_Enter_ RASNI, _with his_ Kings _and_ Lords _in sackcloth._ _K. of Cil._ Be not so overcome with grief, O king, Lest you endanger life by sorrowing so. _Rasni._ King of Cilicia, should I cease my grief, Whereas my swarming sins afflict my soul? Vain man, know this, my burden greater is Than every private subject's in my land. My life hath been a loadstar unto them, To guide them in the labyrinth of blame: Thus I have taught them for to do amiss; Then must I weep, my friend, for their amiss. The fall of Nineveh is wrought by me: I have maintain'd this city in her shame; I have contemn'd the warnings from above; I have upholden incest, rape, and spoil; 'Tis I, that wrought the sin, must weep the sin. O, had I tears like to the silver streams That from the Alpine mountains sweetly stream, Or had I sighs, the treasures of remorse, As plentiful as Æolus hath blasts, I then would tempt the heavens with my laments, And pierce the throne of mercy by my sighs! _K. of Cil._ Heavens are propitious unto faithful prayers. _Rasni._ But after we repent, we must lament, Lest that a worser mischief doth befall. O, pray: perhaps the Lord will pity us.-- O God of truth, both merciful and just, Behold, repentant men, with piteous eyes We wail the life that we have led before: O, pardon, Lord! O, pity Nineveh! _All._ O, pardon, Lord! O, pity Nineveh! _Rasni._ Let not the infants, dallying on the teat, For fathers' sins in judgment be oppress'd! _K. of Cil._ Let not the painful mothers big with child, The innocents, be punish'd for our sin! _Rasni._ O, pardon, Lord! O, pity Nineveh! _All._ O, pardon, Lord! O, pity Nineveh! _Rasni._ O Lord of heaven, the virgins weep to thee! The covetous man sore sorry for his sin, The prince and poor, all pray before thy throne; And wilt thou, then, be wroth with Nineveh? _K. of Cil._ Give truce to prayer, O king, and rest a space. _Rasni._ Give truce to prayers, when times require no truce? No, princes, no. Let all our subjects hie Unto our temples, where, on humbled knees, I will expect some mercy from above. [_They all enter the temple._ SCENE III.--_Outside the City of Nineveh._ _Enter_ JONAS.