MANRIQUE.  What I just said, I shall repeat
             “A thing in no wise seeming us to judge.” 
             But at the bound’ries arms him now the Moor,
             And threats with war the hard-oppressed land;
             So now the right and duty of the King
             Is straight to ward this danger from us all,
             With forces he has called and raised himself. 
             But see, the King is missing!  He will come,
             I know, if only angry that we called
             Of our own power and will this parliament. 
             But if the cause remains that keeps him hence,
             Unto his former bonds he will return,
             And, first as last, we be an orphan land. 
             Your pardon?

[The QUEEN signs him to continue.]

             First of all, the girl must go. 

Full many propositions are at hand. 
Some are there here who wish to buy her off,
And others wish to send her from the land,
A prisoner in some far distant clime. 
The King has money, too, and though she’s far,
You know that power can find whate’er it seeks. 
A third proposal—­

[The QUEEN, at these words, has arisen.]

                    Pardon, noble Queen! 

You are too mild for this our business drear! 
Your very kindness, lacking vigorous will
From which to draw renewal of its strength,
Has most of all, perhaps, estranged our King. 
I blame you not, I say but what is true. 
I pray you, then, to waive your own desire,
But if it please you otherwise, then speak! 
What flow’ry fate, what flatt’ring punishment,
Is suited to the sin this drab has done?

QUEEN (softly). 
             Death.

MANRIQUE.  In truth?

QUEEN (more firmly).

Yes, death.

MANRIQUE.  Ye hear, my lords! 
             This was the third proposal, which, although
             A man, I did not earlier dare to speak.

QUEEN.  Is marriage not the very holiest,
             Since it makes right what else forbidden is,
             And that, which horrible to all the chaste,
             Exalts to duty, pleasing unto God? 
             Other commandments of our God most high
             Give added strength to our regard for right,
             But what so strong that it ennobles sin
             Must be the strongest of commandments all. 
             Against that law this woman now has sinned. 
             But if my husband’s wrong continueth,
             Then I myself, in all my married years,
             A sinner was and not a wife, our son
             Is but a misborn bastard-spawn, a shame
             Unto himself, and sore disgrace to us.