Ha! ha! THE PRINCESS: Do not laugh thus with that contorted mouth! THE KING: Shadows! Shadows! Call back the army that I may solemnly address them, Call back the army that I may explain to them everything, having woefully arisen. Shadows on every man! Wretched men, most wretched among you all is the person of the King that lies here. O earth, receive my body! O death, accept my mysterious soul! THE PRINCESS: O Tête-d'or, do not die so desolate! THE KING: Ah! Ah! THE PRINCESS: Listen, my brother! THE KING: Ah! THE PRINCESS (_putting her hand on his head_): Hush! Hush! --You were able To resurrect the ruin of your body, And, in despite of death, Incarnate suffering, to make your way to me, emerging from the tomb like a man that had been flayed! O sight to wring the heart, That, royal both, we should encounter thus! You, robed in blood, and I, A tortured thing, transfixed against a tree, Sunk in a stupor, blind, like a wretched caterpillar! You have delivered me! And I, I shall not permit you to die in such despair. No, do not think that you can do it! She will not abandon you, she whom you have delivered, Pressing your mouth against the palms of her bleeding hands! Behold you have delivered one who is stronger than yourself! THE KING: No, woman! You cannot Take this life in your hair. Live! Be queen! All that I have I leave to you. Mortal man, As a traveller benighted in bitter cold takes refuge in the entrails of his horse, Comforts himself with his woman, seizing her by the breast. But as for me, I do not desire you. Let me die alone! Once more Like a flame there rolls In my breast the great desire. Ah! The child of my mother Has been enmeshed in a whirling fury, as his face is enmeshed by the soft and terrestrial flame of his hair; But now I, a better mother, I myself like a rigid son, shall give birth to a hairy soul! I hope! I hope! I aspire. You cannot undo this tough soul with your woman's nails. Again it fills its iron harness. --Ah! I see again! Ah! ah! _(The sun near its setting fills all the scene with an immense redness._ O sun! You, my Only love! O gulf and fire! O abyss! O blood! O blood! O Door! Gold! Gold! Absorb me, anger! THE PRINCESS: How his thirst upraises him. THE KING: I see. --An odor of violets excites my soul to undo it. THE PRINCESS: Tête-d'or, think of me! THE KING: O Father, Come! O Smile, recline upon me. As the folk of the vintage before the vats Go out from the house of the wine-press by all the doors like a torrent, My blood by all these wounds goes out to meet you in triumph. I die. Who shall relate That dying, arms outstretched, I held the sun on my breast like a wheel? O Prince, clothed with glory, Breast against breast you mingle yourself in my terrestrial blood! Drink the slave! O lion, you overwhelm me! O eagle, you grasp me in your talons! THE PRINCESS: He is dead. O body, you repose in incorruptible gold. _(Silence._