The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vi Part 63

ESTHER. I bring them and more weighty things besides-- Unwelcome news, a bitter ornament.

Most mighty Sire and Prince! The Queen has from Toledo's walls withdrawn, and now remains In yonder castle where ill-fortune first Decreed that you and we should meet.

(_To_ GARCERAN.)

With her, Your n.o.ble father, Don Manrique Lara, Who summons all the kingdom's high grandees From everywhere, in open letters, to Discuss the common good, as if the land Were masterless and you had died, O King.

KING. I think you dream!

ESTHER. I am awake, indeed, And must keep watch to save my sister's life.

They threaten her. She'll be the sacrifice!

RACHEL. O woe is me! Did I not long ago Adjure you to return unto the court And bring to naught the plotting of my foes!-- But you remain'd. Behold here are your arms, The helm, the s.h.i.+eld, and there the mighty spear I'll gather them--but Oh, I cannot do 't.

KING (_to _ESTHER).

Now tend the little girl. With every breath She ten times contradicts what she has said.

I will to court; but there I need no arms; With open breast, my hand without a sword, I in my subjects' midst will boldly step And ask: "Who is there here that dares rebel?"

They soon shall know their King is still alive And that the sun dies not when evening comes, But that the morning brings its rays anew.

Thou follow'st, Garceran!

GARCERAN. I'm ready.

ESTHER. What Becomes of us?

RACHEL. O stay, I beg you, stay!

KING. The castle's safe, the keeper faithful, too; And he will guard you with his very life.

For though I feel that I have sinned full sore, Let no one suffer who has trusted me And who with me has shared my guilt and sin.

Come, Garceran! Or, rather, take the lead; For if the estates were in a.s.sembly still, Not called by me, nor rightfully convened, I then must punish--much against my will.

Command them to disperse--and quickly, too!

Thy father tell: Although protector he And regent for me in my boyhood days, I now know how to guard my right myself-- Against him, too, against no matter whom.

Come on! And ye, farewell!

RACHEL (_approaching_). O mighty Prince!

KING. No more! I need my strength and steadfast will, No parting words shall cripple my resolve.

Ye'll hear from me when I have done my work; But how, and what the future brings, is still Enwrapt in night and gloom. But come what may, I give my princely word ye shall be safe.

Come, Garceran! With G.o.d! He be with you!

[_Exeunt KING and GARCERAN at the left._]

RACHEL. He loves me not--O, I have known it long!

ESTHER. O sister, useless is too tardy knowledge, When injury has made us sadly wise.

I warned thee, but thou wouldst not ever heed.

RACHEL. He was so hot and ardent at the first!

ESTHER. And now makes up in coolness for his haste.

RACHEL. But I who trusted, what shall be my fate?

Come, let us flee!

ESTHER. The streets are occupied; Against us all the land is in revolt.

RACHEL. And so I then must die and am so young?

And I should like to live! Not live, indeed-- But die, unwarned, an unexpected death!

'Tis but the moment of our death that shocks!

(_At_ ESTHER's _neck._)

Unhappy am I, sister, hopeless, lost!

(_After a pause, with a voice broken by sobs._)

And is the necklace set with amethysts, Thou broughtst?

ESTHER. It is. And pearls it has as bright And many, too, as are thy tears.

RACHEL. I would Not look at it at all--at least not now.

But only if our prison lasts too long, I'll try divert eternal wretchedness, And shall adorn myself unto my death.

But see, who nears? Ha, ha, ha, ha, it is, In sooth, our father, armed cap-a-pie!

[ISAAC, _a helmet on his head, under his long coat a cuira.s.s, enters from the left._]

ISAAC. 'Tis I, the father of a wayward brood, Who ere my time are shortening my days.

In harness, yes! When murder stalks abroad, Will one's bare body save one from the steel?

A blow by chance, and then the skull is split!

This harness hides, what's more, my notes of 'change, And in my pockets carry I my gold; I'll bury that and curse and soul will save From poverty and death. And if ye mock, I'll curse you with a patriarchal curse-- With Isaac's curse! O ye, with voices like The voice of Jacob, but with Esau's hands, Invert the law of primogeniture!

Myself, my care! What care I more for you!

Hark!

RACHEL. What noise?

ESTHER. The drawbridge has been raised-- And now our refuge is a prison too.--

RACHEL. A token that the King has left these walls.

So hastes he forth.--Will he return again?

I fear me no--I fear the very worst!

(_Sinking on_ ESTHER's _breast_.)

And yet I loved him truly, loved him well!

ACT IV