Enter Messenger.

Messenger.

O towns and cities of wide Asia,

O Persian land, wide harbour of much wealth,

How hath one stroke laid all thy grandeur low,

One frost nipt all thy bloom! Woe’s me that I

Should be first bearer of bad news! but strong

Necessity commands to speak the truth.

Persians, the whole barbaric host hath perished.

STROPHE I.
Chorus.