Part 8 (1/2)

Harbonah, let This traitor, Haman, die at once.

_Harbonah_

My lord, You know the scaffold that the premier built For Mordecai?

_Ahasuerus_

The premier! What's that, Harbonah? You mock your king? Let him Be hanged upon this gallows. Call the Jew!

He holds the first place in my kingdom now.

[_Exeunt Ahasuerus, Esther, Haman, Harbonah, and attendants._]

_Zeresh_

[_Who has been concealed in a corner of the hall, advancing._]

At Esther's feet! An Aggagite! Ha, Ha!

A hater of the Jews! You hypocrite!

A lover of this queen! A paramour Of her who boasts that she can trace her blood An unpolluted stream a thousand years To one who watched his humble flocks on bleak Judean hills. A shepherd queen that rules The Persian throne, and you, O Haman, you That fed on venom for her race, are now, Though premier, a cringing, craven wretch, Begging this Jewish girl for worthless life.

”A rainbow over polar snows,” ha, ha!

No doubt her grace was fair to look upon.

False-hearted queen, O royal prost.i.tute!

It was your jeweled hand that laid this feast But Zeresh's heart that furnished all the wine!

[_Curtain._]

ACT III

SCENE I

Some time Later. Room in the Palace of Shushan.

[_Enter Ahafid and Smerdis._]

_Ahafid_

[_Singing._]

In the morning man may flourish In the evening be cut down; Dawn may find a hero famous, Nightfall see him lose renown.

_Smerdis_

[_Singing._]

In his youth Ahafid's singing Was the pride of Persia's rule; Now that age has come upon him, Hear him braying like a mule.