KING. Magic devices round about us are, But we are the magicians, we ourselves. That which is far removed, a thought brings near; What we have scorned, another time seems fair; And in this world so full of miracles, We are the greatest miracle ourselves! QUEEN. She has thy picture! KING. And she shall return 't, In full view I shall nail it to the wall, And for my children's children write beneath: A King, who, not so evil in himself, Hath once forgot his office and his duty. Thank God that he did find himself again. QUEEN. But thou, thyself, dost wear about thy neck-- KING. Oh yes! Her picture? So you knew that, too? [_He takes the picture with the chain from his neck, and lays it on the table in the foreground to the right._] So then I lay it down, and may it lie-- A bolt not harmful, now the thunder's past. The girl herself--let her be ta'en away! She then may have a man from out her race-- [_Walking fitfully back and forth from the rear to the front of the stage, and stopping short now and then._] But no, not that!--The women of this race Are passable, good even, but the men With dirty hands and narrow greed of gain-- This girl shall not be touched by such a one. Indeed, she has to better ones belonged. But then, what's that to me?--If thus or thus, If near or far--they may look after that! QUEEN. Wilt thou, then, Don Alfonso, stay thus strong? KING (_standing still_). Forsooth, thou ne'er hast known or seen this girl! Take all the faults that on this broad earth dwell, Folly and vanity, and weakness, too, Cunning and boldness, coquetry and greed-- Put them together and thou hast this woman; And if, enigma thou, not magic art, Shouldst call her power to charm me, I'll agree, And were ashamed, were't not but natural, too! QUEEN (_walks up and down_). Believe me, husband, 'twas not natural! KING (_standing still_). Magic there is, in truth. Its name is custom, Which first not potent, later holds us fast; So that which at the outset shocked, appalled, Sloughs off the first impression of disgust, And grows, a thing continued, to a need-- Is this not of our very bodies true? This chain I wore--which now here idly lies, Ta'en off forever--breast and neck alike, To this impression have become so used-- (_Shaking himself._)