flowers like----

_Myr._ Victims.

_Sar._ No, like sovereigns,
The Shepherd Kings of patriarchal times, 560
Who knew no brighter gems than summer wreaths,[h]
And none but tearless triumphs. Let us on.

_Enter_ PANIA.

_Pan._ May the King live for ever!

_Sar._ Not an hour
Longer than he can love. How my soul hates
This language, which makes life itself a lie,
Flattering dust with eternity.[i] Well, Pania!
Be brief.

_Pan._ I am charged by Salemenes to
Reiterate his prayer unto the King,
That for this day, at least, he will not quit
The palace: when the General returns, 570
He will adduce such reasons as will warrant
His daring, and perhaps obtain the pardon
Of his presumption.

_Sar._ What! am I then cooped?
Already captive? can I not even breathe
The breath of heaven? Tell prince Salemenes,
Were all Assyria raging round the walls
In mutinous myriads, I would still go forth.

_Pan._ I must obey, and yet----

_Myr._ Oh, Monarch, listen.--
How many a day and moon thou hast reclined
Within these palace walls in silken dalliance, 580
And never shown thee to thy people's longing;
Leaving thy subjects' eyes ungratified,
The satraps uncontrolled, the Gods unworshipped,
And all things in the anarchy of sloth,
Till all, save evil, slumbered through the realm!
And wilt thou not now tarry for a day,--
A day which may redeem thee? Wilt thou not
Yield to the few still faithful a few hours,
For them, for thee, for thy past fathers' race,
And for thy sons' inheritance?

_Pan._ 'Tis true! 590
From the deep urgency with which the Prince
Despatched me to your sacred presence, I
Must dare to add my feeble voice to that
Which now has spoken.

_Sar._ No, it must not be.

_Myr._ For the sake of thy realm!

_Sar._ Away!

_Pan._ For that
Of all thy faithful subjects, who will rally
Round thee and thine.

_Sar._ These are mere fantasies:
There is no pe