ar?

_Bel._ The soldier.

_Arb._ And the priest, it may be: but
If you thought thus, or think, why not retain
Your king of concubines? why stir me up?
Why spur me to this enterprise? your own 60
No less than mine?

_Bel._ Look to the sky!

_Arb._ I look.

_Bel._ What seest thou?

_Arb._ A fair summer's twilight, and
The gathering of the stars.

_Bel._ And midst them, mark
Yon earliest, and the brightest, which so quivers,
As it would quit its place in the blue ether.

_Arb._ Well?

_Bel._ 'Tis thy natal ruler--thy birth planet.

_Arb._ (_touching his scabbard_).
My star is in this scabbard: when it shines,
It shall out-dazzle comets. Let us think
Of what is to be done to justify
Thy planets and their portents. When we conquer, 70
They shall have temples--aye, and priests--and thou
Shalt be the pontiff of--what Gods thou wilt;
For I observe that they are ever just,
And own the bravest for the most devout.

_Bel._ Aye, and the most devout for brave--thou hast not
Seen me turn back from battle.

_Arb._ No; I own thee
As firm in fight as Babylonia's captain,
As skilful in Chaldea's worship: now,
Will it but please thee to forget the priest,
And be the warrior?

_Bel._ Why not both?

_Arb._ The better; 80
And yet it almost shames me, we shall have
So little to effect. This woman's warfare
Degrades the very conqueror. To have plucked
A bold and bloody despot from his throne,
And grappled with him, clashing steel with steel,
That were heroic or to win or fall;
But to upraise my sword against this silkworm,[15]
And hear him whine, it may be----

_Bel._ Do not deem it:
He has that in him which may make you strife yet;
And were he all you think, his guards are hardy, 90
And headed by the cool, stern Salemenes.

_Arb._ They'll not resist.

_Bel._ Why not? they are soldiers.

_Arb._ True,
And therefore need a soldier to command them.

_Bel._ That Salemenes is.