MARIAN You'll follow? ROBIN Oh, with my last breath I will, God helping me; but I must gain you time! Quickly! Here comes the King! MARIAN Oh, follow soon! [_Exit._] [_ROBIN sits down again, steadying himself against the pillar. JOHN appears at the doors of the palace, above the terrace, a scroll in his hand._] JOHN My friends, the King is dead! MASKERS [_Taking off their masks, with a cry._] Long live King John! JOHN [_Coming down amongst them._] Our masque is ended by this grievous news; But where's my Lady Marian? I had some word To speak with her! Not here! Why-- ROBIN [_Still masked, rises and confronts the King, who stares at him and shrinks back a little._] All the masks Are off, sire! No, perhaps they wear them still. JOHN Who is this? ROBIN One that was dead and lives. You say Your brother, the great King, is dead. Oh, sire, If that be so, you'll hear a dead man speak, For your dead brother's sake. You say the King Is dead; but you are king. So the King lives! You are King of England now from sea to sea, Is it not so? Shout, maskers, once again, Long live the King! MASKERS Long live the King! ROBIN You see What power is yours! Your smile is life, your frown Death. At a word from you the solid earth Would shake with tramp of armies. You can call Thousands to throw away their lives like straws Upon your side, if any foreign king Dare to affront you. [_He draws nearer to JOHN, who still shrinks a little, as if in fear._] Richard, you say, is dead, And yet, O King, I say that the great King Lives! [_He strikes JOHN across the face. JOHN cowers and staggers back. The MASKERS draw their swords, the women scream and rush together. ROBIN turns, sword in hand, to confront the MASKERS._] Back, fools; for I say that the great King Lives. Do not doubt it. Ye have dreamed him dead How often. Hark, God in heaven, ye know that voice. [_A voice is heard drawing nearer thro' the distant darkness of the garden, singing. All listen. JOHN'S face whitens._] [_Song._] Knight, on the narrow way, Where wouldst thou ride? "Onward," I heard him say, "Love, to thy side." ROBIN 'Tis Blondel! Still vaunt-courier to the King, As when he burst the bonds of Austria! Listen! [_Song nearer._] "Nay," sang a bird above, "Stay, for I see Death, in the mask of love, Waiting for thee." MASKERS [_Resuming their masks and muttering to one another._] Can the King live? Is this John's treachery? Look, He is crushed with fear!