DANIEL. PART VII. SCENE-The Court of the Palace.-The Sun rising. DARIUS, ARASPES. Dar. OH, good Araspes! what a night of horror! Of cheerfulnes or peace! No balmy sleep Dar. See that den! There Daniel met the furious lion's rage! Who knows but that dread Pow'r to whom he pray'd So often and so fervently, has heard him! [He goes to the mouth of the den. O Daniel! servant of the living God! HE whom thou hast serv'd so long, and lov'd so well, From the devouring lion's famish'd jaw, Can He deliver thee? DANIEL (from the bottom of the den). He can he has! Dar. Methought I heard him speak! Oh! wondrous force Of strong imagination! were thy voice Loud as the trumpet's blast, it could not wake him From that eternal sleep! DANIEL (in the den). Hail! king Darius ! The God I serve has shut the lion's mouth, To vindicate my innocence. Fly, swift as lightning, free him from the den; Release him, bring him hither! Break the seal Which keeps him from me! See, Araspes, look! See the charm'd lions;-mark their mild demea nour: Araspes, mark! they have no power to hurt him! See how they hang their heads and smooth their fierceness At his mild aspect. Aras. Who that sees this sight, Who that in after-times shall hear this told, Aras. Ah, he comes, he comes! Enter DANIEL, followed by multitudes. Dan. Hail, great Darius ! Dar. And live unhurt? Aras. Dost thou live indeed! Oh, miracle of joy! Dar. I scarce can trust my eyes! How didst thou 'scape? Dan. That bright and glorious Being who vouchsaf'd Presence divine, when the three martyr'd brothers The prisoner of hope, even there I turn'd Ready to hear, and mighty to redeem! Dar. [to Araspes.] Where is Pharnaces? Take the hoary traitor! Take, too, Soranus, and the chief abettors Dan. [ARASPES goes out. Not so, Darius! Oh, spare the guiltless; spare the guilty too! Dar. No more! My word is past! Not one request, save this, And see what crowds advance! People. Long live Darius! Long live great Daniel, too, the people's friend! Dar. Draw near, my subjects. See this holy man! Death had no power to harm him. Yon fell band Of famish'd lions, soften'd at his sight, Forgot their nature, and grew tame before him. In the deep gulf his wily arts devise To snare the innocent. A Cour. To the same den Araspes bears Pharnaces and his friends; Fall'n is their insolence! With prayers and tears And all the meanness of high-crested pride, When adverse fortune frowns, they beg for life. Araspes will not hear. "You heard not me," He cries, when I for Daniel's life implor'd; "His God protected him! see now if yours "Will listen to your cries! " Dar. Now hear, People and nations, languages and realms, That I may banish from the minds of men And this my statute known. My heralds, haste, Who sits in glory unapproachable Above the heav'ns - above the heav'n of heav'ns! Enter ARASPES. Aras. All hail, O king! Darius, live for ever! May all thy foes be as Pharnaces is ! Dar. Araspes, speak! Aras. Oh, let me spare the tale! 'Tis full of horror! Dreadful was the sight! The hungry lions, greedy for their prey, Devour'd the wretched princes ere they reach'd The bottom of the den. |