t burden it!

(Khosrove kneels before her, holding up the crown)

Hus. Rise, sir! You give, not sue!

(Semiramis looks down on Khosrove, then turns to Husak)

Sem. Thank, thanks,
Old man, for making me once more myself!
For by the blood that storms through all my veins
I know I'm still a queen! Now all the pride
That lives in my lost crown, and all the scorn
Should meet thy fawning suit, be in my words,--
I do refuse your son! Assyria
Shall owe her throne to none!

(Khosrove springs up, trampling the robe)

Hus. Now thou wilt rise!
A prince who might have gone with gods to wive
Nor bated them in choice! This to my face!
I, Husak, fawn on woman! Out with her!
Drag her to death! To instant death! Out! out!

(Guards approach Semiramis)

Khos. To _instant_ death?

Hus. (Looks searchingly at him.) Ha! ha! Not yet! She's thine!
Choose thy revenge! Have now thy will!

Khos. Thou'lt grant it?

Hus. Ay, ay, whate'er thou wouldst!

Khos. She is thy captive.

Hus. I make her thine! My conqueror's right I yield
To thee!

Khos. Dost swear it?

Hus. Doubt me not! I swear!

Khos. By Belus' star?

Hus. By Belus' star, whose beams
Are death to breakers of an oath! We ask
This crown--no more. (Takes crown from Khosrove's hand)
You pause. Stand not, my son.
Thy vengeance waits. Do what thou wilt with her,
We'll question not.

(Khosrove strikes off the chains of Semiramis)

Khos. Go free to Nineveh.

(Husak stands in amazed silence, then understands and burns
with speechless anger. At last he speaks slowly with intense
wrath)

Hus. All madmen in my kingdom die! Bind him!

(Guards bind Khosrove)

Sem. Die? No! O, sir, you would not slay your son?

Hus. This loathsome thing is not my flesh!

Sem. Thy son!

Hus. We have no son. Armenia has no heir.
Bear him away!