om,
Where I so oft--

ESTHER. She was, and there remains.

KING (_has seized the torch_).

Methinks 'tis blood I see upon my way.
It is the way to blood. O fearful night!

[_He goes out at the side door to the left._]

ISAAC. We're in the dark.

ESTHER. Yes, dark is round about,
And round about the horror's horrid night.
But daylight comes apace. So let me try
If I can thither bear my weary limbs.

[_She goes to the window, and draws the curtain._]

The day already dawns, its pallid gleam
Shudders to see the terrors wrought this night--
The difference 'twixt yesterday and now.

(_Pointing to the scattered jewels on the floor._)

There, there it lies, our fortune's scattered ruin--
The tawdry baubles, for the sake of which
We, we--not he who takes the blame--but we
A sister sacrificed, thy foolish child!
Yea, all that comes is right. Whoe'er complains,
Accuses his own folly and himself.

ISAAC (_who has seated himself on the chair_).

Here will I sit. Now that the King is here
I fear them not, nor all that yet may come.

_The centre door opens. Enter MANRIQUE, and GARCERAN, behind them the
QUEEN, leading her child by the hand, and other nobles._

MANRIQUE. Come, enter here, arrange yourselves the while.
We have offended 'gainst his Majesty,
Seeking the good, but not within the law.
We will not try now to evade the law.

ESTHER (_on the other side, raising the overturned table with a quick
movement_).

Order thyself, disorder! Lest they think
That we are terrified, or cowards prove.

QUEEN. Here are those others, here.

MANRIQUE. Nay, let them be!
What mayhap threatens us, struck them ere now.
I beg you, stand you here, in rank and file.

QUEEN. Let me come first, I am the guiltiest!

MANRIQUE. Not so. O Queen. Thou spak'st the word, 'tis true,
But when it came to action thou didst quake,
Oppose the deed, and mercy urge instead,
Although in vain; for need became our law.
Nor would I wish the King's first burst of rage
To strike the migh