ril:--'tis a sullen scheme
Of Salemenes, to approve his zeal,
And show himself more necessary to us. 600

_Myr._ By all that's good and glorious take this counsel.

_Sar._ Business to-morrow.

_Myr._ Aye--or death to-night.

_Sar._ Why let it come then unexpectedly,
'Midst joy and gentleness, and mirth and love;
So let me fall like the plucked rose!--far better
Thus than be withered.

_Myr._ Then thou wilt not yield,
Even for the sake of all that ever stirred
A monarch into action, to forego
A trifling revel.

_Sar._ No.

_Myr._ Then yield for _mine_;
For my sake!

_Sar._ Thine, my Myrrha!

_Myr._ 'Tis the first 610
Boon which I ever asked Assyria's king.

_Sar._ That's true, and, wer't my kingdom, must be granted.
Well, for thy sake, I yield me. Pania, hence!
Thou hear'st me.

_Pan._ And obey. [_Exit_ PANIA.

_Sar._ I marvel at thee.
What is thy motive, Myrrha, thus to urge me?

_Myr._ Thy safety; and the certainty that nought
Could urge the Prince thy kinsman to require
Thus much from thee, but some impending danger.

_Sar._ And if I do not dread it, why shouldst thou?

_Myr._ Because _thou_ dost not fear, I fear for _thee_. 620

_Sar._ To-morrow thou wilt smile at these vain fancies.

_Myr._ If the worst come, I shall be where none weep,
And that is better than the power to smile.
And thou?

_Sar._ I shall be King, as heretofore.

_Myr._ Where?

_Sar._ With Baal, Nimrod, and Semiramis,
Sole in Assyria, or with them elsewhere.
Fate made me what I am--may make me nothing--
But either that or nothing must I be:
I will not live degraded.

_Myr._ Hadst thou felt
Thus always, none would ever dare degrade thee. 630

_Sar._ And who will do so now?

_Myr._ Dost thou suspect none?

_Sar._ Suspect!--that's a spy's office. Oh! we lose
Ten thousand precious moments in vain words,
And vainer fears. Within there!--ye slaves, deck
The Hall of Nimrod for the evening revel;
If I must make a prison of our palace,
At least w