But, then, Arsaces, he's a fatal bar-- O! could I brush this busy insect from me, Which envious strives to rob me of my bloom, Then might I, like some fragrant op'ning flow'r, Spread all my beauties in the face of day. Ye Gods! why did ye give me such a soul (A soul, which ev'ry way is form'd for Empire), And damn me with a younger Brother's right? The diadem would set as well on mine, As on the brows of any lordly He; Nor is this hand weak to enforce command. And shall I steal into my grave, and give My name up to oblivion, to be thrown Among the common rubbish of the times? No: Perish first, this happy hated Brother. LYSIAS. I always wear a dagger, for your service, I need not speak the rest-- When humbly I intreated of your Brother T' attend him as Lieutenant in this war, Frowning contempt, he haughtily reply'd, He entertain'd not Traitors in his service. True, I betray'd Orodes, but with cause, He struck me, like a sorry abject slave, And still withheld from giving what he'd promis'd. Fear not Arsaces, believe me, he shall Soon his Quietus have--But, see, he comes,-- What can this mean? Why at this lonely hour, And unattended?--Ha! 'tis opportune-- I'll in, and stab him now. I heed not what The danger is, so I but have revenge, Then heap perdition on me. VARDANES. Hold, awhile-- 'Twould be better could we undermine him, And make him fall by Artabanus' doom. LYSIAS. Well, be it so-- VARDANES. But let us now retire, We must not be observ'd together here. SCENE III. ARSACES [_alone_]. 'Tis here that hapless Bethas is confin'd; He who, but yesterday, like angry Jove, When punishing the crimes of guilty men, Spread death and desolation all around, While Parthia trembl'd at his name; is now Unfriended and forlorn, and counts the hours, Wrapt in the gloomy horrors of a goal.-- How dark, and hidden, are the turns of fate! His rigid fortune moves me to compassion. O! 'tis a heav'nly virtue when the heart Can feel the sorrows of another's bosom, It dignifies the man: The stupid wretch Who knows not this sensation, is an image, And wants the feeling to make up a life-- I'll in, and give my aid to sooth his sorrows. SCENE IV. _VARDANES and LYSIAS._ LYSIAS. Let us observe with care, something we, yet, May gather, to give to us the vantage; No matter what's the intent. VARDANES. How easy 'tis To cheat this busy, tattling, censuring world! For fame still names our actions, good or bad, As introduc'd by chance, which ofttimes throws Wrong lights on objects; vice she dresses up-- In the bright form, and goodliness, of virtue, While virtue languishes, and pines neglected, Rob'd of her lustre--But, let's forward, Lysias-- Thou know'st each turn in this thy dreary rule, Then lead me to some secret stand, from whence, Unnotic'd, all their actions we may view. LYSIAS. Here, take your stand behind--See, Bethas comes.