Semiramis, and Other Plays

Act Iv.

SCENE 1. The tent of Husak

CHARACTERS

NINUS, king of Assyria HUSAK, king of Armenia KHOSROVE, son of Husak MENONES, governor of Nineveh ARTAVAN, son of Menones SUMBAT, friend of Artavan VASSIN, officer of the king HADDO, a guard ARMIN, a guard DOKAHRA, woman to Semiramis SOLA, wife of Artavan SEMIRAMIS, daughter of Menones

Officers, heralds, messengers, guards, soldiers, dancers, &c.

SEMIRAMIS

Act I.

Scene: Within the tent of Menones, on the plain before Nineveh. Left, centre, entrance to tent from the plain. Curtains rear, forming partition with exits right and left of centre. The same at right, with one exit, centre. Couch rear, between exits. From a tent-pole near exit, right centre, hang helmet and a suit of chain armor.

Sola parts curtains rear, left, and looks out, showing effort to keep awake. She steps forward.

Sol. Hist! Armin! Haddo!

(Enter two guards, left centre)

Still no news?

Arm. None, lady.

Sol. Oh, Artavan, what keeps thee?

Haddo. He will come.

Sol. Semiramis is sleeping. I am weary, But I'll not sleep.

Arm. Rest, madam; we will call you.

Sol. My lord shall find me watching, night or day!

Arm. Two nights you have not slept.

Sol. Ten thousand nights, I think, good Armin.

Had. We will call you, madam.

Arm. With the first hoof-beat ringing from the north!

Sol. (At curtains, drowsily) I'll be--awake.

(Goes in)

Had. She'll sleep now.

Arm. Ay, she must.

Had. And I'd not call her for god Bel himself!

Arm. Hark! (Goes to entrance) 'Tis a horseman!

Had. (Following him) Two!

Arm. Right! We must rouse The lady Semiramis.

Had. Make sure 'tis he. (They step out)

Voice without. Is this Menones' tent?

Arm. (Without) Ay, Sir! The word!

Voice. God Ninus!

(Semiramis enters, through curtains right centre)

Sem. Artavan! His voice!

(Enter Artavan, followed by Sumbat who waits near entrance)

Sem. My brother!

Art. Semiramis! (Embracing her) Three years this kiss Has gathered love for thee!

Sem. Has 't been so long Since I left Gazim?

Art. Ay,--since Ninus called Our father here, and Gazim lost her dove.

Sem. (On his bosom, laughing softly) The dove of Gazim,--so they called me then. But now--(proudly, moving from him) the lioness of Nineveh!

Art. A warrior's daughter!

Sem. And a warrior's sister! O, I have prayed that you might come! The king Is gracious--loves the brave--

Art. Our father?

Sem. Ah!

Art. He's well?

Sem. Is 't day?

Art. Almost.

Sem. At dawn he meets The Armenians on the plain.

Art. Then he is well!

Sem. He went forth well,--and brave as when he drove The Ghees from Gazim with his single sword! But--oh--he needs you, Artavan, he needs you!

(Comes closer speaking rapidly)

I'm with him night and day but when he battles-- I buckle on his arms--cheer him away-- And wipe the foe's blood from his mighty sword When he returns! But I've a fear so strange! At times he's moved quite from himself,--so far That I look on him and see not our father! If I dared speak I'd almost say that he Who never lost a battle shrinks from war!

Art. (Starting) No, no! Not that! You borrow eyes of fear And see what is not!

Sem. But I've felt the drops Cold on his brow, and raised his lifeless arms Whose corded strength hung slack as a sick child's! O, it is true! And you must stand by him! Fight at his side! I thought to do it! I! See here, my armor!

(Moving with him to where the armor hangs)

When I had this made And swore to wear it in the fight, 'twas then He yielded--said that you might come--

(Sound of trumpets at distance. They listen)

The charge!

Art. I go to him!

Sem. (Taking a paper from her bosom)

Take this! He'll understand! 'Tis some direction later thought upon!

Art. My wife is safe--

Sem. With me! Three days ago She came. And now she sleeps--

(Points to curtains, rear left)

Art. In there? One kiss--

Sem. Nay, nay, you go to battle, and should keep Steel in your eye, not woman's tears!... Who comes With you?

(Looks toward entrance where Sumbat stands)

O, Sumbat!

(He advances and drops on knee. She gives him both hands and he rises)

Welcome! But no time For gallant greetings! We are warriors here!

(A roll of battle is heard)

Art. We go!

Sem. Ride! ride! The battle over, ye Shall meet the king!

(Artavan and Sumbat hasten out. The noise of departure brings Sola to curtains)

Sol. What is it? Who was here?

Sem. (Absorbed) They'll reach my father!

Sol. Not Artavan?

Sem. Ay--he.

Sol. And gone--my husband! Without a word--a look!

Sem. The battle calls, And he who wears ambition's spur must ride!

Sol. Ambition! O, you think of naught but war And glory! Hast thou no heart, Semiramis?

Sem. I' faith, and love thee with it! (kisses her)

Sol. Trifle not! Hadst thou a heart thou couldst not live a maid, So beautiful, and never dream of love! Thou'rt some strange thing--

Sem. What, wilt be angry? Come! I'll tell thee all he said--thy Artavan,-- Ay, every word, and how his eyes grew soft With dimness sweeter than their vanquished light When thou wert his dear theme!

(They move to curtains. Semiramis stops and listens)

Go in. I'll come. (Sola goes in)

Sem. (Listening) Is that a chariot? My father!... Nay! He's safe with Artavan! Whatever comes His son will be his heart and bear him up! Safe, safe, Menones, and thy grizzled locks Shall wear their laurels to an honored grave!

(Noise of approaching chariot)

It is a chariot! Can it be the king?

(Chariot stops without)

Armin, who is it comes?

Arm. (Appearing at entrance) The Lord Menones.

(Semiramis sways, steadies herself, and waits. Menones enters, livid and trembling. In form he is large and mighty, but is grey with age. He staggers over to couch and sits upon it, groaning heavily. Semiramis looks at him in silence. Then approaches and speaks in a low terrified tone)

Sem. You fled the battle!

Men. Oh!

Sem. You must go back!

Men. Too late!

Sem. (Gaining courage and putting her hands sternly on his shoulders) No!

Men. We must fly!

Sem. Fly! Never!

Men. (Rising) Come! The chariot! The king will leave my race No blood on earth!

Sem. If it be coward's blood 'Tis better lost!

Men. Come, come! We yet can fly!

Sem. Back to the battle! There I'll go with thee!

Men. I can not! Oh, the terror's here--here--here! It clutches at my heart!

Sem. Tear out thy heart And keep thy honor whole!

(He falls on the couch, shaken with suffering. She kneels by him pleading passionately)

Sem. Up, father, up! You must go back! You know not what you've done! Our Artavan--

Men. Praise Bel, he's safe in Gazim!

Sem. No ... he is here ... he came, and rode to find you.

Men. He came? Gods, no!

Sem. Nay, true! He's in the battle! Now you will go! You will go back, my father! He does not know the plan! He can not lead Without your counsel! Come--your voice--his arm-- And all is safe!

(He rises; noise of battle; he sinks shuddering)

Men. No--I'll die here--not there!

(Semiramis stands in despair; then lifts her arms praying)

Sem. O mighty Belus, give me back my father!

(She listens with sudden eagerness and goes to tent door)

False! false! They're verging south! North, north, ye cowards!

(Rushes to her armor and takes it down. Shakes the curtains right, and calls)

Dokahra! (Throws off her robe and begins putting on armor. Enter Dokahra, right centre)

Dok. Mistress!

Sem. Buckle here! Be quick!

Men. You shall not go!

Sem. You have no might or right To stay me now!

Men. You will be lost!

Sem. Lost? No! Did I not plan this battle? Haste, Dokahra! Our lives are in your fingers! Courage, father!

(Going, Dokahra still adjusting armor)

The king has smiled on me--I do not know-- But there was such a promise in his smile-- And if the victory's mine he will forgive!

Dok. This rivet, mistress!

(Noise of battle)

Sem. Artavan, I come!

(Rushes out. Sound of chariot rolling away. Dokahra looks stolidly at Menones for a moment, then turns through curtains, right. Menones presses his heart in pain, moans wretchedly, and draws a blanket over his body)

Men. Is this the form that bright Decreto loved? But where the soul, O, gods! (Lies shuddering)

Voice without. The King!

(Menones draws blanket over his face and becomes motionless. Enter the king, with Vassin)

Nin. (At entrance) Stand here! Godagon, haste! Ride to Menones; say We wait within his tent; his messengers Will reach us here.

(A rider spurs off without. Ninus and Vassin advance within the tent)

Vas. Your majesty, suppose The Armenians gain, you'll be in danger here. Why come so near for news?

Nin. For news, good Vassin? I had a better reason. Semiramis Tents with her father.

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