WICKED UNCLE.  That proves her a witch!  Else, she would give up the coats.

KING (to Eliza).  Once more,—­Will you not give them up?

[Eliza shakes her head.  The King turns away.  He is very sad; his eyes are filled with tears.]

FIRST CITIZEN (calling).  See the witch!

SECOND CITIZEN (calling).  See her magic coats!

THIRD CITIZEN (calling).  Let us tear them to pieces!

FOURTH CITIZEN (calling).  At them, Citizens!  Tear them to shreds!

GOODY (looking up; speaking aside).  Here come the Wild Swans!  Now we shall see what we shall see!

[ELEVEN WILD SWANS descend from the sky and alight on the cart.  Each wears a golden crown.]

FIRST CITIZEN.  Back, Citizens, back!  Wild Swans have alighted on the cart!

FOURTH CITIZEN.  What do we care for Wild Swans?  Forward, Citizens!

FIRST CITIZEN.  Back, I say!  The Swans are beating us with their strong wings!

SECOND CITIZEN.  Back! back, Citizens!  We dare not approach the cart!

GOODY (calling to the people).  The Swans have come to save the queen!  ’T is a sign from heaven that she is innocent!

WICKED UNCLE (angrily).  Be silent, old woman!

(He turns to the Executioner.)

Executioner, do your duty!

EXECUTIONER.  Out of the cart, witch!

(Eliza shakes her head; takes up coats from floor of cart.  The Executioner turns to the Wicked Uncle.)

She will not come!

WICKED UNCLE.  Seize her—­I command you!

FIRST CITIZEN.  Seize her!  Seize her!

GOODY.  Look, Citizens, look!  She is spreading the coats over the Swans!

[Eliza throws the eleven coats over the eleven Swans, who turn to eleven little princes, but the youngest has a swan’s wing instead of an arm, for the last sleeve was not finished.]

FIRST CITIZEN.  Do you see that, Citizens?  They are princes!  She has saved them!

SECOND CITIZEN.  She is no witch!

THIRD CITIZEN.  She is an angel from heaven!

THE ELEVEN BROTHERS.  Dear sister, you have saved us!

ELIZA.  Now I may speak—­I am innocent!

ELDEST BROTHER (to King).  Yes, she is innocent!

NINTH BROTHER.  How you have suffered for us, dear Eliza!

CITIZENS (to Eliza).  Forgive us!

KING (to Eliza).  Forgive me!  I did not understand.

WICKED UNCLE (annoyed, but trying to conceal it).  And I did not understand, I—­

KING (sternly).  Be silent!

(To Guards.)

Seize him!

(The Guards seize the Wicked Uncle.)

Take him to the mountains where the stinging nettles grow.

WICKED UNCLE.  Mercy!  Mercy!

KING.  You had no mercy on brave little Eliza!  Now you shall gather nettles for the rest of your life.  Away with him, Guardsmen!