Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene III.]
I
THE VARANGIAN.
ZALMIRA.
O, be not like the lion in thy wrath,
Or eagle darting on her hapless prey !
Hold ! mighty King.
Mercy, O mercy show, nor take his life !
Let us from hence depart ; grant me but this,
'Tis all 1 ask, and never more will we
Approach thy fatal shores.
KING.
Woman, thou hast
Permission hence to go.
ZALMIRA.
Go hence, sir King,
And leave my husband here to suffer death,
Death with protracted tortures ? No : I swear
If nothing can thy ruthless heart incline
To pity and forgiveness, I will stay
To soothe his agonies, to share his pangs,
And die upon the rack that mangles him !
Yet, for the love of Heaven at thy last hour,
Show some compassion to a wretch, whose woes
Have well-nigh driven her mad ! Alas ! I see
No gleam of mercy in that leopard glance,
No kind forgiveness on that brow of wrath.
Where shall I turn for ? hope To thee, to thee,
My love, my life, my husband !
HEREWARD.
O forbear,
Or thou wilt rive my heart-strings
ZALMIRA.
And art thou
Regardless too of all my prayers and tears ?
Stern and unbending as this cruel ?
King