an hour only.

SARDANAPALUS
: Let us then hold council;

To-morrow we set forth.

SALEMENES
:But ere that time,

I had a grace to seek.

SARDANAPALUS
:’Tis granted.

SALEMENES
:Hear it

Ere you reply too readily; and tis

195

For
your
ear only.

MYRRHA
:Prince, I take my leave.

[
Exit
MYRRHA
.]

SALEMENES
: That slave deserves her freedom.

SARDANAPALUS
:Freedom only!

That slave deserves to share a throne.

SALEMENES
: Your patience –

’Tis not yet vacant, and ’tis of its partner

I come to speak with you.

SARDANAPALUS:
How! of the queen?

200

SALEMENES
: Even so. I judged it fitting for their safety,

That, ere the dawn, she sets forth with her children

For Paphlagonia, where our kinsman Cotta

Governs; and there at all events secure

My nephews and your sons their lives, and with them

205

Their just pretensions to the crown in case –

SARDANAPALUS
: I perish – as is probable: well thought –

Let them set forth with a sure escort.

SALEMENES
:That

Is all provided, and the galley ready

To drop down the Euphrates; but ere they

210

Depart, will you not see —

SARDANAPALUS
:My sons? It may

Unman my heart, and the poor boys will weep;

And what can I reply to comfort them,

Save with some hollow hopes, and ill-worn smiles?

You know I cannot feign.

SALEMENES
:But you can feel

215

At least, I trust so: in a word, the queen

Requests to see you ere you part – for ever.

SARDANAPALUS
: Unto what end? what purpose? I will grant

Aught – all that she can ask – but such a meeting.

SALEMENES
: You know, or ought to know, enough of women,

220

Since you have studied them so steadily,

That what they ask in aught that touches on

The heart, is dearer to their feelings or

Their fancy, than the whole external world.

I think as you do of my sister’s wish;

225

But ’twas her wish – she is my sister – you

Her husband – will you grant it?

SARDANAPALUS
:’Twill be useless:

But let her come.

SALEMENES
:I go.

[
Exit
SALEMENES
.]

SARDANAPALUS
:We have lived asunder

Too long to meet again – and
now
to meet!

Have I not cares enow, and pangs enow,

230

To bear alone, that we must mingle sorrows,

Who have ceased to mingle love?

[
Re-enter
SALEMENES
and
ZARINA
.]

SALEMENES
:My sister! Courage:

Shame not our blood with trembling, but remember

From whence we sprung. The queen is present, sire.

ZARINA
: I pray thee, brother, leave me.

SALEMENES
:Since you ask it.

[
Exit
SALEMENES
.]

235

ZARINA
: Alone with him! How many a year has pass’d,

Though we are still so young, since we have met,

Which I have worn in widowhood of heart.

He loved me not: yet he seems little changed –

Changed to me only – would the change were mutual!

240

He speaks not – scarce regards me – not a word –

Nor look – yet he
was
soft of voice and aspect,

Indifferent, not austere. My lord!

SARDANAPALUS
:Zarina!

ZARINA
: No,
not
Zarina – do not say Zarina.

That tone – that word – annihilate long years,

245

All things which make them longer.

SARDANAPALUS
:’Tis too late

To think of these past dreams. Let’s not reproach –

That is, reproach me not – for the
last
time —

ZARINA
: And
first
. I ne’er reproach’d you.

SARDANAPALUS
:’Tis most true;

And that reproof comes heavier on my heart

250

Than — But our hearts are not in our own power.

ZARINA
: Nor hands; but I gave both.

SARDANAPALUS
:Your brother said

It was your will to see me, ere you went

From Nineveh with —

[
He hesitates
]

ZARINA
:Our children: it is true.

I wish’d to thank you that you have not divided

255

My heart from all that’s left it now to love –

Those who are yours and mine, who look like you,

And look upon me as you look’d upon me

Once — But they have not changed.

SARDANAPALUS
:Nor ever will.

I fain would have them dutiful.

ZARINA
:I cherish

260

Those infants, not alone from the blind love

Of a fond mother, but as a fond woman.

They are now the only tie between us.

SARDANAPALUS
:Deem not

I have not done you justice: rather make them

Resemble your own line than their own sire.

265

I trust them with you – to you: fit them for

A throne, or, if that be denied — You have heard

Of this night’s tumults?

ZARINA
:I had half forgotten,

And could have welcomed any grief save yours,

Which gave me to behold your face again.

270

SARDANAPALUS
: The throne – I say it not in fear – but ’tis

In peril; they perhaps may never mount it:

But let them not for this lose sight of it.

I will dare all things to bequeath it them,

But if I fail, then they must win it back

275

Bravely – and, won, wear it wisely, not as I

Have wasted down my royalty.

ZARINA
:They ne’er

Shall know from me of aught but what may honour

Their father’s memory.

SARDANAPALUS
: Rather let them hear

The truth from you than from a trampling world.

280

If they be in adversity, they’ll learn

Too soon the scorn of crowds for crownless princes,

And find that all their father’s sins are theirs.

My boys! – I could have borne it were I childless.

ZARINA
: Oh! do not say so – do not poison all

285

My peace left, by unwishing that thou wert

A father. If thou conquerest, they shall reign,

And honour him who saved the realm for them,

So little cared for as his own; and if —

SARDANAPALUS
: ’Tis lost, all earth will cry out thank your father!

290

And they will swell the echo with a curse.

ZARINA
: That they shall never do; but rather honour

The name of him, who, dying like a king,

In his last hours did more for his own memory

Than many monarchs in a length of days,

295

Which date the flight of time, but make no annals.

SARDANAPALUS
: Our annals draw perchance unto their close;

But at the least, whate’er the past, their end

Shall be like their beginning – memorable.

ZARINA
: Yet, be not rash – be careful of your life,

300

Live but for those who love.

SARDANAPALUS
:And who are they?

A slave, who loves from passion – I’ll not say

Ambition – she has seen thrones shake, and loves;

A few friends who have revell’d till we are

As one, for they are nothing if I fall;

305

A brother I have injured – children whom

I have neglected, and a spouse —

ZARINA
:Who loves.

SARDANAPALUS
: And pardons?

ZARINA
: I have never thought of this,

And cannot pardon till I have condemn’d.

SARDANAPALUS
: My wife!

ZARINA
:Now blessings on thee for that word!

310

I never thought to hear it more – from thee.

SARDANAPALUS
: Oh! thou wilt hear it from my subjects.

Yes –

These slaves whom I have nurtured, pamper’d, fed,

And swoln with peace, and gorged with plenty, till

They reign themselves – all monarchs in their mansions –

315

Now swarm forth in rebellion, and demand

His death, who made their lives a jubilee;

While the few upon whom I have no claim

Are faithful! This is true, yet monstrous.

ZARINA
:’Tis

Perhaps too natural; for benefits

320

Turn poison in bad minds.

SARDANAPALUS
:And good ones make

Good out of evil. Happier than the bee,

Which hives not but from wholesome flowers.

ZARINA
:Then reap