trike. Enter Vassin)

Vas. (Excitedly) My lord, this is the strangest governor!
He ordered me with Sumbat to lead out
The city troops beyond the southern gate,
Then spurred to north! Sumbat obeyed, but I,
Not liking this, returned to you!

Nin. 'Tis Khosrove!

Vas. (Staggered)
Then we are lost!

Nin. Pursue him! Fly! Call back
Our troops!

Vas. Too late! By now they're locked without
The southern wall, and Khosrove rides to ope
The north to Husak!

Sem. (Aside) False! Down, slanderous thought
That darkens me not him! That face that looked
As Truth had chosen it to show her own
To man! That voice--each word the enchanted door
To holier worlds unspoken! No. I'll trust!

(Enter an officer)

Off. O, great Assyria, the Armenians come!
The Gazim traitor's sold thee unto Husak!
Thy foes are pouring through the northern gate
And bear down on the palace! Sumbat holds
Thy troops upon the southern plain And bars
All passage! There's no help!

(Ninus listens speechless)

Attendants. (Running in) O, we are lost!

Off. The city will be sacked! The palace guards
Are but a handful!

Sem. False? O, Khosrove! False?
Then there is no man true? E'en Sumbat lost
To thy sweet promises! False! false!

(Enter a second officer)

Off. (Prostrating himself) Oh Ninus!
Call on thy gods! Thy enemies are at thee!
The palace is enclosed, and every foe
Bears in his hand a torch that blazes death
To all within!

(The inmates of the palace are running to and fro, rear,
and looking fearfully out into the court below)

Sem. O beauteous gods, is this
Your earth? Where Falsehood steals your garments, nay
Your smile, seduces with your voice, and stamps
Your semblance upon fiends?

Voices. Save us, O king!

(Ninus stands immovable, as if made deaf and dumb by
impending disaster)

Voice. We burn! They cast the brands!

Another. Not yet!