GARCERAN.  First, let me ask the King his royal will.

(Knocking at the side door.)

Sire!  What?  No sign of life within?  Perchance
An accident?  Whate’er it be—­I’ll ope!

[The KING steps out and remains standing in the foreground as the others withdraw to the back of the stage.]

KING.  So honor and repute in this our world
             Are not an even path on which the pace,
             Simple and forward, shows the tendency,
             The goal, our worth.  They’re like a juggler’s rope,
             On which a misstep plunges from the heights,
             And every stumbling makes a butt for jest. 
             Must I, but yesterday all virtues’ model,
             Today shun every slave’s inquiring glance? 
             Begone then, eager wish to please the mob,
             Henceforth determine we ourselves our path!

(Turning to the others.)

What, you still here?

GARCERAN.  We wait your high command.

KING.  If you had only always waited it,
             And had remained upon the boundary! 
             Examples are contagious, Garceran.

GARCERAN.  A righteous prince will punish every fault,
             His own as well as others’; but, immune,
             He’s prone to vent his wrath on others’ heads.

KING.  Not such a one am I, my friend.  Be calm! 
             We are as ever much inclined to thee;
             And now, take these away, forever, too. 
             What’s whim in others, is, in princes, sin.

(As he sees RACHEL approaching.)

Let be!  But first this picture lay aside,
And put it in the place from whence you took ’t. 
It is my will!  Delay not!

RACHEL (to ESTHER). 
                                      Come thou, too.

(As both approach the side door).

Hast thou, as is thy wont, my picture on?

ESTHER.  What wilt

RACHEL.  My will—­and should the worst betide—­

[They go to the side door.]

KING.  Then to the border, straight I’ll follow thee;
             And there we’ll wash in Moorish blood away
             The equal shame that we have shared this day,
             That we may bear once more the gaze of men.

[The girls return.]

RACHEL.  I did it.

KING.  Now away, without farewell!

ESTHER.  Our thanks to thee, O Sire!

RACHEL.  Not mine, I say.

KING.  So be it; thankless go!

RACHEL.  I’ll save it up.

KING.  That is, for never!

RACHEL.  I know better.

(To ESTHER.)
                                          Come.