Ahasueras

Thou art most noble, Esther; thou art fit To be the consort of a king of kings. But I have chewed upon ambition’s husks And starved for love through all my manhood’s years; And now the mighty gods have seen it fit To spread love’s banquet and to name thee host, May I not feast my fill? O Esther, take The tempting nectar of those lips away And give me wine to rouse the brute in me, To make me thirst for blood instead of love! Wine! Wine! I say!