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104
THE PERSIANS
Xerxes
Smitten are we—time tells no heavier blow!
Chorus
Smitten! the doom is plain!
Xerxes
Curse upon curse and pang on pang we know!
Chorus
With the Ionian power
We clashed, in evil hour!
Woe falls on Persia's race, yea, woe again, again!
Xerxes
Yea, smitten am I, and my host is all to ruin hurled!
Chorus
Yea verily—in mighty wreck hath sunk the Persian world!
Xerxes (holding up a torn robe and a quiver)
See you this tattered rag of pride?
Chorus
I see it, welladay!
Xerxes
See you this quiver?
