Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: DRAMATIS PERSONS. Semiramis. Arsaces, or Ninias. Azema, a Princess of the Family of Belus. Assur, a Prince of the Family of Belus. Oroes, High Priest. Otanes, a Favorite of Semiramis. Mitranes, Friend of Arsaces. Cedar, Friend of Assur. Guards, Magi, Slaves, Attendants. This was produced in 1748 and a burlesque upon it was played at Fontainebleau. SfiMIRAMIS. ACT I. The scene represents a large peristyle, at the bottom of which is the palace of Semiramis. Gardens with fine hanging terraces, raised above the palace: on the right hand the temple of the magi, and on the left a mausoleum adorned with obelisks. SCENE I. ARSACES, MITRANES. Two slaves at a distance carrying a coffer. Arsaces. Once more, Mitranes, thou beholdest thy friend, Who, in obedience to the royal mandate In secret sent, revisits Babylon, The seat of empire; how Semiramis Imprints the image of her own great soul On every object these stupendous piles, These deep enclosures, where Euphrates pours His tributary waves; the temple's pride, The hanging gardens, and the splendid tomb Of Minus, wondrous monuments of art And only less to be admired than she Who raised them here, in all her splendid pomp, More honored than the monarchs of the East, Arsaces shall behold this glorious queen. MITRANES. O my Arsaces, credit not the voice Of Fame, she is deceitful oft, and vain; Perhaps hereafter thou mayest weep with me, And admiration on a nearer view May turn to pity. Arsaces. Wherefore ? MITRANES. Sunk in grief, Semiramis hath spread o'er every heart The sorrows which she feels; sometimes she raves, Filling the air with her distressful cries, As if some vengeful God pursued her; sits Silent and sad within these lonely vaults, Sacred to night, to...