er's natural burthen
Of mortal misery, but rather lessen,
By mild reciprocal alleviation,
The fatal penalties imposed on life:
But this they know not, or they will not know.
I have, by Baal! done all I could to soothe them:
I made no wars, I added no new imposts,
I interfered not with their civic lives,
I let them pass their days as best might suit them,
Passing my own as suited me.

_Sal._ Thou stopp'st 360
Short of the duties of a king; and therefore
They say thou art unfit to be a monarch.

_Sar._ They lie.--Unhappily, I am unfit
To be aught save a monarch; else for me
The meanest Mede might be the king instead.

_Sal._ There is one Mede, at least, who seeks to be so.

_Sar._ What mean'st thou!--'tis thy secret; thou desirest
Few questions, and I'm not of curious nature.
Take the fit steps; and, since necessity
Requires, I sanction and support thee. Ne'er 370
Was man who more desired to rule in peace
The peaceful only: if they rouse me, better
They had conjured up stern Nimrod from his ashes,
"The Mighty Hunter!" I will turn these realms
To one wide desert chase of brutes, who _were_,
But _would_ no more, by their own choice, be human.
_What_ they have found me, they belie; _that which_
They yet may find me--shall defy their wish
To speak it worse; and let them thank themselves.

_Sal._ Then thou at last canst feel?

_Sar._ Feel! who feels not 380
Ingratitude?[14]

_Sal._ I will not pause to answer
With words, but deeds. Keep thou awake that energy
Which sleeps at times, but is not dead within thee,
And thou may'st yet be glorious in thy reign,
As powerful in thy realm. Farewell! [_Exit_ SALEMENES.

_Sar._ (_solus_). Farewell!
He's gone; and on his finger bears my signet,
Which is to him a sceptre. He is stern
As I am heedless; and the slaves deserve
To feel a master. What may be the danger,
I know not: he hath found it, let him quell it. 390
Must I consume my life--this little life--
In guarding against all may make it less?
It is not worth so much! It were to die
Before my hour, to live in dread of death,
Tracing revolt; suspecting all about me,