ola!

Sol. O, she will save thee!

Art. Teach me not to hope.

(A band of dancing maidens enter, left, and sing a bridal
chorus before the doors of Ninus' chamber)

Love and Beauty now are one,
No more wandering away!
Love's the sky to Beauty's sun,
From him she can not stray.
And he is bright by her fair light or none!

Love and Beauty dreaming lie,
Who shall say it is not meet?
Who shall say, O fie, O fie,
To the favor sweet
That Love will ask and Beauty not deny?

(Maidens dance out, right. Re-enter Semiramis)

Sem. He's wild with rage! I can not calm him!

Sol. Oh,
To lose thee now!

(Enter Ninus. He advances upon Semiramis)

Nin. Who is he, then--that man--
If not thy brother? To whose arms you went
As you have never come to mine?

Sem. A man
Whose life you owed to me by holiest promise
And oath unto the gods! I saved your soul
When I so saved--

Nin. Speak! Who?

Sem. The son of Husak,
Prince Khosrove, of Armenia!

(Utter silence. Ninus stands choked and dumb; then moves
to strike Semiramis)

Sem. Strike me
You strike your army!

(Ninus drops his hand and stares at her, livid and shaken,
then turns fiercely upon Artavan)

Sem. (Rushes before him and falls, clinging to his knees)
Wait, O wait, my lord!
If thou dost Hope to know my love! Dost dream
Of bridal joy! Wouldst rest thy head in peace
Upon my bosom, say thou wilt forgive!
And I, too, will forgive! No more will ask
What thou hast done or not done! All thy past
Is fair as Heaven by this moment's sun!
I'll love thee as thou hadst been born this hour
That gives my brother life! O, speak the word,
And take me to thy heart--thy wife--thy slave--

Nin. By earth and heaven, he shall die--and now!

(Raises his dagger to s