Cébès: Midnight.
The King: There is no one here any longer.
But I cannot sleep and I wander through the palace
From the kitchen to the immense garrets and I seem to hear behind the doors the quiet breathing of sleepers, and the fire upon the hearth sends out a little glow.
These poor folk who arrived yesterday, seeing the palace empty, asked if they might spend the night here. They are visionaries; they wish to watch and pray.
It seems that we have been beaten everywhere. It is a shameful thing!
Our blunders
Surpass our misfortunes, and all is submerged in dishonor. And at will the enemy crosses our frontiers.
—Terror is upon us!
(Silence.—The snores of the watchers are heard.