ACT III

 Scene I

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.

Ahafid

Still singing like a nightingale, say you?

[45]

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