Mitranes: Assur is sprung of royal race, and claims The deference due to his authority: He is the favorite of Sémiramis, And thou, without a blush, mayest pay him homage.
Arsaces: Homage to him!
Assur: [To Cedar.] Ha! do my eyes deceive me, Or is Arsaces here without my
order? Amazing insolence!
Arsaces: What haughtiness!
Assur: [Advancing.] Come hither, youth: what new engagements here Have
brought you from the camp?
Arsaces: My duty, sir, And the queen’s orders.
Assur: Did the queen send for you?
Arsaces: She did.
Assur: But, know you not, with her commands You should have asked for mine?
Arsaces: I know not that, And should have thought the honor of her crown Debased by such a mean submission to thee: My lord, you must forgive a soldier’s roughness, We are bad courtiers: bred up in the plains Of Arbazan and Scythia, I have served Your court, but am not much acquainted with it.
Assur: Age, time, and place, perhaps, may teach you, sir. What would you with the queen? for know, young man, Assur alone can lead you to her presence.
Arsaces: I come to ask my valor’s best reward, The honor still to serve her.
Assur: Thou wantest more, Presumptuous boy! I know thy bold pretences To Azema, but that thou wouldst conceal.
Arsaces: Yes: I adore that lovely maid: her heart Would I prefer to empire: my respect, My tenderest love—
Assur: No more: thou knowest not whom Thou art insulting thus: what! join the race Of a Sarmatian to the demigods Of Tigris and Euphrates! mark me well: In pity to thy youth I would advise thee Ne’er, on thy peril, to Sémiramis Impart thy insolent request; for know, Rash boy, if thou shouldst dare to violate The rights of Assur, ’twill not pass unpunished.
Arsaces: I’ll go this instant: thou hast given me courage: Thus threatenings always terrify Arsaces: Thou hast no right, whate’er thy power may be, To affront a soldier who has served his queen, The state, and thee: perhaps my warmth offends; But thou art rasher than myself, to think That I would bend beneath thy servile yoke, Or tremble at thy power.
Assur: Perhaps thou mayest; I’ll teach thee what a subject may expect For insolence like this.
Arsaces: We both may learn it.
SCENE V.
Sémiramis, at the farther end of the stage, leaning on her women.
Otanes, Assur, Arsaces, Mitranes, in the Front.
Otanes: [Advancing.] My lord, the queen at present would be private: You must retire, and give her sorrows way: Withdraw, ye gods, the hand of vengeance from her!
Arsaces: How I lament her fate!
Assur: [To one of his attendants.] Let us begone, And study how we best may turn her griefs To our advantage. [Sémiramis comes forward, and is joined by Otanes: Otanes: My royal mistress, be yourself again, And wake once more to joy and happiness.]