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 mighty heads we most revere
             As being next to him, the Kingdom’s hope. 
             I did the deed, not with this hand, forsooth—­
             With counsel, and with pity, deep and dread! 
             The first place, then, is mine.  And thou, my son—­
             Hast thou the heart to answer like a man
             For that which at the least thou hinder’dst not,
             So that thy earnest wish to make amends
             And thy return have tangled thee in guilt?

GARCERAN.  Behold me ready!  To your side I come! 
             And may the King’s first fury fall on me!

ESTHER (calling across).

You there, although all murderers alike,
Deserving every punishment and death—­
Enough of mischief is already done,
Nor would I wish the horrors yet increased! 
Within, beside my sister, is the King;
Enraged before he went, the sight of her
Will but inflame his passionate ire anew. 
I pity, too, that woman and her child,
Half innocent, half guilty—­only half. 
So go while yet there’s time, and do not meet
Th’ avenger still too hot to act as judge.

MANRIQUE.  Woman, we’re Christians!

ESTHER.  You have shown you are. 
             Commend me to the Jewess, O my God!

MANRIQUE.  Prepared as Christians, too, to expiate
             In meek submission all of our misdeeds. 
             Lay off your swords.  Here now is first my own! 
             To be in armor augurs of defense. 
             Our very number makes submission less. 
             Divide we up the guilt each bears entire.

[All have laid their swords on the floor before MANRIQUE.]

So let us wait.  Or rather, let one go
To urge upon the King most speedily,
The country’s need demands, this way or that,
That he compose himself; and though it were
Repenting a rash deed against ourselves! 
Go thou, my son!

GARCERAN (turning around after having taken several steps).

Behold, the King himself!

[The KING rushes out of the apartment at the side.  After taking a few steps, he turns about and stares fixedly at the door.]

QUEEN.  O God in Heaven!

MANRIQUE.  Queen, I pray be calm!

[The KING goes toward the front.  He stops, with arms folded, before old ISAAC, who lies back as if asleep, in the armchair.  Then he goes forward.]