[The court fool, Smerdis, dances out before the court.]
Ahasuerus (Continues)
What, Smerdis, is the office of a fool?
Smerdis
To charm these serpents of the Orient!
[Aside] But more to furnish brains for idiot kings.
Ahasuerus
Now tell the chief musicians every one
To string his harp with golden wire and tune
His finest Persian reed to touch the heart
With joy. To-night the emperor of the East,
The monarch of the world from Babylon
To India, would show munificence
Of entertainment never seen within
The palace walls before.
Smerdis
You do forget
That night six years ago. The palace was
A blaze of light. The air was fragrant with
The breath of spice from off the Indian seas.
Ahasuerus, flushed with flattery
And wine, was mad with passion....
Ahasuerus