Part 23 (1/2)

There's a dew falling.

_The King_. He'll take no harm of it. I'll follow presently.....

He's all his mother's now and none of mine-- Her very face on the bride-pillow. Yet I tricked her.

But that was later--and she never guessed.

I do not think he sinned much--he's too young-- Much the same age as my Queen. G.o.d must not judge him Too hardly for such slips as youth may fall in.

But I'll entreat that Throne.

(_Prays by the body._)

_Gow_. The Heavens hold up still. Earth opens not and this dew's mere water. What shall a man think of it all? _(To Gardener.)_ Not dead yet, sirrah? I bade you follow the Prince. Despatch!

_Gardener_. Some kind soul pluck out the dagger.

Why did you slay me? I'd done no wrong. I'd ha'

kept it secret till my dying day. But not now--not now! I'm dying. The Prince fell from the Queen's chamber window. I saw it in the nut alley. He was----

_Ferdinand_. But what made you in the nut alley at that hour?

_Gardener_. No wrong. No more than another man's wife. Jocasta of the still-room. She'd kissed me good-night too; but that's over with the rest.... I've stumbled on the Prince's beastly loves, and I pay for all. Let me pa.s.s!

_Gow_. Count it your fortune, honest man. You would have revealed it to your woman at the next meeting. You fleshmongers are all one feather.

_(Plucks out the dagger.)_ Go in peace and lay your death to Fortune's door.

He's sped--thank Fortune!

_Ferdinand_. Who knows not Fortune, glutted on easy thrones, Stealing from feasts as rare to coney-catch Privily in the hedgerows for a clown.

With that same cruel-l.u.s.tful hand and eye, Those nails and wedges, that one hammer and lead, And the very gerb of long-stored lightning loosed.

Yesterday 'gainst some King.

_The King_. I have pursued with prayers where my heart warns me My soul shall overtake--

_Enter the Queen_

_The King_. Look not! Wait till I tell you, dearest.... Air!...

'Loosed to adventure early'

... I go late. _(Dies.)_

_Gow_. So! G.o.d hath cut off the Prince in his pleasures. Gow, to save the King, hath silenced one poor fool who knew how it befell, and now the King's dead, needs only that the Queen should kill Gow and all's safe for her this side o' the Judgment.

...Senor Ferdinand, the wind's easterly. I'm for the road.

_Ferdinand_. My horse is at the gate. G.o.d speed you. Whither?

_Gow_. To the Duke, if the Queen does not lay hands on me before. However it goes, I charge you bear witness, Senor Ferdinand, I served the old King faithfully. To the death, Senor Ferdinand--to the death!

THE WIs.h.i.+NG CAPS

Life's all getting and giving.

I've only myself to give.

What shall I do for a living?