No more!
Nay--not another word!

Khos. I must escape--

Sem. Not one!

Khos. That word unsaid slays Artavan,
Spoken it saves him! Once in Ninus' power
I have no hope of life, and with me dies
Your brother.

Sem. (Scornfully) Do not fear!

Khos. I fear? By Heaven!
Think you this heart is not a soldier's own
Because 'tis captive to a woman's sword?
A woman's sword! O little had thy sword
To do with my defeat! Unarmed thou wouldst
Have taken me--for 'twas thy beauty struck
My weapon to my side! (rapidly and passionately)
When I bore down
Upon your chariot, I could have swept you
With one arm from the world! But suddenly
A missile struck your helmet and dislodged
The glory of your face before my eyes,
Your hair ran gold, the shining East looked black
Behind the star you made upon its breast!
I knew thee for a goddess, and stood still
Meek captive to thy wish! O blest am I
To learn thou art not greater than myself,
But so much less that I may lift thee up!
Fly with me--be my queen--

(Semiramis tries to speak)

Go, call them in!
I'll shout above their heads to reach thine ears!
O, trust to me! In me thy brother lives!
Come, and thy fallen father shall be brave
Beneath Armenia's smile! Here thou mayst save
His life, but ne'er again will he know honor!
Help me to fly and save three lives in one!
Give me to Ninus--give me up to death,
And with a father and a brother lost,
Though thou wert worshipped 'mong thy country's gods
Still thou couldst not be happy!

Sem. Sir--

Khos. But come,
And they are safe!

Sem. (Bewildered) What do I hear?

Khos. O, come!
Dost know what love is, daughter of Menones?
It is the fire that dead puts out the light
On every hearth, living makes all the world
One altar feeding incense unto Heaven!