THE TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE (_shouting_): Never! I will not permit the setting up of a tyrant. THE GO-BETWEEN: He has us in his hand. In an hour the army will be here. THE TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE: I will show the daughter of the King to the people. _(The air is filled with the clamor of bells. Cannon in the distance._ THE GO-BETWEEN: Do you hear? _(He goes to the Second Group. To the man OUT OF OFFICE, pointing to the TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE._ He is going to fetch the King's daughter and show her to the people. THE MAN OUT OF OFFICE: Does he plan to make himself dictator? I shall oppose him in that. I prefer the other one. THE GO-BETWEEN (_to the_ BROTHER OF THE KING): He says that he wants to have them crown the daughter of the King. THE BROTHER OF THE KING: Her? It is to me that the crown reverts. What does Tête-d'or intend to make of this little kingdom here? THE GO-BETWEEN (_in the group of the officials_): Well? Which? What do you say? The daughter or the brother? THE CHIEF JUSTICE: The brother? Never. A thoroughly impractical theorist. A man unstable as water. And he would always be close at hand watching whatever we do. I prefer the ruler that's far away. And no women! SOMEONE (_aside_): His wife hates the Princess. TÊTE-D'OR: Tribune of the People, my sword is close beside you. Pick it up and bring it to me. _(The TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE brings him the sword._ TÊTE-D'OR: Take it! _(He hands him the sword in its sheath._ You are the ruler, do what you please. You are like a man with a knife in his hand before a loaf of bread. _(The TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE shakes his head and gives him back the sword._ I said, "Do what you please." Can you not keep it yourself? THE TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE: I ... I am the ... the.... The clamor of the yelling crowd. TÊTE-D'OR: Who would like my sword? _(He holds the sword in his hands. No one answers._ Then I will draw you myself, O sword disdained that no one cares to take! O how you rest in your sheath! Sword! Sword! Gage, unfailing hope, you That have already conquered once! I will lift you up like a torch, sign of immortal victory that I hold! O people whose tongues stutter and stammer, here is a searching question between my hands! You are plunged in indescribable ignorance, but the illusion lies where he who does not know declares that he knows. Man lives in illusion and piles up books around himself like straw. But now I will devour all! I hold you, uplifted sword! I stand in the midst of animals and I will not be seated. And anger rises in me! _(He throws away the scabbard._ I defy you, arid country! You that refuse me any joy, I will make you my domain! Shine bare, bright blade, till this enterprise is ended! And if anyone is tired of this scurvy tailor's life, let him come and follow me! If there is anyone Dissatisfied with this vile, monotonous afternoon devoted to the process of digestion, let him come and follow me!