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It is I that am mad.

THE FOOL.
Come, if you are not afraid.

They go out, the Prince giving one long look at the Queen, whose face remains hard.

It has become a dark twilight.

THE QUEEN.
They told me that love was like this–but I laughed, and did not believe.

The old woman comes in.

THE QUEEN.
I have sent him out to die.

THE OLD WOMAN.
The fool?

THE QUEEN.
No, no, no, my lover, my beloved.
I tortured him and denied him, and sent him out to die.

THE OLD WOMAN.
It is well enough. Death is among us again, and the old times have come back.

There are sounds of fighting, and the women wait in silence. Then the sounds cease, and slowly the soldiers bear in a dead body, which they lay on the steps. They affix torches to either side of the palace door, and go out.

THE FOOL.
( going up to the Queen,

and holding out his sword to her, hilt-foremost )

I have done your bidding, and slain a brave man. Bid some one take this sword and slay me.

THE OLD WOMAN.
What a faint heart you are! The fool’s cap is on you still.
Put back your sword in your scabbard. You will make a soldier yet.

THE QUEEN.
You are a brave man. Put back your sword in your scabbard,
and may it destroy all my enemies from this day forth.

THE FOOL.
What shall I do?

THE QUEEN.
I have created you, and now I must give you work to do. You can only fight. Very well, then. Take my soldiers, and lead them to the kingdom that thrusts its chief city against our kingdom’s walls. There should be good fighting, and much spoil. When the soldiers have glutted themselves with wine and women, let the city be set on fire. I shall look every night for a light in the sky, and when it comes I shall know it is my bonfire. Perhaps it will light up my heart for a moment. When that is finished, I shall find you other bloody work. Go.

THE FOOL.
I understand. You shall have your bonfire. Come, old woman, I want some of your advice.

THE OLD WOMAN.
The good old days have come back. Ah, the smell of blood!

They go out.

The queen looks over at the dead man lying on the steps between the torches, and gradually her face softens. She goes over slowly, and kneels by his side, gazing on him. She kisses his mouth, and then rises, goes slowly to the arbour, and sits down. She looks away, and her face becomes hard again.

A sound of trumpets and shouting,
the menacing prelude of war, is heard outside
.