Indeed, the Illustrious Lady has suffered much.

Queen: 

O Ackazarpses, why should I have enemies?

Ackazarpses: 

After to-night you will sleep, Illustrious Lady.

Queen: 

Why, yes, for we shall all be friends; shall we not, princes?  Let us be seated.

Rhadamandaspes: 

[To Zophernes.] There is no other doorway.  That is well.

Zophernes: 

Why, no, there is not.  Yet what is that great hole that is full of darkness?

Rhadamandaspes: 

Only one man at a time could come that way.  We are safe from man or beast.  Nothing could enter that way for our swords.

Queen: 

I pray you be seated.

    [They seat themselves cautiously, she standing watching them.]

Zophernes: 

There are no servitors.

Queen: 

Are there not viands before you, Prince Zophernes, or are there too few fruits that you should blame me?

Zophernes: 

I do not blame you.

Queen: 

I fear you blame me with your fierce eyes.

Zophernes: 

I do not blame you.

Queen: 

O my enemies, I would have you kind to me.  And indeed there are no servitors, for I know what evil things you think of me——­

A Duke of Ethiopia: 

No, Queen, indeed we think no evil of you.

Queen: 

Ah, but you think terrible things.

Priest of Horus: 

We think no evil of you, Illustrious Lady.

Queen: 

I feared that if I had servitors you would think... you would say, “This wicked Queen, our enemy, will bid them attack us while we feast.”

    [First Duke of Ethiopia furtively hands food to his Slave
    standing behind him, who tastes it.]

Though you do not know how I dread the sight of blood, and indeed I would never bid them do such a thing.  The sight of blood is shocking.

Priest of Horus: 

We trust you, Illustrious Lady.

    [He does the same with his Slave.]

Queen: 

And for miles around this temple and all along this river I have said, “Let there be no man.”  I have commanded and there are not.  Will you not trust me now?

    [Zophernes does the same and all the guests, one by one.]

Priest of Horus: 

Indeed, we trust you.

Queen: 

And you, Prince Zophernes, with your fierce eyes that so frighten me, will you not trust me?

Zophernes: 

O Queen, it is part of the art of war to be well prepared when in an enemy’s country, and we have been so long at war with your Captains that we perforce remember some of the art.  It is not that we do not trust you.

Queen: 

I am all alone with my handmaid and none will trust me!  O Ackazarpses, I am frightened:  what if my enemies should slay me and carry me up, and cast my body into the lonely Nile.