Sol. I ’m running from the king!
Sem. The king, my love?
There ’s no king here.
Sol. Nay, he ’s below!
Sem. Below?
Sol. Under the bridge with Vassin!
Sem. Vassin? No.
The king has sent him out of Nineveh!
Sol. He did not go. I swear that he ’s below!
Sem. What were you doing ’neath the bridge?
Sol. Ah me,
I seek in every place for Artavan.
I ’ll save him from the king!
Sem. So kind a king?