Part 22 (2/2)

_Ferdinand_.(G.o.ds give me patience!) Gow and a gardener Bearing some load along in the dusk to the dunghill.

Nay--a dead branch--But as I said, the Prince----

_The King. _They've set it down. Strange that they work so late.

_Gow (setting down the body)_. Heark, you unsanctified fool, while I set out our story. We found it, this side the North park wall which it had climbed to pluck nectarines from the alley. Heark again! There was a nectarine in its hand when we found it, and the naughty brick that slipped from the coping beneath its foot and so caused its death, lies now under the wall for the King to see.

_The King (above)_. The King to see! Why should he? Who's the man?

_Gow_. That is your tale. Swerve from it by so much as the breadth of my dagger and here's your instant reward. You heard not, saw not, and by the Horns of ninefold-cuckolded Jupiter you thought not nor dreamed not anything more or other!

_The King_. Ninefold-cuckolded Jupiter. That's a rare oath! Shall we look closer?

_Ferdinand_. Not yet, my Lord! (I cannot hear him breathe.)

_Gardener_. The North park wall? It was so.

Plucking nectarines. It shall be. But how shall I say if any ask why our Lady the Queen--

_Gow (stabs him)_. Thus! Hie after the Prince and tell him y'are the first fruits of his nectarine tree. Bleed there behind the laurels.

_The King_. Why did Gow buffet the clown?

What said he? I'll go look.

_Ferdinand (above)_. Save yourself! It is the King!

_Enter the King and Ferdinand to Gow_

_Gow_. G.o.d save you! This was the Prince!

_The King_. The Prince! Not a dead branch?

(_Uncovers the face_.) My flesh and blood! My son! my son! my son!

_Ferdinand_ (_to Gow_). I had feared something of this. And that fool yonder?

_Gow_. Dead, or as good. He cannot speak.

_Ferdinand_. Better so.

_The King_. 'Loosed to adventure early!' Tell the tale.

_Gow_. Saddest truth alack! I came upon him not a half hour since, fallen from the North park wall over against the Deerpark side--dead--dead!--a nectarine in his hand that the dear lad must have climbed for, and plucked the very instant, look you, that a brick slipped on the coping. 'Tis there now.

So I lifted him, but his neck was as you see--and already cold.

_The King_. Oh, very cold. But why should he have troubled to climb? He was free of all the fruit in my garden, G.o.d knows!... What, Gow?

_Gow_. Surely, G.o.d knows!

_The King_. A lad's trick. But I love him the better for it.... True, he's past loving.... And now we must tell our Queen. What a coil at the day's end! She'll grieve for him. Not as I shall; Ferdinand, but as youth for youth. They were much of the same age. Playmate for playmate.

See, he wears her colours. That is the knot she gave him last--last.... Oh G.o.d! When was yesterday?

_Ferdinand_. Come in! Come in, my Lord.

<script>