Ahafid

But does

The God of Abraham inspire revenge?

The worshippers of Moloch would have shrunk

From such a day of death. I marvel that

Queen Esther did not intervene. She rules

The king. But wherefore did I say the king?

Smerdis

I think it must have been to rhyme with ring.

Ahafid

Darius' son's a spineless debauchee.

[Sings.]

The Jew the purple robe enfolds

And eke the royal gown;

For Mordecai the sceptre holds

And Esther wears the crown.

[Exit Ahafid.]

Smerdis

Ahafid said he couldn't sing Ahasuerus' praise,

And that his harp had lost the tone it had in other days.

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