THE PRINCESS: Why should I hide it? Your former King who was killed by that man there.... THE COMMANDER: Are you his daughter? THE PRINCESS: I am. THE COMMANDER: Tête-d'or Commands that you be Queen. THE PRINCESS: He said this to you? THE COMMANDER: Yes, with his last breath. THE PRINCESS: Then let it be according to his wish. THE COMMANDER: What he wished, we also wish. THE PRINCESS: Make haste! Clothe me again in the garments of a queen. THE COMMANDER: What did you say? THE PRINCESS: The coronation costume. Put it on me. The crown and the sceptre. THE COMMANDER: Go search for it, one of you. The royal treasures are packed among our stores. _(An Officer goes out._ THE COMMANDER (_to the_ PRINCESS): I am astonished to see you. THE PRINCESS: After I had left your country I was pursued Thus far. And here I lived. But have you never seen me Before? THE COMMANDER: Never. THE PRINCESS: You will be faithful to me? THE COMMANDER: Yes, Queen. THE PRINCESS: All is well. _(Enter many men hearing various parts of the coronation costume._ THE PRINCESS: These are the things I asked for? THE COMMANDER: Yes. THE PRINCESS: You must serve as my maids, soldiers. My strength is gone. THE COMMANDER (_to another_): You, support her beneath the other arm. _(They present to her one by one the parts of the coronation costume._ FIRST OFFICER: The long chemise, the Alb. _(They put them on her._ THE PRINCESS: I saw him.... THE COMMANDER: It is true. At the last moment of his life. THE PRINCESS: One desire lived in him Still. Certainly a desire still burned in his breast. --The robe. SECOND OFFICER: Here it is. THE PRINCESS: Hide me under the costume of the Queen. _(They put the robe on her._ THE PRINCESS: The sleeves. Gently, gently, my friends! Ah! Have patience. My arms are somewhat rusty. THE COMMANDER: O Queen, let me take your foot. _(They remove the hide boot and put a sandal in its place._ THIRD OFFICER: This that you remove is the shoe of the exile. THE COMMANDER: And they place upon your foot the imperial sandal with fastenings of gold. _(They do the same for the other foot._ THE PRINCESS: What is there still to do? Throw the mantle over my shoulders. Quick, I am in haste! Fasten this clasp! And you, place the crown on my head, O paranymph! THE COMMANDER: Be Queen! _(He places the crown on her head._ THE PRINCESS: The sceptre. (_They present it to her._) How shall I hold it? (_To the_ COMMANDER.) See this hand! _(She turns it painfully from side to side._ THE COMMANDER: It bleeds! THE PRINCESS: Poor hand! _(She looks at it with a kind of smile._ I have been nailed.... THE COMMANDER: Nailed! THE PRINCESS: Know that I have been nailed by the hands. What are they good for? Nailed like a bird of the night. Like the tree that is crucified that it may fructify. THE COMMANDER: You have suffered a great outrage. THE PRINCESS: I cannot hold the golden sceptre and yet I must. Help me.