星空娱乐官网

Act One

On a moonlit night, in the garden of the Palace of the King of Persia, Mandane and Arbaces are saying their goodbyes (鈥楽till silence reigns around鈥�). Mandane pleads with the dawn to hold back, so they might spend a few more moments in each other鈥檚 arms, but it is no use (鈥楩air Aurora, pr鈥檡thee stay鈥�). Arbaces has been banished from the palace by Mandane鈥檚 father, King Xerxes, and has climbed over the wall to steal these few moments with Mandane. If Xerxes, or any of his guards, should find Arbaces there, nothing could spare him from his fate.

Mandane thinks there is hope for them, as her brother Artaxerxes thinks fondly on his childhood friend Arbaces, but for now the two of them must part. She says her final sorrowful goodbye, and leaves him (鈥楢dieu, thou lovely Youth鈥�).

Moments later, Arbaces is approached by his father Artabanes, the general of King Xerxes鈥� army (鈥極 cruel parting!鈥�). Artabanes is clearly in a rush, and begs Arbaces to switch swords with him. Seeing that