RACHEL (rising).

Here, too, no safety?  Terror everywhere? 
Where shall I flee to? 
Here there stands a man
Whose moonbeam glances flood the soul with peace,
And everything about him proves him King. 
Thou canst protect me, Sire, and oh, thou wilt! 
I will not die, I will not, no, no, no!

[She throws herself on the ground before the KING and seizes his right foot, bending her head to the ground.]

KING (to several who approach).

Let be!  Her senses have ta’en flight through fear,
And as she shudders, makes me tremble, too.

RACHEL (sits up).

And everything I have,

(taking off her bracelet)

this bracelet here,
This necklace and this costly piece of cloth,

(taking a shawl-like cloth from her neck)

It cost my father well-nigh forty pounds,
Real Indian stuff, I’ll give that too—­if you
Will leave me but my life:  I will not die!

[She sinks back to her former position.]

ISAAC and ESTHER are led in.

KING.  What crime has he committed?

MANRIQUE.  Sire, thou know’st,
             The entrance to the royal gardens is
             Denied this people when the court is here.

KING.  And I permit it, if it is forbidden.

ESTHER.  He is no spy, O Sire, a merchant he,
             In Hebrew are the letters that he bears,
             Not in the Moorish tongue, not Arabic.

KING.  ’Tis well, I doubt it not.

(Pointing to RACHEL.)
                                 And she?

ESTHER.  My sister!

KING.  Take her and carry her away.

RACHEL (as ESTHER approaches her).

No, no! 
They’re seizing me, they’re leading me away
To kill me!

(Pointing to her discarded finery.)

See, my ransom.  Here will I
Remain a while and take a little sleep.

(Laying her cheek against the KING’s knee.)

Here safety is; and here ’tis good to rest.

QUEEN.  Will you not go?

KING.  You see that I am caught.

QUEEN.  If you are caught, I still am free, I go!

[Exit with her women.]

KING.  And now that, too!  That which they would prevent
             They bring to pass with their false chastity.

(Sternly to RACHEL.)

Arise, I tell thee—­Give her back her shawl,
And let her go.

RACHEL.  O, Sire, a little while.

My limbs are lamed,—­I cannot, cannot walk.

[She props her elbow on her knee and rests her head in her hand.]

KING (stepping back).