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?
Smerdis
[Aloud.]
I did. [Aside] The long-eared kind that crops the grass.
Ahafid