They wait!

Voices of prostrate figures. Save us, O king!

Voice. See! see! The leader speaks!

Another. His herald! Hear!

(A trumpet sounds below)

Voice of Khosrove's herald. Assyria, come forth!

(All within listen, silent, eager, fearful)

Hear thou, O Ninus! Hear the word of Khosrove!
He will depart with the Armenian troops,
And leave the city free of sword and fire,
If thou'lt decree that Artavan shall live
Free and unharmed!

(The face of Semiramis illumines with joy)

Deny and Nineveh
Shall flame!

Nin. My herald there! Stand forth!

(The herald of Ninus takes station centre rear)

Decree
As Khosrove wills!

Her. of Khos. Appear, O Ninus!

Nin. No!

Her. of Khos.
Appear, O Ninus!

(Ninus goes slowly to rear and stands by his herald)

Her. of Khos. Hear, all Nineveh!
Hear the decree of Ninus, king and god!
That Artavan, the brother of the queen,
Shall freely live, and die by no man's hand!

Her. of Ninus. (Blows trumpet, then speaks)

Hear the decree of Ninus, king and god,
That Artavan, the brother of the queen,
Shall freely live, and die by no man's hand!

(Silence. The voice of Khosrove below)

Khos. Assyria, speak!

Nin. I, Ninus, so decree!

(Staggers back toward front as all press to rear to see
the troops go out. Semiramis, Artavan and Sola stand
together gazing out)

Sem. O, Khosrove! See--he rides--away--away!

(Leans forward waving her scarf. Ninus, alone in front,
goes toward his chamber, falls on the steps overpowered
with rage and lifts his clenched hands)

Nin. O, vengeance! Vengeance for a king!

(CURTAIN)

ACT III.

Scene: The gardens over the lake. A wide bridge extends from the
bank of the lake, left, to the gardens which are partly visible on
the right. At the rear, right, is a garlanded archway. At the
left, front, steps lead from the bridge to the bank and top of the
bridge. Beyond the bridge, rear, clouds show that the sun is
setting.

A score o