KING (standing still).
Forsooth, thou ne'er hast known or seen this girl!
Take all the faults that on this broad earth dwell,
Folly and vanity, and weakness, too,
Cunning and boldness, coquetry and greed—
Put them together and thou hast this woman;
And if, enigma thou, not magic art,
Shouldst call her power to charm me, I'll agree,
And were ashamed, were't not but natural, too!
QUEEN (walks up and down).
Believe me, husband, 'twas not natural!
KING (standing still).
Magic there is, in truth. Its name is custom,
Which first not potent, later holds us fast;
So that which at the outset shocked, appalled,
Sloughs off the first impression of disgust,
And grows, a thing continued, to a need—
Is this not of our very bodies true?
This chain I wore—which now here idly lies,
Ta'en off forever—breast and neck alike,
To this impression have become so used—
(Shaking himself.)
The empty spaces make me shake with cold.
I'll choose myself another chain forthwith;
The body jests not when it warning sends.
And now enough of this!
But that you could
Avenge yourselves in blood on this poor fool—
That was not well!
(Stepping to the table.)
For do but see these eyes—
Yes, see the eyes, the body, neck, and form!
God made them verily with master hand;
'Twas she herself the image did distort.
Let us revere in her, then, God's own work,
And not destroy what he so wisely built.