The Blood of Rachel; A Dramatization of Esther, and Other Poems

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916. Excerpt: ... The Blood of Rachel ACT I Scene I Place--Shushan, the Capital of Persia. Time--478 B. C. A hall in the palace of the king. Enter Smerdis, the king's jester, and Ahafid, poet and minstrel to the king, from opposite sides of the hall. Ahafid is already an old man, with long grey beard and a little stooped with age. He carries a golden Persian harp on which he plays and accompanies his own song. Ahafid Sings. Now War has doffed his mailed coat And Peace forgot her art; The lute but not the bugle's note Can stir the kingly heart; Nights of revel and carp, And days of sensuous rust, How can a poet's harp Intone a song of lust? The king is mad. His flight from Salamis Was bad enough. But that could be excused. For six months now what has he done but drink, Carouse and wallow in lascivious ease, While subjects driven to despair with tax Have fallen on the poisoned sword and cursed In death the son of their once goodly king? Smerdis Ahafid, you do seem to think the first Great business of a king is war. Now pray You, why should Xerxes waste the lusty days Of youth in bloody strife? To furnish themes, No doubt, for dullard bards and minstrelsy. Ahasuerus is the wisest king That ever sat upon a Persian throne. You graybeard fool, stupid as poets are, Can you not see the wisdom of our king In substitution of the flight for death, Of feast for fight, of wine for blood? Think you 'Tis wise to wear the plaited mail of Mars When Venus bids you to the festival Of love? Ahafid You call me then a graybeard fool! Though I have dropped the purple bloom of spring The autumn's silvery down may indicate The ripened fruit of wisdom which your youth Has never tasted. Smerdis, you are blind! My beard is white, but vision clear. The king Does daily waste the substance of his realm, ...