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108
THE PERSIANS
Xerxes
Yea, beat anew thy breast, ring out the doleful Mysian call!
Chorus
An agony, an agony!
Xerxes
Pluck out thy whitening beard!
Chorus
By handfuls, ay, by handfuls, with dismal tear-drops smeared!
Xerxes
Sob out thine aching sorrow!
Chorus
I will thine hest obey.
Xerxes
With thine hands rend thy mantle's fold—
Chorus
Alas, woe worth the day!
Xerxes
With thine own fingers tear thy locks, bewail the army's weird!
