ingers)

Sem. Why go in haste?

Khos. I left my father sick.
He will be troubled till I come again.

Sem. How dared you trust--

Khos. What would I not have dared
To look on thee again?... My horsemen wait....

(Waving toward left)

I come!

Sem. Farewell!... Armenia is my friend?
I'm sad.... The manner of this death.... It weighs
Upon me.

Khos. Let it not. Thou'rt innocent

Sem. O, some may doubt!

Khos. But who wrongs Virtue puts
A crown upon her! If thou hadst foreknown
The accident--

Sem. The accident?

Khos. 'Twas not
Designed?

Sem. It was ... for you.

Khos. By Ninus?

Sem. Ay.
You were to die.

Khos. Then you--you knew--that he--

(Starts from her in horror)

Sem. What's in thy mind? What thought doth paint thy face
In dreadful silence? Oh! you think that I--

(Looks at him with equal horror. Removes farther from him,
regains composure, and speaks with haughty coldness)

This serves me well! Right well, Armenian!
Yes--yes--I knew--I knew the king would fall.
But knew, too, sir, that Vassin was below,
And, by my precious gods, I did not dream
He would not save his king! While you--my guest--
You would have gone to death!

Khos. Forgive me!

(Semiramis walks farther, not heeding him)

Oh,
I found a stream that ran from heavenly springs
And in it cast the soot of hell!

Sem. Well served--
Well served, Semiramis!... I was so sad ...
And would not be content to let him go ...
I wanted but a word ... a word to cheer me ...
And now I have it--murderess!

Khos. (Who has advanced to her) No, no,
I did not say it!

Sem. The tongue may well keep silent
When eyes speak lightning. I have heard too much!
'T were better I had let you die!

Khos.