SCENE III
TIME: two days later.
PLACE: a distant country; the King's palace.
| THE KING. |
| HIS WICKED UNCLE. |
| ELIZA. |
| GUARDSMEN. |
| SERVANTS. |
[The WICKED UNCLE stands waiting to receive the King. Enter the KING with ELIZA. She is pale and sad.]
WICKED UNCLE. Welcome, your Majesty! Welcome home from your hunt! But who is this maiden?
KING. I know not, my Uncle.
WICKED UNCLE. What?
KING. My huntsmen found her in a cave in a far-off country.
WICKED UNCLE. In a cave? Alone?
KING (nodding). Alone; spinning coats out of flax.
WICKED UNCLE. This is very strange.
(To Eliza.)
Why were you all alone in a cave, and why were you spinning coats?
(Eliza shakes her head.)
KING. She is dumb, Uncle. Not a word has she uttered since we found her.
WICKED UNCLE. Why did you bring her with you?
KING. I will make her my queen.
WICKED UNCLE (angrily). Your queen?
KING. See how beautiful she is.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering to King). She is a witch!
KING. Nonsense! She is as good as she is beautiful.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering as before). She has bewitched your heart!
KING. Nonsense, I say! She did not want to leave the cave. She wept bitterly when I put her on my horse.
(He turns to the servants.)
Let the music sound! Prepare the wedding feast!
(He turns to Eliza, who weeps.)
Do not weep, my beautiful maid.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering to King). She is not beautiful. She has bewitched your eyes.
KING. I will not listen to you! Go, bid them ring the church bells.
WICKED UNCLE (going; speaking aside). I must poison his heart against her in some way; else I'll never wear the crown.
[Wicked Uncle goes.]
KING (to Eliza). Do not weep. You shall be dressed in silks and velvets and I will place a golden crown upon your head.
(Eliza weeps and wrings her hands.)
Well, then, I know how to make you smile.
[The King opens a door into an inner room. Eliza looks in, smiles, and claps her hands for joy.]
KING. I thought 't would make you happy! 'T is very like your cave—I had it made so.
(Eliza tries to thank King with her eyes.)
But no more spinning! Your fingers shall be covered with diamonds instead of blisters.
(Eliza sighs very sadly.)
Something troubles you, little queen. If you could only tell me of your grief!
(Eliza shakes her head sadly.)
Well, I can at least save you from a life of labor. You shall be most tenderly cared for.
(Calling.)
Ho, there, Guardsmen!
(Enter GUARDSMEN.)
Guardsmen, behold your queen!
(Guards kneel before Eliza.)
Guardsmen, arise and hear my commands.
(Guards rise.)
Your queen is never to do any of the work about the castle. Do you hear me, Guardsmen?
GUARDSMEN (bowing). We hear, O King!
KING. Not even the spinning or weaving. Do you hear me, Guardsmen?
GUARDSMEN (bowing). We hear, O King!
KING. Those are my commands. Now attend us to the banquet-hall.
(To Eliza, who is weeping.)
Weep no more, little queen. I wish only your happiness. Come, give me your hand. We go now to the wedding feast.
[They go out, the Guards attending.]