No More Learning

Altada! Where's Altada?

_Sfe. _ Waiting, Sire,
Without: he has your shield in readiness.

_Sar. _ True--I forgot--he is my shield-bearer
By right of blood, derived from age to age.
Myrrha, embrace me;--yet once more--once more-- 170
Love me, whate'er betide. My chiefest glory
Shall be to make me worthier of your love.

_Myr. _ Go forth, and conquer!
[_Exeunt_ SARDANAPALUS _and_ SFERO.
Now, I am alone:
All are gone forth, and of that all how few
Perhaps return! Let him but vanquish, and
Me perish! If he vanquish not, I perish;
For I will not outlive him. He has wound
About my heart, I know not how nor why.
Not for that he is King; for now his kingdom
Rocks underneath his throne, and the earth yawns 180
To yield him no more of it than a grave;
And yet I love him more. Oh, mighty Jove!
Forgive this monstrous love for a barbarian,
Who knows not of Olympus! yes, I love him
Now--now--far more than----Hark--to the war shout!
Methinks it nears me. If it should be so,
[_She draws forth a small vial_.
This cunning Colchian poison, which my father
Learned to compound on Euxine shores, and taught me
How to preserve, shall free me! It had freed me
Long ere this hour, but that I loved until 190
I half forgot I was a slave:--where all
Are slaves save One, and proud of servitude,
So they are served in turn by something lower
In the degree of bondage: we forget
That shackles worn like ornaments no less
Are chains. Again that shout! and now the clash
Of arms--and now--and now----

_Enter_ ALTADA.

_Alt. _ Ho, Sfero, ho!

_Myr. _ He is not here; what wouldst thou with him? How
Goes on the conflict?

_Alt.