Semiramis and Other Plays | Page 9

him
My fathers safe division of the city.
Nin. To you we leave him.
(Talks apart with Vassin and Sumbat)
Sem. Sir, what do you mean?
Khos. (Hurriedly) When Vassin came to take me into charge,
Sumbat contrived another should be sent--
Sem. We know the rest! But how save Artavan?
Khos. When I have entered Husak's camp he's free!
You trust me?
Sem. O, I must! I do! But not
To save my brother may I trust to you
The city's keys! You are
Assyria's foe--
Khos. Not now! No more a foe, but truest friend!
For in my heart you are Assyria,
And you I'd serve--
Nin. Cut short thy schooling, for
The city waits.
Sem. (Aloud, mapping in her hand) The river here divides

The eastern guard--(lowers her voice) I must not do this! No! Risk
every soul in Nineveh--
Khos. Did I
Not trust thee when I entered here? I knew
The face that shone upon
me in the battle
Would not betray me! Who gives perfect trust
Is
worthy of it! Thou dost know me true
By Heaven's sign that only
souls may read!
I can not say what I would say because
Thou art a
wife, but wert thou not a wife,
Though thou wert thousand times a
queen, I'd pour Such worship to your ears you would believe
My
heart would rend my body's walls and leap
Out of my bosom sooner
than beat once
A traitor to your trust! Take Ninus' ring!
Give me
this little one--(slipping a ring from her finger)
that hath enclosed
The sovereign rose and ruby of thy veins
That
dims his purple power--and thee I serve--
Your general--not his!
Whate'er you would
I will! Command me now--
Sem. Enough! Go, go!
Lose no more time!
Khos. O, in some dream to come,
When innocence may wear what form it will
And on thy waking
nature leave no blush,
May words I must not speak take life and pay

The debt they owe this hour!
Sem. I beg you go!
Assyria's in your hands!
Khos. Nay, in my heart!
Nin. Come, Artavan! No more delay! Your troops

Await before the citadel.
Khos. I go,
My lord.
(Confusion without, left rear. Enter an officer)
Off. Pardon, your majesty! A man
Who says he's brother to the queen, makes bold
To press before you!
Nin. Yet another brother?
Sem. No, no, my lord!
Off. He comes from Husak's camp.
Sem. It is some madman surely, or a spy
Who plays his wits are lost and takes this way
To force into the court!
Khos. I'll thrust him out!
He may mean danger to your person.
Nin. Nay,
We'll sport with him. Let him come in!
(Exit Officer)
Sem. My lord--
Nin. Your brother! Ho, ho, ho!
(Enter Artavan)
Art. My sister!

Sem. (Staring) Sir?
Art. Though queen, art thou not still my sister?
Sem. No!
Art. (Bowing with scornful ceremony)
Your majesty!
Nin. Ha! ha! His sister! Then
Thou wouldst be brother to the king?
Art. (Bitterly) My hope
Runs not so high, and even to her I now
Give up all claim. I'll own no
blood but that
In my own veins keeps honor! So farewell!
Nin. Be not so fast! Whence comest thou, my man?
Art. From Husak's camp. When he received thy word
His son should go to him, he set me free.
Sem. Oh, set you free!
Art. And now, O king--
Sem. (Seeing that the king is impressed) My lord,
If he came from the camp how has he passed
The city gates?
Nin. Ah ... true ... he could not pass.
Sem. (Mockingly) Perhaps he scaled the hundred feet of wall,
And crossed the rampart 'neath the arrow watch
Of towers
eighty-score!

Art. I found a way,
Proud woman!
Nin. How?
(As Artavan speaks Sola enters left front, and is held aside by Sumbat)
Art. This morning ere the battle
She who was then my sister gave me this.
(Shows paper)
'Twas some direction sent unto my father,
The lord Menones.
(Turning paper) On this side I found A map whose secret key I knew,
that marked
A passage 'neath the river. This I sought,
Found it
unguarded--
Nin. By the seven winds!--
(Enter an officer)
Off. O king!
Nin. You're of the northern watch?
Off. I am,
O king! The Armenians advance upon
The northern wall, but come
with lances down!
Art. They come in peace to meet the son of Husak!
Sem. O, haste, my lord! Haste, Artavan to duty!
Their rage when they shall learn the fate of Khosrove May give them
courage to assail our walls!
Go, brother!

Nin. Hold! This man speaks not as madmen!
Sem. Should I not know my brother, sir?
Nin. You should.
Choose which is he. The other we condemn
To death.
Art. (Holding out his arms)
Save me, Semiramis!
Khos. (Holding out his arms) Save me,
My sister!
Sem. (Going to Khosrove's arms)
Brother!
Nin. (To Khosrove) Haste thee to thy