e blind love 260
Of a fond mother, but as a fond woman.
They are now the only tie between us.

_Sar._ Deem not
I have not done you justice: rather make them
Resemble your own line than their own Sire.
I trust them with you--to you: fit them for
A throne, or, if that be denied----You have heard
Of this night's tumults?

_Zar._ I had half forgotten,
And could have welcomed any grief save yours,
Which gave me to behold your face again.

_Sar._ The throne--I say it not in fear--but 'tis 270
In peril: they perhaps may never mount it:
But let them not for this lose sight of it.
I will dare all things to bequeath it them;
But if I fail, then they must win it back
Bravely--and, won, wear it wisely, not as I[ag]
Have wasted down my royalty.

_Zar._ They ne'er
Shall know from me of aught but what may honour
Their father's memory.

_Sar._ Rather let them hear
The truth from you than from a trampling world.
If they be in adversity, they'll learn 280
Too soon the scorn of crowds for crownless Princes,
And find that all their father's sins are theirs.
My boys!--I could have borne it were I childless.

_Zar._ Oh! do not say so--do not poison all
My peace left, by unwishing that thou wert
A father. If thou conquerest, they shall reign,
And honour him who saved the realm for them,
So little cared for as his own; and if----

_Sar._ 'Tis lost, all Earth will cry out, "thank your father!"
And they will swell the echo with a curse. 290

_Zar._ That they shall never do; but rather honour
The name of him, who, dying like a king,
In his last hours did more for his own memory
Than many monarchs in a length of days,
Which date the flight of time, but make no annals.

_Sar._ Our annals draw perchance unto their close;
But at the least, whate'er the past, their end
Shall be like their beginning--memorable.

_Zar._ Yet, be not rash--be careful of your life,
Live but for those who love.

_Sar._ And who are they? 300
A slave, who loves from passion--I'll not say
Ambition--she has seen thrones shake, and loves;
A few friends who