ISAAC (_who has seated himself on the chair_). Here will I sit. Now that the King is here I fear them not, nor all that yet may come. _The centre door opens. Enter MANRIQUE, and GARCERAN, behind them the QUEEN, leading her child by the hand, and other nobles._ MANRIQUE. Come, enter here, arrange yourselves the while. We have offended 'gainst his Majesty, Seeking the good, but not within the law. We will not try now to evade the law. ESTHER (_on the other side, raising the overturned table with a quick movement_). Order thyself, disorder! Lest they think That we are terrified, or cowards prove. QUEEN. Here are those others, here. MANRIQUE. Nay, let them be! What mayhap threatens us, struck them ere now. I beg you, stand you here, in rank and file. QUEEN. Let me come first, I am the guiltiest! MANRIQUE. Not so. O Queen. Thou spak'st the word, 'tis true, But when it came to action thou didst quake, Oppose the deed, and mercy urge instead, Although in vain; for need became our law. Nor would I wish the King's first burst of rage To strike the mighty heads we most revere As being next to him, the Kingdom's hope. I did the deed, not with this hand, forsooth-- With counsel, and with pity, deep and dread! The first place, then, is mine. And thou, my son-- Hast thou the heart to answer like a man For that which at the least thou hinder'dst not, So that thy earnest wish to make amends And thy return have tangled thee in guilt? GARCERAN. Behold me ready! To your side I come! And may the King's first fury fall on me! ESTHER (_calling across_). You there, although all murderers alike, Deserving every punishment and death-- Enough of mischief is already done, Nor would I wish the horrors yet increased! Within, beside my sister, is the King; Enraged before he went, the sight of her Will but inflame his passionate ire anew. I pity, too, that woman and her child, Half innocent, half guilty--only half. So go while yet there's time, and do not meet Th' avenger still too hot to act as judge. MANRIQUE. Woman, we're Christians! ESTHER. You have shown you are. Commend me to the Jewess, O my God! MANRIQUE. Prepared as Christians, too, to expiate In meek submission all of our misdeeds. Lay off your swords. Here now is first my own! To be in armor augurs of defense. Our very number makes submission less. Divide we up the guilt each bears entire.