Oh yes, thou fool! 

Then in the ante-chamber next, there hangs
A picture of the King, whom God preserve! 
She takes it from the wall, bears it about,
Calling it husband with endearing words,
And holds it to her breast.

[KING goes hastily toward the garden house.]

GARCERAN.  Oh, mighty Sire!

ISAAC (stepping back).

Alas!

KING (standing on the steps, quietly).

      That game is worth a nearer look. 

What’s more, ’twill soon be time for you to go;
You should not miss the favorable hour. 
But you, old man, must come.  For not alone,
Nor unobserved would I approach your children.

[Goes into the house.]

ISAAC.  Was that the King?  Oh, woe!

GARCERAN.  Proceed within.

ISAAC.  If he should draw his sword, we all are doomed!

GARCERAN.  Go in.  And as for being afraid, ’tis not
             For you nor for your daughter that I fear.

[He pushes the hesitating ISAAC into the garden house and follows him.]

* * * * *

Room in the pavilion.  In the background to the left a door; in the foreground to the right, another door. RACHEL,_ with a plumed crown on her head and gold embroidered mantle about her shoulders, is trying to drag an armchair from the neighboring room, on the right._ ESTHER has come in through the principal entrance.

RACHEL.  The armchair should stand here, here in the middle.

ESTHER.  For Heaven’s sake, O Rachel, pray look out;
             Your madness else will bring us all to grief.

RACHEL.  The King has given this vacant house to us;
             As long as we inhabit it, it’s ours.

[They have dragged the chair to the centre.]

RACHEL (looking at herself). 
             Now don’t you think my train becomes me well? 
             And when I nod, these feathers also nod. 
             I need just one thing more—­I’ll get it—­wait!

[Goes back through the side door.]

ESTHER.  Oh, were we only far from here, at home! 
             My father, too, comes not, whom she drove off.

RACHEL (comes back with an unframed picture).

The royal image taken from its frame
I’ll bear it with me.

ESTHER.  Art thou mad again? 
             How often I have warned thee!

RACHEL.  Did I heed?

ESTHER.  By Heaven, no!