Ha!—what's this?—
"Doubt not Arabia's aid, set me but free,
I'll easy pass on the old cred'lous King,
For fair Evanthe's Father."—Thus to atoms—
Oh! could I tear these cursed traitors thus.
[Tears the paper into pieces.
Vardanes.
Curses avail you nothing, he has pow'r,
And may abuse it to your prejudice.
King.
I am resolv'd—
Vardanes.
Tho' Pris'ner in his camp,
Yet, Bethas was attended like a Prince,
As tho' he still commanded the Arabians.
'Tis true, when they approach'd the royal city,
He threw him into chains to blind our eyes,
A shallow artifice—
King.
That is a Truth.