I dare not.

_Sar._ Dare not?
While millions dare revolt with sword in hand!
That's strange. I pray thee break that loyal silence
Which loathes to shock its sovereign; we can hear
Worse than thou hast to tell.

_Pan._ Proceed--thou hearest.

_Offi._ The wall which skirted near the river's brink
Is thrown down by the sudden inundation 190
Of the Euphrates, which now rolling, swoln
From the enormous mountains where it rises,
By the late rains of that tempestuous region,
O'erfloods its banks, and hath destroyed the bulwark.

_Pan._ That's a black augury! it has been said
For ages, "That the City ne'er should yield
To man, until the River grew its foe."

_Sar._ I can forgive the omen, not the ravage.
How much is swept down of the wall?

_Offi._ About
Some twenty stadia.[29]

_Sar._ And all this is left 200
Pervious to the assailants?

_Offi._ For the present
The River's fury must impede the assault;
But when he shrinks into his wonted channel,
And may be crossed by the accustomed barks,
The palace is their own.

_Sar._ That shall be never.
Though men, and gods, and elements, and omens,
Have risen up 'gainst one who ne'er provoked them,
My father's house shall never be a cave
For wolves to horde and howl in.

_Pan._ With your sanction,
I will proceed to the spot, and take such measures 210
For the assurance of the vacant space
As time and means permit.

_Sar._ About it straight,
And bring me back, as speedily as full
And fair investigation may permit,
Report of the true state of this irruption
Of waters. [_Exeunt_ PANIA _and the Officer_.

_Myr._ Thus the very waves rise up
Against you.

_Sar._ They are not my subjects, girl,
And may be pardoned, since they can't be punished.

_Myr._ I joy to see this portent shakes you not.

_Sar._ I am past the fear of portents: they can tell me 220
Nothing I have not told myself since midnight:
Despair anticipates such things.

_Myr._