Page:The Poetical Works of Elijah Fenton (1779).djvu/20

 Sameas, the King's cup-bearer, contrive to poison the King and Queen at the feast: but the poisoned cup is first tasted by Hazeroth, a young lord related to the Queen, and the sudden effect which it has upon him discovers the villany.

The Queen's absence from the feast proves a fatal circumstance, and, as managed by Sohemus, fixes the appearance of guilt upon her. While Herod was absent at Rome Sohemus made addresses to Arsinoe, a Roman lady, confidante to Mariamne, to whom, in the ardour of his passion, he revealed the secret intrusted to him by Herod, of putting Mariamne to death, in case he, by any calamitous accident, should lose his life. Arsinoe, from a motive of affection, communicated this to Mariamne, as an instance of the violent passion which Herod had for her. This she did immediately before her departure for Rome with Flaminius the Roman envoy, who proved to be the lord of her wishes, whom she imagined to have been killed in fighting against Mark Anthony. Mariamne, thrown into this imminent danger, orders Arsinoe to be intercepted, whose return clears up her innocence, as she declares that no correspondence had ever been carried on between the Queen and Sohemus, of whom he was now jealous, as Mariamne had upbraided him with his cruel resolutions of putting her to death, intrusted to that minister. Herod is satisfied of her innocence by the evidence of Arsinoe; but as he had