Assur: Azema is safe; She must be mine; but wherefore send so far For this Arsaces? she supports him too; And when I would chastise his insolence, Her interposing hand prevents me still: A minister without the power, a prince Without a subject, girt around with honors, And yet a poor dependent, what is Assur? All, all unite to persecute me now: A peevish mistress, and a haughty rival, Consulted priests that teach their gods to speak Against me; with Sémiramis, who strives To free herself, yet trembles at my presence: But we shall see how far this proud ingrate Will urge an angry rebel who defies her.

SCENE V.

Assur, Otanes, Cedar.

Otanes: My lord, the queen commands you to attend her In secret, and alone.

Assur: I shall obey Her sacred orders, and with care perform My sovereign’s will.

SCENE VI.

Assur, Cedar.

Assur: Whence springs this sudden change? These three months past she has avoided me, Even as the object of her hatred: oft When she beheld me she would cast her eyes Down on the earth, as if she loathed the sight: Whene’er we met, ’twas in a gaping crowd Of hearers; when she spoke, her sighs and tears Would interrupt our converse, or perchance Silence was all the answer she would give me. What can she want? What can she say to me? But here she comes: ’tis she—wait you within. [To Cedar.]

SCENE VII.

Sémiramis, Assur.

Sémiramis: My lord, I come to ease a troubled heart Of its long hidden woes, and pour it all Before you: I have ruled o’er Asia long, And not ingloriously: Babylon perhaps May pay this tribute to my memory, And say Sémiramis deserved to rank Among the greatest of her kings: thy hands Have helped me to support the weight of empire; With absolute dominion have I ruled, Adored by all, and crowned with victory On every side: intoxicated long With flattery’s pleasing incense, I forgot The crimes that raised me to this envied state; Forgot the justice of high heaven: it comes; It speaks to me: Sémiramis must yield: This noble structure, which I fondly thought Superior to the injuries of time, Is tottering now, and shakes from its foundation; Means must be found to strengthen and support it.

Assur: The work is yours, and you must finish it: Foresee the attacks of time, and stop his rapine: Who shall obscure the lustre of thy days, Or wherefore fearest thou heaven whilst earth obeys thee?

Sémiramis: Yonder the ashes of my husband lie; Canst thou look there, and wonder at my fears?