LIEBHAID. The air hangs sultry as in mid-July. Look forth, Claire; moves not some big thundercloud Athwart the sky? My heart is sick. CLAIRE. Nay, Liebhaid. The clear May sun is shining, and the air Blows fresh and cordial from the budding hills. LIEBHAID. Reuben, what is 't o'clock. Our father stays. The midday meal was cold an hour agone. REUBEN. 'T is two full hours past noon; he should be here. Ah see, he comes. Great God! what woe has chanced? He totters on his staff; he has grown old Since he went forth this morn. Enter SUSSKIND. LIEBHAID. Father, what news? SUSSKIND. The Lord have mercy! Vain is the help of man. Children, is all in order? We must start At set of sun on a long pilgrimage. So wills the Landgrave, so the court decrees. LIEBHAID. What is it, father? Exile? SUSSKIND. Yea, just that. We are banished from our vexed, uncertain homes, 'Midst foes and strangers, to a land of peace, Where joy abides, where only comfort is. Banished from care, fear, trouble, life--to death. REUBEN. Oh horror! horror! Father, I will not die. Come, let us flee--we yet have time for flight. I'll bribe the sentinel--he will ope the gates. Liebhaid, Claire, Father! let us flee! Away To some safe land where we may nurse revenge. SUSSKIND. Courage, my son, and peace. We may not flee. Didst thou not see the spies who dogged my steps? The gates are thronged with citizens and guards. We must not flee--God wills that we should die. LIEBHAID. Said you at sunset? SUSSKIND. So they have decreed. CLAIRE. Oh why not now? Why spare the time to warn? Why came they not with thee to massacre, Leaving no agony betwixt the sentence And instant execution? That were mercy! Oh, my prophetic father! SUSSKIND. They allow Full five hours' grace to shrive our souls with prayer. We shall assemble in the Synagogue, As on Atonement Day, confess our sins, Recite the Kaddish for the Dead, and chant Our Shibboleth, the Unity of God, Until the supreme hour when we shall stand Before the mercy-seat. LIEBHAID. In what dread shape Approaches death?