Will take us all asleep! (Goes from him)

Ig. (Following her) O madam! madam!
My heart is all your own!

Car. (Turning to him) Forgive me, friend,
And I will wrong no more these honest eyes.
But there is danger here, and we must strike!
We hold a nation's future in our hands,
And now defence is virtue, patience crime!

Ig. Your majesty--

Car. (Not heeding) Shall we stand here and smile
Till rebel blows have shattered life and throne?
... Dupin shall drive these desperate people back--
This law be signed--

Ig. (With horror) Dear Christ!

Car. What do you mean?

Ig. Will Maximilian pass a law of death,
Condemning patriots to a robber's grave?
O, Empress, sue upon your knees that he
Do not this thing, for every act of his
Not marked with justice to his enemies
Will rob him of the pity they would show
When victory is theirs! He writes his doom
As certainly as he doth set his name
To that black law, and gives Dupin his will
Among our helpless people!

Princess Zichy. (From group about the gipsy, as all laugh)
Your majesty,
You heard?

Car. I heard. (To Ignacio, much disturbed)
Go join them! Go! (Ignacio joins group)
He's true!
My lord in danger!

Princess de Varela. Now mother, my hand next!

(Gipsy scans her hand)

Car. 'Rob him of pity!' 'When victory is theirs!'
I know the pity given to the fallen
In this blood-drunken land! There's but one way...
We must not fall!... 'Tis war, then,--war! Not for
An empire, no,--but Maximilian's life!
And we must use the weapons in our hands!

Gip. (Reading)

Days of brightness, days of smiles,
Read I here or Fate beguiles!

Princess S.
O these fortunes are like lines from a fairy book!
Surely we are not all going to be happy!

Gip. I'll read for you, madam.

Princess S.
But let not your change of song begin with me,
dark mother!

Gip. (Reading)