But many causers:--if ye meet with such
In the exercise of your inquisitive function 310
On earth, or should you read of it in heaven
In some mysterious twinkle of the stars,
Which are your chronicles, I pray you note,
That there are worse things betwixt earth and heaven
Than him who ruleth many and slays none;
And, hating not himself, yet loves his fellows
Enough to spare even those who would not spare him
Were they once masters--but that's doubtful. Satraps!
Your swords and persons are at liberty
To use them as ye will--but from this hour 320
I have no call for either. Salemenes!
Follow me.

[_Exeunt_ SARDANAPALUS, SALEMENES, _and the Train, etc.,
leaving_ ARBACES _and_ BELESES.

_Arb._ Beleses!

_Bel._ Now, what think you?

_Arb._ That we are lost.

_Bel._ That we have won the kingdom.

_Arb._ What? thus suspected--with the sword slung o'er us
But by a single hair, and that still wavering,
To be blown down by his imperious breath
Which spared us--why, I know not.

_Bel._ Seek not why;
But let us profit by the interval.[n]
The hour is still our own--our power the same--
The night the same we destined. He hath changed 330
Nothing except our ignorance of all
Suspicion into such a certainty
As must make madness of delay.

_Arb._ And yet--

_Bel._ What, doubting still?

_Arb._ He spared our lives, nay, more,
Saved them from Salemenes.

_Bel._ And how long
Will he so spare? till the first drunken minute.

_Arb._ Or sober, rather. Yet he did it nobly;
Gave royally what we had forfeited
Basely----

_Bel._ Say bravely.

_Arb._ Somewhat of both, perhaps--
But it has touched me, and, whate'er betide, 340
I will no further on.

_Bel._ And lose the world!

_Arb._ Lose any thing except my own esteem.

_Bel._ I blush that we should owe our lives to such
A king of distaffs!

_Arb._ But no less we owe them;
And I should blush far more to take the grantor's![16]

_Bel._ Thou may'st endure whate'er thou wilt--t