For the assurance of the vacant space As time and means permit. Sard. About it straight, Sard. Rage-not droop–it should have And bring me back, as speedily as full And fair investigation may permit, [Exeunt Pania and the Officer. Myrrha. Thus the very waves rise up Against you. Sard. They are not my subjects, girl, And may be pardon'd, since they can't be punish'd. Myrrha. I joy to see this portent shakes you not. Sard. I am past the fear of portents: All that can come, and how to meet it, our Resolves, if firm, may merit a more noble Word than this is to give it utterance. But what are words to us? we have well nigh done With them and all things. Myrrha. Save one deed-the last And greatest to all mortals; crowning-act Of all that was-or is-or is to beThe only thing common to all mankind, So different in their births, tongues, sexes, natures, Hues, features, climes, times, feelings, intellects, Without one point of union save in this, To which we tend, for which we're born, | Faggots, pine-nuts, and wither'd leaves, and such Things as catch fire and blaze with one sole spark; Bring cedar, too, and precious drugs, and And mighty planks, to nourish a tall pile; Sard. I have said it, [Exit Pania. Pania. And could keep my faith Sard. You have done your duty faith-Anon - what the whole earth shall ne'er fully and as My worthy Pania! further ties between us down forget. PANIA, returning with a Herald. Pania. My king, in going forth upon my duty, This herald has been brought before me, craving An audience. Sard. Let him speak. Herald. The King Arbaces— The anointed high-priest— Sard. Of what god, or demon? and not Reply to mine. New monarchs of an hour's growth as despotic As sovereigns swathed in purple, and enthroned From birth to manhood! Herald. My life waits your breath. Yours (I speak humbly) — but it may beyours May also be in danger scarce less imminent: Shall not be one of wrath. Here, fellow, take [Gives him a golden cup from a table near. This golden goblet, let it hold your wine, And think of me; or melt it into ingots, And think of nothing but their weight and value. Herald. I thank you doubly for my life, and this Most gorgeous gift, which renders it more precious. But must I bear no answer? Sard. Yes,-I ask An hour's truce to consider. Herald. But an hour's? Sard. An hour's: if at the expiration of That time your masters hear no further from me, They are to deem that I reject their terms, And act befittingly. Herald. I shall not fail To be a faithful legate of your pleasure. Whate'er it be. Sard. Commend me to Beleses; Now, my good Pania!-quick! with what I order'd. Pania. My lord, — the soldiers are already charged. And, see! they enter. [Soldiers enter, and form a Pile about the Throne. Sard. Higher, my good soldiers, And thicker yet; and see that the foundation Be such as will not speedily exhaust Its own too subtle flame; nor yet be quench'd With aught officious aid would bring to quell it. Let the throne form the core of it; I would not Leave that, save fraught with fire unquenchable, To the new comers. Frame the whole as if "Twere to enkindle the strong tower of our Inveterate enemies. Now it bears an aspect! How say you, Pania, will this pile suffice For a king's obsequies? Pania. Ay, for a kingdom's. Sard. And blame me? Let me but fire the pile and share it with you. Myrrha. Tis the soldier's Pania. Tis most strange! Myrrha. But not so rare, my Pania, as thon think'st it. In the mean time, live thou.-Farewell! the pile Is ready. Pania. I should shame to leave my sovereign With but a single female to partake Sard. Too many far have heralded Me to the dust already. Get thee hence; Enrich thee. Pania. And live wretched! Thy vow;-'tis sacred and irrevocable. Sard. Search well my chamber, Who slew me: and when you have borne away All safe off to your boats, blow one long blast Upon the trumpet as you quit the palace. And as you sail, turn back; but still keep on Pania. That royal hand! Let me then once more press it to my lips; And these poor soldiers who throng round you, and Would fain die with you! In which they would have revell'd, I bear To you in that absorbing element, A people's records, and a hero's acts; [The Soldiers and Pania throng round Sard. My best! my last friends! Hence, and be happy: trust me, I am not [Exeunt Pania and the Soldiers. Myrrha. These men were honest: it is comfort still That our last looks shall be on loving faces. If at this moment, for we now are on from This leap through flame into the future, I shall not love thee less; nay, perhaps more, Myrrha. Shall I light One of the torches which lie heap'd beneath relics Of arms, and records, monuments, and spoils, MYRRHA returns with a lighted Torch in one I've lit the lamp which lights us to the stars. Myrrha. Tis my country's custom to Sard. And mine To make libations amongst men. [Sardanapalus takes the cup, and after And this libation Is for the excellent Beleses. Dwells thy mind rather upon that man's name Sard. The other Purged from the dross of earth, and earthly | And loveliest spot of earth! farewell Ionia! passion, Be thou still free and beautiful, and far Mix pale with thine. A single thought | Aloof from desolation! My last prayer yet irks me. Sard. Say it. Myrrha. It is that no kind hand will gather The dust of both into one urn. Sard. The better: Rather let them be borne abroad upon And its enormous walls of reeking ruin, Or kine, for none know whether those Be for their monarch, or their ox-god Apis: Myrrha Then farewell, thou earth! Was for thee, my last thoughts, save one, were of thee! Sard. And that? [The trumpet of Pania sounds without. Sard. Hark! Myrrha. Now! Sard. Adieu, Assyria! I loved thee well, my own, my fathers' land, Myrrha. Art thou ready? WERNER, A TRAGEDY. TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS GÖTHE BY ONE OF HIS HUMBLEST ADMIRERS THIS PREFACE. merely refer the reader to the original story, that he may see to what extent I have borrowed from it; and am not unwilling that he should find much greater pleasure in perusing it than the drama which is founded upon its contents. But I have generally found that those who had read it, agreed with me in their estimate of the singular power of mind and conception which it developes. I should also add conception, rather than execution; for the story might, perhaps, have been more developed with greater advantage. Amongst those whose opinions agreed with mine upon this story, I could mention some THE following drama is taken entirely very high names; but it is not necessary, from the "German's Tale, Kruitzner," nor indeed of any use; for every one must published many years ago in "Lee's Can-judge according to their own feelings. I terbury Tales;" written (I believe) by two sisters, of whom one furnished only this story and another, both of which are considered superior to the remainder of the collection. I have adopted the characters, plan, and even the language, of many parts of this story. Some of the characters are modified or altered, a few of the names changed, and one character (Ida of Stralenheim) added by myself: but in the rest the original is chiefly followed. When I was young (about fourteen, I think) I first read this tale, which made a deep impression upon me; and may, indeed, be said to contain the germ of much that I have since written. I am not sure that it ever was very popular; or at any rate its popularity has since been eclipsed by that of other great writers in the same department. I had begun a drama upon this tale so far back as 1815 (the first I ever attempted, except one at thirteen years old, called "Ulric and Ilvina,” which I had sense enough to burn), and had nearly completed an act, when I was interrupted by circumstances. This is somewhere amongst my papers in England; but as it has not been found, I have re-written the first, and added the subsequent acts. The whole is neither intended, nor in any shape adapted, for the stage. February, 1822. |