பதிப்பு : மனோன்மணியம் - நாடகம்
The traitor, sure of welcome, told his tale,
367
Proffered the treason and implied the terms.
Then spoke Zariades;
'Know that all kings regard as foe in common
636
'The man who is a traitor to his king.
'Tis true that I thy treason must accept.
I owe it to my hosts
To scorn no means destroying their destroyer,
640
'But I will place no traitor on a throne.
Yet, since thy treason saves me many lives,
I for their sake spare thine:
And since thy deed degrades thee from the freeman,
644
'I add to life what slaves most covet - gold
They service done, seek lands where gold is king; And, tho' thyself a slave,
Buy freemen vile eno' to call thee master.
648
But if thy promise fail, thy word ensnare,
Thy guidance blunder, by they side stalks death. Death does not scare the man
Who, like thyself, has looked on it in battle;
652
'But death in battle has a warrior's gravel;
A traitor dead - the vultures and the dogs. Then to close guard the King
Consigned the Scyth, who for the first time trembled;
656
And called in haste, and armed his Sacred Band,
The Persian flower of all his Orient hosts;
And soon in that .dark pass
Marched war, led under rampired walls by treason.
660
Safe thro', the fatal maze the Persians reached
Stairs winding upward into palace halls, With stealthy hand the guide,
Pressed on the spring of the concealed portal,
664
