garden leads.
The folk's aroused; it loves, because it's weak,
To test that weakness on some weaker one.

GARCERAN (_at the window_).

Behold, O Sire, where comes th' entire court,--
The Queen herself leads on her retinue.

KING. Comes here? Accursed! Is here no other door?
Let not the prying crew find here false cause
To prattle!

GARCERAN (_pointing to the side door_).

Sire, this chamber

KING. Think you, then,
Before my servants I should hide myself?
And yet I fear the pain 'twould give the Queen;
She might believe--what I myself believe,
And so I save my troubled majesty.
See to it that she very soon depart.

[_Exit into the side room._]

ESTHER. I told you so! It is misfortune's road.

_Enter the_ QUEEN _accompanied by_ MANRIQUE DE LARA _and several
others._

QUEEN. They told me that the King was in this place.

GARCERAN. He was, but went away.

QUEEN. The Jewess here.

MANRIQUE. Arrayed like madness freed from every bond,
With all the tinsel-state of puppet-play!
Lay off the crown, for it befits thee not,
Even in jest; the mantle also doff!

[ESTHER _has taken both off._]

What has she in her hand?

RACHEL. It is my own.

MANRIQUE. But first we'll see!

ESTHER. Nay, we are not so poor
That we should stretch our hands for others' goods!

MANRIQUE (_going toward the side door_).

And, too, in yonder chamber let us look,
If nothing missing, or perhaps if greed
With impudence itself as here, has joined.

GARCERAN (_barring the way_).

Here, father, call I halt!

MANRIQUE. Know'st thou me not?

GARCERAN. Yes, and myself as well. But there be duties
Which even a father's rights do not outweigh.

MANRIQUE. Look in my eye! He cannot bear to do it!
Two sons I lose on this unhappy day.

(_To the _QUEEN.)

Will you not go?

QUEEN. I would, but cannot. Yes,
I surely can, by Heaven, for I must.

(_To_ GARCERAN.)

Although your office an unknightly one,
I thank you that you do it faithfully;
'Twere death