der the bridge. Shouts and shrieks come from
within. People rush out)

Voices. The king! the king!

Sem. (Retreating to railing, front)
'Tis done!

Officer. (Running across) The king has fallen
Into the lake! Lights there! below!
(Runs down steps leading under the bridge)

Other officers following. Lights! lights!

(Torches flare under the bridge. Darkness above as the
last light fades from the sky. A moment of noise and
search, and officers appear on the bridge, right, rear,
with Vassin. A guard bears torch which throws light on his
face)

Sem. (Confronting him)
You've saved the king!

Vas. I have. For I have slain
His foe!

Sem. His foe? No--you have killed the king!

(Falls back into the arms of her women. Complete darkness
on stage. An instant later moonlight. Khosrove and
Semiramis alone on the bridge, centre, front)

Khos. (Bowing ceremoniously)
Farewell, Assyria!

Sem. O, not that name!
Not yet--not yet.

Khos. Does it not please your pride?

Sem. My pride? 'Tis gone. Now I could lay my head
Upon the dust.

Khos. In truth! But you'll not do it!
Humility's a word the great think sweet
Upon the tongue, but near the heart they find
It loseth flavor!

Sem. Ah ... you do not know?
You think the words I spoke were born of pride?
So far from that--no, no--I will not tell,
And yet you wrong me, prince.

Khos. (Eagerly) Did you suspect
Some danger to me here, and seek to force
My angry leave? You did not care so much?

Sem. I cared so much that rather than betray you
I would have let you go believing me
A woman worth your scorn. Ah, there my pride
In truth did suffer!

Khos. O, Semiramis!
Thou art the same as when I saw thee last?
As when I rode away and left thy face--
The only face in Nineveh--nay--I--
Will go. Farewell, most noble queen!

Sem. Farewell!

(He l