[Duke bursts into a loud laugh.]
Prince. I see destruction naming in thine eyes,--thou laughest in scorn.... Laugh on. For I shall not avenge myself, nor count it my duty to shatter the fearful edifice of thy throne. So long as it will uphold thee and thy blood-blinded sword, so long be thou and thy people worthy of one another. Enough! Hans, set forth!
[Cölestin and the other nobles come up the steps.]
Duke. Behold, ye noble gentlemen! Blood of the cross, what a hero we have here! He halts here: makes a mighty clamor: naught has or ever can delay his march of triumph:--and then on a sudden he makes a short turn, breathes a deep sigh, and like the other poltroons, leaves the field to me.
Hans [aside]. Control thyself, master, all this can be borne.
Cölestin. What, stranger, art thou also of princely blood?
Prince. Whether princely or not, my blood is mine, and I myself must be the judge of what suits it. My host, I thank thee.... I would right gladly have rested here, gladly have sat down at thy hearth as a humble guest--
Cölestin. Thou earnest on the day of the tournament; and therefore thou hast come to free the Queen.
Prince. Thou callest me stranger, and will pardon me that I had heard naught of thy Queen.
Cölestin. Still thou sawest her when she and her women--