in all its wide extension,
Yawns dungeons at each step for thee and me.

_Bel._ Graves!

_Arb._ If I thought so, this good sword should dig
One more than mine.

_Bel._ It shall have work enough.
Let me hope better than thou augurest;
At present, let us hence as best we may.
Thou dost agree with me in understanding
This order as a sentence?

_Arb._ Why, what other
Interpretation should it bear? it is
The very policy of Orient monarchs-- 430
Pardon and poison--favours and a sword--
A distant voyage, and an eternal sleep.
How many Satraps in his father's time--
For he I own is, or at least _was_, bloodless--

_Bel._ But _will_ not--_can_ not be so now.

_Arb._ I doubt it.
How many Satraps have I seen set out
In his Sire's day for mighty Vice-royalties,
Whose tombs are on their path! I know not how,
But they all sickened by the way, it was
So long and heavy.

_Bel._ Let us but regain 440
The free air of the city, and we'll shorten
The journey.

_Arb._ 'Twill be shortened at the gates,
It may be.

_Bel._ No; they hardly will risk that.
They mean us to die privately, but not
Within the palace or the city walls,
Where we are known, and may have partisans:
If they had meant to slay us here, we were
No longer with the living. Let us hence.

_Arb._ If I but thought he did not mean my life--

_Bel._ Fool! hence--what else should despotism alarmed 450
Mean? Let us but rejoin our troops, and march.

_Arb._ Towards our provinces?

_Bel._ No; towards your kingdom.
There's time--there's heart, and hope, and power, and means--
Which their half measures leave us in full scope.--
Away!

_Arb._ And I even yet repenting must
Relapse to guilt!

_Bel._ Self-defence is a virtue,
Sole bulwark of all right. Away, I say!
Let's leave this place, the air grows thick and choking,
And the walls have a scent of night-shade--hence!
Let us not leave them time for further council. 460
Our quick departure proves our civic zeal;
Our quick departure hinders our good escort,
The worthy Pania, from anticipat