Men. (Starting up)
She is, my lord!
(Ninus regards him in astonishment)
Nin. What do you here, Menones?
Speak!
Men. (Trembling) I am ill.
Nin. Ill, sir? Ha! Now I know!
Your daughter leads while you couch safe in tent!
She sought to hide your shame! O, what a heart!
But you—
Men. I led, my lord, till illness seized—
Nin. Too ill to fight, but not too ill to fly!
Hound! hound! My troops are lost! I ’d kill you now
But ’tis an hour too soon! First you must be
Of every honor stript!
Men. (Kneeling) My lord and king,
I know that I must die, but hear a prayer
For my brave daughter’s sake! Betray her not,
Lest thou offend the gods that gave thee life,
For she, too, is of heaven!
Vas. Ha!
Men. I swear
’Tis true! My lord, Decreto was her mother!
She met me on the plains of Gazim when
This aged figure was called fair, and youth
Still fed its fire to manhood’s prime;
Our babe she left upon a mountain crest
And sent her doves to tend it through a year,
Then bade me scale the mount and take my own.
I did, and named her for Decreto’s dove—
Semiramis!