Yet these are trophies More worthy of a people and their prince Than songs, and lutes, and feasts, and concubines, And lavished treasures, and contemnéd virtues. Sar. Or for my trophies I have founded cities: There's Tarsus and Anchialus, both built In one day what could that bloodloving beldame, My martial grandam, chaste Semiramis, I own thy merit in those founded cities, Sar. Shame me! By Baal, the cities, though well built, Are not more goodly than the verse! Say what Thou wilt 'gainst me, my mode of life or rule, But nothing 'gainst the truth of that brief record. Why, those few lines contain the history Of all things human: hear danapalus, "Sar249 The king, and son of Anacyndaraxes, In one day built Anchialus and Tarsus. Eat, drink, and love; the rest's not worth a fillip." Sal. A worthy moral, and a wise inscription, me For a king to put up before his subjects! Sar. Oh, thou wouldst have doubtless set up edicts When we take those from others, we nor know What we have taken, nor the thing we give. Sal. Wouldst thou not take their Sar. That's a hard question But Cannot the thing be done without? Whom thou suspectest? - Let them be arrested. Sal. I would thou wouldst not ask me; the next moment 300 Will send my answer through thy babbling troop Of paramours, and thence fly o'er the palace, Even to the city, and so baffle all. Sar. Thou knowest I have done so Take thou the signet. Sal. [Gives the signet. I have one more request. If need be, wilt thou wear them? Sar. Will I not? .Oh! if it must be so, and these rash slaves Will not be ruled with less, I'll use the sword Till they shall wish it turned into a distaff. Sal. They say thy Sceptre's turned to that already. Sar. That's false! but let them say so: the old Greeks, Of whom our captives often sing, related The same of their chief hero, Hercules, Because he loved a Lydian queen: thou Sal. Passing my own as suited me. They say thou art unfit to be a monarch. unfit To be aught save a monarch; else for me The meanest Mede might be the king instead. Sal. There is one Mede, at least, who seeks to be so. Sar. What mean'st thou ! 'tis thy Few questions, and I'm not of curious nature. Take the fit steps; and, since necessity Requires, I sanction and support thee. Ne'er 370 Was man who more desired to rule in peace The peaceful only if they rouse me, better They had conjured up stern Nimrod from his ashes, |