Sémiramis: The thunder comes, in anger or in love I know not: pardon, gracious gods! Arsaces Must win them to forgiveness. Ha! what voice Distracts me thus? and see, the tomb is open. O heaven! I die. [The ghost of Ninus comes out of the tomb.]

Assur: The shade of Ninus’ self. Gods! is it possible?

Arsaces: What sayest thou? speak, Thou god of terrors.

Assur: O unfold thy tale.

Sémiramis: Comest thou to pardon, or to punish me? It is thy sceptre and thy bed which here I have bestowed: speak, is he worthy of it? Determine: I obey thee.

The Ghost of Ninus: [To Arsaces.] Thou shalt reign, Arsaces, but there are some dreadful crimes Which thou must expiate: hie thee to the tomb, And to my ashes offer sacrifice: Serve me and Ninias: remember well Thy father: listen to the pontiff.

Arsaces: O! Thou venerable shade, thou demigod, Who dwellest within these walls, the sight of thee Inspires but does not amaze Arsaces: Yes, I will go, on peril of my life, And meet thee in the tomb: but tell me, what Must be the sacrifice? O speak! he’s gone. [The ghost retires towards the entrance of the mausoleum.]

Sémiramis: Thou honored spirit of my lord, permit me Thus on my knees to pour my sorrows forth, Permit me in the tomb to—

Ghost: [At the entrance of the tomb.] Stop: no farther: Respect my ashes: when the time is come I’ll send for thee. [The ghost goes into the tomb, and the mausoleum closes.]

Assur: Amazing!

Sémiramis: Follow me, My people, to the temple: be not thus Dismayed: for know, the gentle shade of Ninus Is not implacable; it loves your king, And therefore will it spare Sémiramis: Heaven that inspired my choice will now support it: Haste then, and pray for me, and for Arsaces.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Representing the porch of the temple.

Arsaces, Azema.

Arsaces: Do not oppress me in this hour of grief, And aggravate my sorrows; I have borne Enough already: this dread oracle Affrights me; prodigies on every side Disturb the course of nature: heaven deprives me Of all, if Azema is lost.

Azema: No more, False man, nor to the horrors of this day Add the remembrance of thy perfidy; No more the terrors of Sémiramis, The walking spectre, and the opening grave, Appal me now; of all the prodigies Which I have seen, thy base inconstancy Hath shocked me most: go on, appease the shade Of Ninus, and begin the sacrifice With Azema; behold, and strike the victim.