Artaxerxes

Act One

On a moonlit night, in the garden of the Palace of the King of Persia, Mandane and Arbaces are saying their goodbyes (‘Still silence reigns around’). Mandane pleads with the dawn to hold back, so they might spend a few more moments in each other’s arms, but it is no use (‘Fair Aurora, pr’ythee stay’). Arbaces has been banished from the palace by Mandane’s 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 (‘Adieu, thou lovely Youth’).

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