owsy guards and drunken courtiers;
But in the hall of Nimrod----

_Bel._ Is it so?
Methought the haughty soldier feared to mount
A throne too easily--does it disappoint thee
To find there is a slipperier step or two
Than what was counted on?

_Arb._ When the hour comes,
Thou shall perceive how far I fear or no.
Thou hast seen my life at stake--and gaily played for:
But here is more upon the die--a kingdom.

_Bel._ I have foretold already--thou wilt win it: 140
Then on, and prosper.

_Arb._ Now were I a soothsayer,
I would have boded so much to myself.
But be the stars obeyed--I cannot quarrel
With them, nor their interpreter. Who's here?

_Enter_ SALEMENES.

_Sal._ Satraps!

_Bel._ My Prince!

_Sal._ Well met--I sought ye both,
But elsewhere than the palace.

_Arb._ Wherefore so?

_Sal._ 'Tis not the hour.

_Arb._ The hour!--what hour?

_Sal._ Of midnight.

_Bel._ Midnight, my Lord!

_Sal._ What, are you not invited?

_Bel._ Oh! yes--we had forgotten.

_Sal._ Is it usual
Thus to forget a Sovereign's invitation?

_Arb._ Why--we but now received it. 150

_Sal._ Then why here?

_Arb._ On duty.

_Sal._ On what duty?

_Bel._ On the state's.
We have the privilege to approach the presence;
But found the Monarch absent.[k]

_Sal._ And I too
Am upon duty.

_Arb._ May we crave its purport?

_Sal._ To arrest two traitors. Guards! Within there!

_Enter Guards_.

_Sal._ (_continuing_). Satraps,
Your swords.

_Bel._ (_delivering his_). My lord, behold my scimitar.

_Arb._ (_drawing his sword_). Take mine.

_Sal._ (_advancing_). I will.

_Arb._ But in your heart the blade--
The hilt quits not this hand.[l]

_Sal._ (_drawing_). How! dost thou brave me?
Tis well--this saves a trial, and false mercy.