One that was dead and lives. You say
Your brother, the great King, is dead. Oh, sire,
If that be so, you'll hear a dead man speak, For your dead brother's sake. You say the King
Is dead; but you are king. So the King lives!
You are King of England now from sea to sea,
Is it not so? Shout, maskers, once again,
Long live the King!
MASKERS
Long live the King!
ROBIN
You see
What power is yours! Your smile is life, your frown
Death. At a word from you the solid earth
Would shake with tramp of armies. You can call
Thousands to throw away their lives like straws
Upon your side, if any foreign king
Dare to affront you.
[He draws nearer to John, who still shrinks a little, as if in fear.]
Richard, you say, is dead,
And yet, O King, I say that the great King
Lives!
[He strikes John across the face. John cowers and staggers back. The Maskers draw their swords, the women scream and rush together. Robin turns, sword in hand, to confront the Maskers.]
Back, fools; for I say that the great King
Lives. Do not doubt it. Ye have dreamed him dead
How often. Hark, God in heaven, ye know that voice.
[A voice is heard drawing nearer thro' the distant darkness of the garden, singing. All listen. John's face whitens.]