The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 12

Let me hope better than thou augurest; At present, let us hence as best we may.

Thou dost agree with me in understanding This order as a sentence?

_Arb._ Why, what other Interpretation should it bear? it is The very policy of Orient monarchs-- 430 Pardon and poison--favours and a sword-- A distant voyage, and an eternal sleep.

How many Satraps in his father's time-- For he I own is, or at least _was_, bloodless--

_Bel._ But _will_ not--_can_ not be so now.

_Arb._ I doubt it.

How many Satraps have I seen set out In his Sire's day for mighty Vice-royalties, Whose tombs are on their path! I know not how, But they all sickened by the way, it was So long and heavy.

_Bel._ Let us but regain 440 The free air of the city, and we'll shorten The journey.

_Arb._ 'Twill be shortened at the gates, It may be.

_Bel._ No; they hardly will risk that.

They mean us to die privately, but not Within the palace or the city walls, Where we are known, and may have partisans: If they had meant to slay us here, we were No longer with the living. Let us hence.

_Arb._ If I but thought he did not mean my life--

_Bel._ Fool! hence--what else should despotism alarmed 450 Mean? Let us but rejoin our troops, and march.

_Arb._ Towards our provinces?

_Bel._ No; towards your kingdom.

There's time--there's heart, and hope, and power, and means-- Which their half measures leave us in full scope.-- Away!

_Arb._ And I even yet repenting must Relapse to guilt!

_Bel._ Self-defence is a virtue, Sole bulwark of all right. Away, I say!

Let's leave this place, the air grows thick and choking, And the walls have a scent of night-shade--hence!

Let us not leave them time for further council. 460 Our quick departure proves our civic zeal; Our quick departure hinders our good escort, The worthy Pania, from antic.i.p.ating The orders of some parasangs from hence: Nay, there's no other choice, but----hence, I say[p].

[_Exit with_ ARBACES, _who follows reluctantly_.

_Enter_ SARDANAPALUS _and_ SALEMENES.

_Sar._ Well, all is remedied, and without bloodshed, That worst of mockeries of a remedy; We are now secure by these men's exile.

_Sal._ Yes, As he who treads on flowers is from the adder Twined round their roots.

_Sar._ Why, what wouldst have me do? 470

_Sal._ Undo what you have done.

_Sar._ Revoke my pardon?

_Sal._ Replace the crown now tottering on your temples.

_Sar._ That were tyrannical.

_Sal._ But sure.

_Sar._ We are so.

What danger can they work upon the frontier?

_Sal._ They are not there yet--never should they be so, Were I well listened to.

_Sar._ Nay, I _have_ listened Impartially to thee--why not to them?

_Sal._ You may know that hereafter; as it is, I take my leave to order forth the guard.

_Sar._ And you will join us at the banquet?

_Sal._ Sire, 480 Dispense with me--I am no wa.s.sailer: Command me in all service save the Bacchant's.

_Sar._ Nay, but 'tis fit to revel now and then.

_Sal._ And fit that some should watch for those who revel Too oft. Am I permitted to depart?

_Sar._ Yes----Stay a moment, my good Salemenes, My brother--my best subject--better Prince Than I am King. You should have been the monarch, And I--I know not what, and care not; but Think not I am insensible to all 490 Thine honest wisdom, and thy rough yet kind, Though oft-reproving sufferance of my follies.

If I have spared these men against thy counsel, That is, their lives--it is not that I doubt The advice was sound; but, let them live: we will not Cavil about their lives--so let them mend them.

Their banishment will leave me still sound sleep, Which their death had not left me.

_Sal._ Thus you run The risk to sleep for ever, to save traitors-- A moment's pang now changed for years of crime. 500 Still let them be made quiet.

_Sar._ Tempt me not; My word is past.

_Sal._ But it may be recalled.

_Sar._ 'Tis royal.

_Sal._ And should therefore be decisive.

This half-indulgence of an exile serves But to provoke--a pardon should be full, Or it is none.

_Sar._ And who persuaded me After I had repealed them, or at least Only dismissed them from our presence, who Urged me to send them to their satrapies?

_Sal._ True; that I had forgotten; that is, Sire, 510 If they e'er reached their Satrapies--why, then, Reprove me more for my advice.

_Sar._ And if They do not reach them--look to it!--in safety, In safety, mark me--and security-- Look to thine own.

_Sal._ Permit me to depart; Their _safety_ shall be cared for.

_Sar._ Get thee hence, then; And, prithee, think more gently of thy brother.

_Sal._ Sire, I shall ever duly serve my sovereign.

[_Exit_ SALEMENES.

_Sar._ (_solus_). That man is of a temper too severe; Hard but as lofty as the rock, and free 520 From all the taints of common earth--while I Am softer clay, impregnated with flowers: But as our mould is, must the produce be.

If I have erred this time, 'tis on the side Where Error sits most lightly on that sense, I know not what to call it; but it reckons With me ofttimes for pain, and sometimes pleasure; A spirit which seems placed about my heart To count its throbs, not quicken them, and ask Questions which mortal never dared to ask me, 530 Nor Baal, though an oracular deity--[q]

Albeit his marble face majestical Frowns as the shadows of the evening dim His brows to changed expression, till at times I think the statue looks in act to speak.