SCENE I

Place--The palace of the king. Outer room of banquet hall. Curtain back.

[_Enter Meheuman, Biztha, and Smerdis._]

_Meheuman_

Ahafid has become most deaf of late; Advancing age has wrought a piteous change In him. He can not understand our king.

_Smerdis_

'Tis not the king but age that makes him groan. I mean this age, the age in which we live.

[_Meheuman and Biztha exeunt on the opposite side of stage, as Ahafid enters more stooped, and singing._]

_Ahafid_

[_Sings._]

A country but no king, An empire but no throne, An upstart wears the signet ring, My harp has lost its tone. I can no longer sing great Persia's praise.

_Smerdis_

The trouble isn't with the harp, the country, king, nor throne; Nor that an upstart wears the ring: Ahafid's voice is gone.

_Ahafid_

What say you, Smerdis?

_Smerdis_

Art is marvelous.

_Ahafid_

Even Ahasuerus once was king, He was a despot, it is true, but still A prince.

_Smerdis_

If prince, then why not still a king?

_Ahafid_

Eh, Smerdis?

_Smerdis_

[_Aloud._]

More than prince and less than king.

_Ahafid_

Why now the sceptre, aye, almost the crown Are worn by Haman, not of noble birth, But lowborn, vulgar, raised by royal will To first place in a land renowned for blood.

_Smerdis_

To first place in a land renowned for fools.

_Ahafid_

What's that?

_Smerdis_

This Haman is a cunning fox.

_Ahafid_

The exile of the virtuous Vashti was A fatal sin.

_Smerdis_

She should have feasted with The king.

_Ahafid_

I did not hear.

_Smerdis_

[_Aloud._]

Old Xerxes lost The finest houri in his harem. Oh, The royal fool!

_Ahafid_

The Jewess Esther's but A girl, as beauteous as a lustrous star, But innocent as dawn of dew-washed day.

_Smerdis_

As wise as snakes and innocent as doves!

_Ahafid_

What, Smerdis, what? You catch my simile?

_Smerdis_

Ah, yes, Ahafid, yes, Aurora in The bath pool. That was fine. Your poetry Like wine improves with age. Go on, go on, Let's have another picture of the dawn.

_Ahafid_

Her beauty made her queen, but can not save Her life.

_Smerdis_

Ahasuerus will attend To that.

_Ahafid_

[_Not hearing._] Ahasuerus does not seem To know a Persian law can not be changed.

_Smerdis_

He knows that lawyers can be bribed.

_Ahafid_

What's that?

_Smerdis_

[_Louder._]

Just thinking of the lustrous stars of dawn.

_Ahafid_

But Mordecai believes that Esther can Control the king, and yet may save the Jews.

_Smerdis_

I am more interested in fools than Jews.

_Ahafid_

The golden sceptre was extended when She went into his presence yesterday. Last night she banqueted with him but still Refused to name the favor that she wished.

_Smerdis_

A bathrobe or some new stars for her crown.

_Ahafid_

[_Not hearing._]

The king does not suspect her origin. What will he do when he finds out the truth?

_Smerdis_

Since when has Xerxes cared for truth?

_Ahafid_

What say?

_Smerdis_

He'll add two extra stars to Esther's crown.

_Ahafid_

Beloved Vashti lives in poverty, The victim of a lewd and brutal whim. And now it seems that Esther's fate was sealed When Haman wrote that every Jew must die Because the Hebrew Mordecai refused Obeisance to his over-bearing pride.

_Smerdis_

Watch Esther smash that seal.

_Ahafid_

I did not hear.

_Smerdis_

[_Louder._]

Still quoting lines upon the innocence Of lustrous stars, and dawn of dew-washed day.

_Ahafid_

[_Singing._]

Minstrelsy shall be no more, The poet's tongue is still; The strings that woke to deeds of yore No longer feel the thrill.

_Smerdis_

I'm glad no more we'll feel the thrill For I, for one have had my fill.

_Ahafid_

Eh, Smerdis?

_Smerdis_

[_Louder._]

Bathing in that simile.

[_Exeunt Ahafid and Smerdis._]