I was her tutor and when she was but a child I held her on my knee, When in her picture book I showed her the images of the creation. And on her fête-day, according to ancient custom, When the women came to cure their baby's spasms, At mid-day when in her cymar of flowered silk she appeared on the topmost step In the glory of youth and beauty, like a sunflower upturning its beaming face to the sun, All the people were like a man on whom there suddenly falls The healing shadow of whispering branches, So much upon the air, like a sweet and gracious breeze, Poured forth the fragrant smell of the ancient, royal vine! And now, poor child, you are like a shattered blossom, like the sunflower stripped from its stalk, turning its drooping face to the earth! Behold her, O King! Like a purchased ewe she is here beneath your hand. _(Silence._ THE PRINCESS: Will you not kill me also? _(She slowly raises her head and looks about her._ I knew you all by your names, I have grown up among you and now you have betrayed me. Not a friend is left me and everyone turns towards me a hostile face. O you in whom my father trusted as in a son, putting his arm about your neck! And you! And you! O teacher that taught me from childhood, you also are ranked with my foes! And you, my father's brother, stand at his murderer's right hand! THE BROTHER OF THE KING: Young girl, I do not know you! But I am he who stands at the right hand of the Prince. THE PRINCESS: O Father! O Father! O King of this country, august as the ascension of the hand when it begins the sign of the cross, It is thus that they have wearied of allegiance and thrown you to the earth, They have thrown you aside like a worthless thing, like a bone that one tosses to dogs! And they bear your blood on the soles of their shoes, and upon the sides of their den Are stains like those on the walls of a slaughter-house! _(She tears her mantle in two._ Treason! Treason! Sun, behold this impious act! Listen to me, O you who are gathered here about this pool of blood. The thought of your pernicious hearts is laid bare! You have had enough of me, You do not want me to be your queen! And I renounce you also and will trouble you no more. I will go out from the midst of you, O iniquitous and fraudulent hearts! I strip you from me like these vain adornments! _(She tears off her ornaments and throws them down._ All! All! Take all again! O vanities, I divest myself of you, and I shall go forth naked from this place! And now permit me to depart if I am free to go, For I cannot endure the glance of yonder basilisk! TÊTE-D'OR: Do you think to astonish me, young girl, do you think that I am afraid of you? Behold this hand, behold me, young girl, it is I who killed your father! I offered him as a fitting sacrifice And his blood spurted upon me, and he tumbled at my feet, writhing in the agony of death. For I saved this land with my sword, and turning upon its incapable master,