King Arthur's Socks and Other Village Plays - novelonlinefull.com
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_He cuts the Prince's bonds_.
THE PRINCE. Leave us. I wish to speak with the Queen.
THE QUEEN. (_to the fool_) No, stay. (_To the Prince_) It is not necessary for you to speak. You wish to tell me that the kisses you had from me were so sweet that you would like to buy some more, and are willing to put off your journey for a while.
THE PRINCE. I have given up my journey for ever. I know that the only thing that is real in all the world is love. You are scornful. But I have neither pride nor shame. I kneel at your feet, and beg you to forgive me for my folly.
_He kneels_.
THE QUEEN. It is a pretty speech. But you are too late. I have forgotten you. While they were tying your hands, I was kissing this man upon the mouth.
THE PRINCE. (_springing up_) It is a lie!
THE FOOL. Did you say that the Queen lies?
_He draws his sword_.
THE PRINCE. I do not fight with fools. (_To the Queen_) Send him away, and have him beaten.
THE QUEEN. Are you not willing to fight with him for me?
THE PRINCE. What do you mean?
THE QUEEN. I mean that I have a new appet.i.te, the appet.i.te for death. I have held myself too lightly, I have gone too willingly to the arms of a chance lover. Now there must be blood to sweeten the kisses.
THE PRINCE. Do you wish this fellow killed?
THE QUEEN. Or you. It makes no difference--not the least. What are my kisses, that I should be careful to whom they go?
THE PRINCE. You speak strangely, and I hardly know you. I have come back as a lover and not as a butcher.
THE QUEEN. My whim has changed--I am in the mood for butchers, now.
THE PRINCE. Say but one word to show that you still love me!
THE QUEEN. I have no word to say.
THE PRINCE. Doubt makes my sword heavy. . . .
THE FOOL. And have you nothing to say to me?
THE QUEEN. You remind me. Come. I must finish what I have begun.
_She kisses him on the mouth--the third kiss_.
THE PRINCE. (_covering his eyes_) It is I that am mad.
THE FOOL. Come, if you are not afraid.
_They go out, the Prince giving one long look at the Queen, whose face remains hard_.
_It has become a dark twilight_.
THE QUEEN. They told me that love was like this--but I laughed, and did not believe.
_The old woman comes in_.
THE QUEEN. I have sent him out to die.
THE OLD WOMAN. The fool?
THE QUEEN. No, no, no, my lover, my beloved. I tortured him and denied him, and sent him out to die.
THE OLD WOMAN. It is well enough. Death is among us again, and the old times have come back.
_There are sounds of fighting, and the women wait in silence. Then the sounds cease, and slowly the soldiers bear in a dead body, which they lay on the steps. They affix torches to either side of the palace door, and go out_.
THE FOOL. (_going up to the Queen, and holding out his sword to her, hilt-foremost_) I have done your bidding, and slain a brave man. Bid some one take this sword and slay me.
THE OLD WOMAN. What a faint heart you are! The fool's cap is on you still. Put back your sword in your scabbard. You will make a soldier yet.
THE QUEEN. You are a brave man. Put back your sword in your scabbard, and may it destroy all my enemies from this day forth.
THE FOOL. What shall I do?
THE QUEEN. I have created you, and now I must give you work to do. You can only fight. Very well, then. Take my soldiers, and lead them to the kingdom that thrusts its chief city against our kingdom's walls. There should be good fighting, and much spoil. When the soldiers have glutted themselves with wine and women, let the city be set on fire. I shall look every night for a light in the sky, and when it comes I shall know it is my bonfire. Perhaps it will light up my heart for a moment. When that is finished, I shall find you other b.l.o.o.d.y work. Go.
THE FOOL. I understand. You shall have your bonfire. Come, old woman, I want some of your advice.
THE OLD WOMAN. The good old days have come back. Ah, the smell of blood!
_They go out.
The queen looks over at the dead man lying on the steps between the torches, and gradually her face softens. She goes over slowly, and kneels by his side, gazing on him. She kisses his mouth, and then rises, goes slowly to the arbour, and sits down. She looks away, and her face becomes hard again.
A sound of trumpets and shouting, the menacing prelude of war, is heard outside_.
ENIGMA
A DOMESTIC CONVERSATION
To THEODORE DREISER
