SCENE IV
TIME: two weeks later; sunrise.
PLACE: the open just without the town gate.
| THE GOODY. |
| THE WICKED UNCLE. |
| THE KING. |
| ELIZA. |
| HER ELEVEN BROTHERS. |
| THE EXECUTIONER. |
| FIRST CITIZEN. |
| SECOND CITIZEN. |
| THIRD CITIZEN. |
| FOURTH CITIZEN. |
| GUARDS. |
[Enter crowds of people from the town gate. Enter the GOODY from the forest. Enter the WICKED UNCLE from the town gate.]
GOODY (to Wicked Uncle). Why these crowds so early, sir?
WICKED UNCLE. Do not call me 'sir.'
GOODY. What shall I say, sir?
WICKED UNCLE. Say, 'Your Highness.'
GOODY. But you are not the King, sir.
WICKED UNCLE. I'm very near it, old woman.
GOODY. Not so near, sir, as you were, sir. There is the new queen, sir.
WICKED UNCLE. The new queen is about to die.
GOODY (alarmed). About to die?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). Aye, because she's a witch. They're bringing her out here now.
GOODY. The King permits it?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). He soon found out the truth about her.
GOODY. And what was that?
WICKED UNCLE. Just what I told him the first time I saw her. "She's a witch," said I, but he would not believe me.
GOODY. What has so changed him?
WICKED UNCLE. 'T was I who saw her slip forth from the castle one midnight. I followed her; straight to the graveyard she went.
GOODY. To the graveyard?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). In she went—I following. I saw her gather the stinging nettles that grow there.
GOODY. But they would blister her hands. Did she not cry out?
WICKED UNCLE. Not a sound did she utter! That would prove her a witch, were there nothing more.
GOODY. Ah, there is something more, then?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding; mysteriously). I followed her back to the castle; through the marble halls and up to the little cave room. I saw her break up the nettles. Then I saw her spin and weave this flax into a magic coat.
GOODY. Bless me! A magic coat?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). There were ten of them hanging from the ceiling.
GOODY. Of course you told the King?
WICKED UNCLE. Just as soon as I could waken him, but he would not believe me. He said there was but one coat when they brought her here, and that there could be but one now.
GOODY. She worked at night, then, while the castle slept.
WICKED UNCLE. True queens do not work—nay, can't be made to work. Every one knows that.
GOODY. But how did the King find out the truth?
WICKED UNCLE. I persuaded him to watch with me the next night. Just at midnight the queen came out. We followed her to the graveyard. "That is enough," said his Majesty, "she is a witch and must die."
[The CITIZENS rush to the gates.]
CITIZENS (calling). See the witch!
GOODY. Is she coming?
WICKED UNCLE (looking). Yes, she is just within the gate. She rides in an old cart drawn by an old horse—quite good enough for a witch.
[Enter the KING with servants and GUARDS. Behind them is the cart. In the cart sits ELIZA. She is spinning and weaving, never once looking up.]
GOODY. How pale she is! Bless me! She is spinning and weaving.
WICKED UNCLE. It is the eleventh coat and it will be the last.
GOODY. How she hurries to finish it!
[The cart stops.]
KING (to Eliza). Once again I ask you,—Are you a witch?
(Eliza shakes her head.)
Then give up the coats. They are of no use to any one.
[Eliza again shakes her head.]
WICKED UNCLE. That proves her a witch! Else, she would give up the coats.
KING (to Eliza). Once more,—Will you not give them up?
[Eliza shakes her head. The King turns away. He is very sad; his eyes are filled with tears.]
FIRST CITIZEN (calling). See the witch!
SECOND CITIZEN (calling). See her magic coats!
THIRD CITIZEN (calling). Let us tear them to pieces!
FOURTH CITIZEN (calling). At them, Citizens! Tear them to shreds!
GOODY (looking up; speaking aside). Here come the Wild Swans! Now we shall see what we shall see!
[ELEVEN WILD SWANS descend from the sky and alight on the cart. Each wears a golden crown.]
FIRST CITIZEN. Back, Citizens, back! Wild Swans have alighted on the cart!
FOURTH CITIZEN. What do we care for Wild Swans? Forward, Citizens!
FIRST CITIZEN. Back, I say! The Swans are beating us with their strong wings!
SECOND CITIZEN. Back! back, Citizens! We dare not approach the cart!
GOODY (calling to the people). The Swans have come to save the queen! 'T is a sign from heaven that she is innocent!
WICKED UNCLE (angrily). Be silent, old woman!
(He turns to the Executioner.)
Executioner, do your duty!
EXECUTIONER. Out of the cart, witch!
(Eliza shakes her head; takes up coats from floor of cart. The Executioner turns to the Wicked Uncle.)
She will not come!
WICKED UNCLE. Seize her—I command you!
FIRST CITIZEN. Seize her! Seize her!
GOODY. Look, Citizens, look! She is spreading the coats over the Swans!
[Eliza throws the eleven coats over the eleven Swans, who turn to eleven little princes, but the youngest has a swan's wing instead of an arm, for the last sleeve was not finished.]
FIRST CITIZEN. Do you see that, Citizens? They are princes! She has saved them!
SECOND CITIZEN. She is no witch!
THIRD CITIZEN. She is an angel from heaven!
THE ELEVEN BROTHERS. Dear sister, you have saved us!
ELIZA. Now I may speak—I am innocent!
ELDEST BROTHER (to King). Yes, she is innocent!
NINTH BROTHER. How you have suffered for us, dear Eliza!
CITIZENS (to Eliza). Forgive us!
KING (to Eliza). Forgive me! I did not understand.
WICKED UNCLE (annoyed, but trying to conceal it). And I did not understand, I—
KING (sternly). Be silent!
(To Guards.)
Seize him!
(The Guards seize the Wicked Uncle.)
Take him to the mountains where the stinging nettles grow.
WICKED UNCLE. Mercy! Mercy!
KING. You had no mercy on brave little Eliza! Now you shall gather nettles for the rest of your life. Away with him, Guardsmen!
(The Guards take the Wicked Uncle away. The King turns to his servants.)
Let the music sound! Bring forth the queen's golden crown!
(To Eliza.)
My whole kingdom shall do you honor! This land has never seen a more beautiful thing than your love for your brothers.
GOODY (whispering aside). Ring, church bells! Ring of yourselves!
[All the church bells are heard ringing.]
CITIZENS. Hear the church bells! They ring of themselves!
KING. They ring for this sweet queen whose heart is as good as her face is beautiful. Come, Citizens! Away now to the castle! Away to the banquet-hall!