--I flee to thee!

[_He runs to her chair, and cowers on the floor._]

ESTHER. I like a mother will protect thee now,
The second childhood of the gray old man.
And, if death comes, then childless shalt thou die--
I following Rachel in advance of thee!

_The KING appears at the centre door, with his page, who carries a torch._

KING. Shall I go farther, or content myself
With what I know, though still it is unseen?
This castle all a-wreck, laid bare and waste,
Shrieking from ev'ry corner cries to me
It is too late, the horror has been done!
And thou the blame must bear, cursed dallier,
If not, forsooth, a party to the deed!
But no, thou weepst, and tears no lies can tell.
Behold, I also weep, I weep for rage,
From hot and unslaked passion for revenge!
Come, here's a ring to set your torch within.
Go to the town, assemble all the folk,
And bid them straight unto this castle come
With arms, as chance may put within their reach;
And I, when morning comes, with written word,
Will bring the people here, at my command--
Children of toil and hard endeavor, they,
As an avenger at their head I'll go,
And break down all the strongholds of the great,
Who, half as servants, half again as lords,
Serve but themselves and overrule their master.
Ruler and ruled, thus shall it be, and I,
Avenging, will wipe out that hybrid throng,
So proud of blood, or flowing in their veins,
Or dripping on their swords from others' wounds.
Thy light here leave and go! I'll stay alone
And hatch the progeny of my revenge.

[_The servant puts his torch into the ring beside the door and
withdraws._]

KING (_taking a step forward_).

What moves there? Can it be there still is life?
Give answer!

ISAAC. Gracious Lord ill-doer, O,
O, spare us, good assassin!

KING. You, old man?
Remind me not that Rachel was your child;
It would deface her image in my soul.
And thou--art thou not Esther?

ESTHER.