_K._ Sittest thou there balanced ’twixt death and life, Daintily making choice, and to my offer Of all that God could grant thee, life and love, 1870 Wrung from me by my sorrow, to my shame Preferrest the Christian hell? O Infidel Apostatizing dog, lest now thy mouth Should find the power to gasp one broken speech Of triumph over me, die at my hand. Death shall not rob me of thy blood that’s left. [_Stabs Fer. across the table._ Thus let thy brother find thee, if I fail To send him also thither, where thou goest To thine idolatrous and thieving sires. [_Exit._ _Enter from pit Chorus.... Twilight._ CHORUS (_inter se_). We come with laboured breath 1880 Climbing from underground:— In fear we creep and quake:— What voice with furious sound, Choking in wrath outspake The names of blood and death?— Who is here?—Look around.— Hearken!—the broken moan Of the ever-murmuring sea Reaches my ear alone— Come forward, ye may dare, 1890 All is quite still and free.— Ah, stay! behold him there, That sitteth with his head Upon his breast bent low— The prince—the prince.—Forbear, He sleepeth.—Nay, I fear, Now may the truth strike dead My terror—step thou near— Gently.—Alas! woe, woe, Woe, woe, woe, woe, he is dead. 1900 He sits dead in his chair. See at his heart, where yet The murderous wound is wet.— Our prince, our prince is dead— They have slain him in their spite— Ai, ai, ai, ai! Who now Can save us? We are lost men, friends; we are lost— And thou, who saidst that we should live to fight, Where are thy arms? Didst thou not make a boast That thou couldst see God’s will?—We are quite forsaken, 1910 Forgotten—(1.) Refrain, refrain. Can God forget? _Ch._ Who could refrain? Alas! Hath not long woe Crushed us so low?—Ah me! This is our pain.— Now we deplore, alas!—Hell and despair!— Now it is plain—O woe—we are no more What once we were.— (1.) Renew your courage, and devote your care In solemn duty to the dead. Upraise This noble corpse, and bear it to the bower; Where, roofed by rose and jasmine, it may lie 1920 Hid from the dews of swift descending night. Take ye the feet, while I uplift the head, And, grasping in the midst, ye, by his robe, Bear him with slow accommodated step, Where we may best dispose his limbs in peace. [_Exeunt bearers with Fer.'s body to bower._