The God
Sardanapalus!
Byron
_Zam. _ No;
All hearts are happy, and all voices bless
The King of peace--who holds a world in jubilee.
_Sar. _ Art sure of that? I have heard otherwise;
Some say that there be traitors.
_Zam. _ Traitors they 20
Who dare to say so! --'Tis impossible.
What cause?
_Sar. _ What cause? true,--fill the goblet up;
We will not think of them: there are none such,
Or if there be, they are gone.
_Alt. _ Guests, to my pledge!
Down on your knees, and drink a measure to
The safety of the King--the monarch, say I?
The God Sardanapalus!
[ZAMES _and the Guests kneel, and exclaim_--
Mightier than
His father Baal, the God Sardanapalus!
[_It thunders as they kneel; some start up in confusion_.
_Zam. _ Why do you rise, my friends? in that strong peal
His father gods consented.
_Myr. _ Menaced, rather. 30
King, wilt thou bear this mad impiety?
_Sar. _ Impiety! --nay, if the sires who reigned
Before me can be Gods, I'll not disgrace
Their lineage. But arise, my pious friends;
Hoard your devotion for the Thunderer there:
I seek but to be loved, not worshipped.
_Alt. _ Both--
Both you must ever be by all true subjects.
_Sar.
