Act 2 — Scene I

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

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

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.

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

What say you, Smerdis?

Art is marvelous.

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

If prince, then why not still a king?

Eh, Smerdis?

More than prince and less than king.

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.

To first place in a land renowned for fools.

What's that?

This Haman is a cunning fox.

The exile of the virtuous Vashti was A fatal sin.

She should have feasted with The king.

I did not hear.

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

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

As wise as snakes and innocent as doves!

What, Smerdis, what? You catch my simile?

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.

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

Ahasuerus will attend To that.

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

He knows that lawyers can be bribed.

What's that?

Just thinking of the lustrous stars of dawn.

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

I am more interested in fools than Jews.

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.

A bathrobe or some new stars for her crown.

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

Since when has Xerxes cared for truth?

What say?

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

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.

Watch Esther smash that seal.

I did not hear.

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

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

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

Eh, Smerdis?

Bathing in that simile.