KING.

Proceed--

VARDANES.

A wretch approach'd with wary step, his eye
Spoke half his tale, denoting villany.
In hollow murmurs thus he question'd me--
Was I the Prince?--I answer'd to content him--
Then in his hand he held this paper forth.
"Take this," says he, "this Bethas greets thee with,
Keep but your word our plot will meet success."
I snatch'd it with more rashness than discretion,
Which taught him his mistake. In haste he drew,
And aim'd his dagger at my breast, but paid
His life, a forfeit, for his bold presuming.

KING.

O Villain! Villain!

VARDANES.

Here, read this, my Lord--
I read it, and cold horror froze my blood.
And shook me like an ague.

KING.

Ha!--what's this?--
"Doubt not Arabia's aid, set me but free,
I'll easy pass on the old cred'lous King,
For fair Evanthe's Father."--Thus to atoms--
Oh! could I tear these cursed traitors thus.

[_Tears the paper into pieces._

VARDANES.

Curses avail you nothing, he has pow'r,
And may abuse it to your prejudice.

KING.

I am resolv'd--

VARDANES.

Tho' Pris'ner in his camp,
Yet, Bethas was attended like a Prince,
As tho' he still commanded the Arabians.
'Tis true, when they approach'd the royal city,
He threw him into chains to blind our eyes,
A shallow artifice--

KING.

That is a Truth.

VARDANES.

And, yet, he is your Son.

KING.

Ah! that indeed--

VARDANES.

Why, that still heightens his impiety,
To rush to empire thro' his Father's blood,
And, in return of life, to give him death.

KING.

Oh! I am all on fire, yes I must tear
These folds of venom from me.

VARDANES.

Sure 'twas Lysias
That cross'd the passage now.

KING.

'Tis to my wish.
I'll in, and give him orders to arrest
My traitor Son and Bethas--Now Vardanes
Indulge thy Father in this one request--
Seize, with some horse, Evanthe, and bear her
To your command--Oh! I'll own my weakness--
I love with fondness mortal never knew--
Not Jove himself, when he forsook his heav'n,
And in a brutal shape disgrac'd the God,
E'er lov'd like me.

VARDANES.

I will obey you, Sir.

SCENE IX.

VARDANES [_alone_].

I'll seize her, but I'll keep her for myself,
It were a sin to give her to