Sémiramis: O no: my guilt’s too flagrant.

Arsaces: But repentance May blot it out.

Sémiramis: Ninus hath given to thee The reins of empire, thou must not offend His vengeful spirit.

Arsaces: O it will relent At thy remorse, and soften at my tears. Otanes, in the name of heaven, preserve My mother, and conceal the horrid secret.

ACT V.

SCENE I.

Sémiramis, Otanes.

Otanes: O ’twas some god that smiled propitious on thee, Who thus prevented these abhorred nuptials; Whilst nature shuddered at the approaching danger, Gave thee a son, and saved thee thus from incest. The oracles of Ammon, and the voice From hell, the shades of Ninus, all declared The day appointed for thy second marriage Should end thy sorrows, but they never said That marriage e’er should be accomplished: No: The nuptials were prepared: thou hast fulfilled Thy destiny: thy son reveres thee still: Mild is the justice of offended heaven, Which only asks a private sacrifice: This day Sémiramis shall still be happy.

Sémiramis: Alas! there is no happiness for me, Otanes: Ninias smiles indeed upon me: A mother’s sorrows for a time will plead More strongly with him than the blood of Ninus, And my past crimes; but soon his tenderness And filial love may change perhaps to wrath And fierce resentment for a murdered father.

Otanes: What fearest thou from a son? what dire presage—

Sémiramis: Fear is the natural punishment of guilt, And still attends it: this detested Assur, Has he attempted aught, say, does he know What passed of late, and who Arsaces is?

Otanes: The dreadful secret still remains unknown; The shade of Ninus is by all revered; But how to comprehend the oracle They know not; how they must avenge his ashes; How serve his son—the minds of men are struck With wild astonishment, in silence now They wait the hour when the self-opened tomb Shall banish all their fears, and make them happy. Meantime the soldiers are in arms, the people Crowd to the altars; wretched Azema, Trembling and pale, with terror in her looks, Walks round the tomb, and lifts her hands to heaven; Whilst Ninias stands astonished in the temple, Prepared to strike his victim yet unknown: The gloomy Assur meditates revenge, Unites the remnants of his scattered party, And forms some dark design.

Sémiramis: I have kept fair Too long already with him: seize the traitor, Otanes, bear him to my son in chains; Ninias shall soon appease eternal justice, At least with Assur’s blood, my vile accomplice. Ninus, thou seest I am a mother still; Thou seest my heart, O take it, take it all, And may it rise a grateful sacrifice! Ha! who approaches with such hasty steps? How everything appals my fluttering soul!

SCENE II.

Sémiramis, Azema, Otanes.