_ But
An hour ago, who dared to term me such 370
Had held his life but lightly--as it is,
I must forgive you, even as he forgave us-- Semiramis
herself would not have done it.
Byron
_ I told you that you had too much despised him,
And that there was some royalty within him--What
then? he is the nobler foe.
_Arb._ But we
The meaner.--Would he had not spared us!
_Bel._ So--
Wouldst thou be sacrificed thus readily? 360
_Arb._ No--but it had been better to have died
Than live ungrateful.
_Bel._ Oh, the souls of some men!
Thou wouldst digest what some call treason, and
Fools treachery--and, behold, upon the sudden,
Because for something or for nothing, this
Rash reveller steps, ostentatiously,
'Twixt thee and Salemenes, thou art turned
Into--what shall I say?--Sardanapalus!
I know no name more ignominious.
_Arb.
_ But
An hour ago, who dared to term me such 370
Had held his life but lightly--as it is,
I must forgive you, even as he forgave us-- Semiramis
herself would not have done it.
_Bel._ No--the Queen liked no sharers of the kingdom,
Not even a husband.[17]
_Arb._ I must serve him truly----
_Bel._ And humbly?
_Arb._ No, sir, proudly--being honest.
I shall be nearer thrones than you to heaven;
And if not quite so haughty, yet more lofty.
You may do your own deeming--you have codes,
And mysteries, and corollaries of 380
Right and wrong, which I lack for my direction,
And must pursue but what a plain heart teaches.
And now you know me.
