_Bel._ With worse than vacancy-- A despised monarch. Look to it, Arbaces: I have still aided, cherished, loved, and urged you; Was willing even to serve you, in the hope To serve and save Assyria. Heaven itself Seemed to consent, and all events were friendly, Even to the last, till that your spirit shrunk Into a shallow softness; but now, rather Than see my country languish, I will be Her saviour or the victim of her tyrant-- 400 Or one or both--for sometimes both are one; And if I win--Arbaces is my servant. _Arb._ _Your_ servant! _Bel._ Why not? better than be slave, The _pardoned_ slave of _she_ Sardanapalus! _Enter_ PANIA. _Pan._ My Lords, I bear an order from the king. _Arb._ It is obeyed ere spoken. _Bel._ Notwithstanding, Let's hear it. _Pan._ Forthwith, on this very night, Repair to your respective satrapies Of Babylon and Media. _Bel._ With our troops? _Pan._ My order is unto the Satraps and 410 Their household train. _Arb._ But---- _Bel._ It must be obeyed: Say, we depart. _Pan._ My order is to see you Depart, and not to bear your answer. _Bel._ (_aside_). Aye[o]! Well, Sir--we will accompany you hence. _Pan._ I will retire to marshal forth the guard Of honour which befits your rank, and wait Your leisure, so that it the hour exceeds not. [_Exit_ PANIA. _Bel._ Now then obey! _Arb._ Doubtless. _Bel._ Yes, to the gates That grate the palace, which is now our prison-- No further. _Arb._ Thou hast harped the truth indeed! 420 The realm itself, 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.