Semiramis and Other Plays | Page 2

Olive Tilford Dargan
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
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