Of four republics the expense would pay.
'Twas I who furnished them; were they less heavy,
Their paltry splendour would the velvet mar—
Right Spanish velvet!—Let him reign, forsooth,
But let him die upon this spot, that so
The crown his dying hour may adorn!
We'll try upon his brow the nail of Sisera.—
[He looks at the cushions of the throne.
Velvet for which I paid five crowns the yard!—
According to the good old custom, I
Resell for ten. A goodly customer,
Nathless, this Ehud. But his avarice!—
He's nigh unto his death. These royal steps
Will break beneath his feet, 'neath this proud dais,
Ay, 'neath these very hangings, whereupon
His arms plebeian do a crown usurp.
How excellent this place to strike him down!
But still he's capable of chaffering!
Of bidding Maynard to curtail my bill!
Clipping the cloth of gold, and crying down
The priceless silk! And if I dare complain,
In his good faith he lends his men of war
To aid his men of law. These Pharaohs!
Serve them who will. Always ingratitude
Is the first impulse of their stony hearts.
And yet he should be well content with me:
To parody the royal majesty,
This odious throne, this horrifying stage,
This impure altar—they are all superb!—
In truth, I spared not. I resigned myself
To decorate this Moloch, and expose
To all the risks anathema entails
