u?
Her person is as prostrate as her party.

_Emp._ A thousand things controul this conqueror:
My native pride to own the unworthy passion,
Hazard of interest, and my people's love.
To what a storm of fate am I exposed!--
What if I had her murdered!--'tis but what
My subjects all expect, and she deserves,--
Would not the impossibility
Of ever, ever seeing, or possessing,
Calm all this rage, this hurricane of soul?

_Bend._ That _ever, ever,_--
I marked the double,--shows extreme reluctance
To part with her for ever.

_Emp._ Right, thou hast me.
I would, but cannot kill: I must enjoy her:
I must, and what I must, be sure I will.
What's royalty, but power to please myself?
And if I dare not, then am I the slave,
And my own slaves the sovereigns:--'tis resolved.
Weak princes flatter, when they want the power
To curb their people; tender plants must bend:
But when a government is grown to strength,
Like some old oak, rough with its armed bark,
It yields not to the tug, but only nods,
And turns to sullen state.

_Bend._ Then you resolve
To implore her pity, and to beg relief?

_Emp._ Death! must I beg the pity of my slave?
Must a king beg?--Yes; love's a greater king;
A tyrant, nay, a devil, that possesses me:
He tunes the organs of my voice, and speaks,
Unknown to me, within me; pushes me,
And drives me on by force.--
Say I should wed her, would not my wise subjects
Take check, and think it strange? perhaps revolt?

_Bend._ I hope they would not.

_Emp._ Then thou doubtst they would?

_Bend._ To whom?

_Emp._ To her
Perhaps,--or to my brother,--or to thee.

_Bend._ [_in disorder._]
To me! me, did you mention? how I tremble!
The name of treason shakes my honest soul.
If I am doubted, sir,
Secure yourself this moment, take my life.

_Emp._ No more: If I suspected thee--I would.

_Bend._ I thank your kindness.--Guilt had almost lost me. [_Aside._

_Emp._ But clear my doubts:--thinkst thou they may rebel?

_Bend._ This goes as I would wish.-- [_Aside._
'Tis possible:
A secret party still remains, that lurks
Like embers raked in ashes,--wanting but
A breath to blow aside the involving dust,
And then they blaze abroad.

_Emp._ They must be trampled out.

_Bend._ But first be known.

_Emp._ Torture shall force it from them.

_Bend._ You would not put a nation to the rack?

_Emp._ Yes, the whole world; so I be safe, I care not.

_Bend._ Our limbs and lives
Are y