Hear you the crimson riot in my veins?

'Tis Rachel's voice! I would that you could know!

Forgive me, Vashti, for my brain's distraught!

The lights die out beyond the palace walls.

The stars are hid.... I can no longer hear The wailing flute.... Return unto your hut.

Ahasuerus calls with mantling wine.

My place is yonder by the king. I go!

[_Exeunt Esther and Vashti._]

[_Enter Ahafid and Smerdis._]

_Ahafid_

The last word has been spoken The last true song been sung; My country's heart is broken, The poet's harp unstrung.

_Smerdis_

Ahafid seems to harp upon his strings.

_Ahafid_

It seems Ahasuerus means to drink The cup of revel to its bitter lees.

_Smerdis_

The deeper in the cup he goes The sweeter is the wine that flows; The closer to the lees, he thinks, The purer is the wine he drinks.

_Ahafid_

Messengers from every province bring Reports of mutterings and dangerous Revolt. But Xerxes, heedless still, declares This night shall dim the glories of the past.

_Smerdis_

[_Sings._]

The lower in the lamp the oil The fewer are the days of toil.

The brighter burns the wick of life, The sooner end the days of strife.

'Tis not for oil that Xerxes cares, But brilliancy of flame that flares.

_Ahafid_

I hate the Hebrews and their Jewish G.o.d; I hate Jehovah for his jealous love, But Mordecai refuses to attend The feast. The G.o.d of Israel must save Us now, or Persia perish utterly.

My hand will pen no ribald verse This revel to adorn; Ye G.o.ds, inspire my tongue to curse The day the king was born.

[_Exit Ahafid._]

_Smerdis_

The more he swears the less he sings, Then welcome is this news he brings; For listening to his song is worse Than hearing old Ahafid curse.

[_Exit Smerdis._]

[_Re-enter Ahafid._]

_Ahafid_

[_Sings._]

Persia's heart is beating low, Thinking of the long ago, When the king that wore the crown Was a prince of great renown; When her name without a peer Did inspire the world with fear; But to-night her sovereign's l.u.s.t Trails her banner in the dust.

Now my life is ebbing fast, Dreaming of the glorious past; Feeling all the shame and smart, Dying of a broken heart.

[_Sinks to floor._]

[_Curtain._]

SCENE III

[_Curtain rises on Ahasuerus and his court._]

_Ahasuerus_

Sha-ashgaz, keeper of the concubines, Ahasuerus drinks your health And bids you bring immediately before The court the serpents of the Orient!

The king would have a night of revelry.

[_The court fool, Smerdis, dances out before the court._]

_Ahasuerus_ (_Continues_)

What, Smerdis, is the office of a fool?

_Smerdis_

To charm these serpents of the Orient!

[_Aside_] But more to furnish brains for idiot kings.

_Ahasuerus_

Now tell the chief musicians every one To string his harp with golden wire and tune His finest Persian reed to touch the heart With joy. To-night the emperor of the East, The monarch of the world from Babylon To India, would show munificence Of entertainment never seen within The palace walls before.

_Smerdis_

You do forget That night six years ago. The palace was A blaze of light. The air was fragrant with The breath of spice from off the Indian seas.

Ahasuerus, flushed with flattery And wine, was mad with pa.s.sion....