Three Wonder Plays Part 47

(_They pull a bell-rope and bell is beard clanging_.)

_Ogre: (Rushing at them as they ring it_.) I'll stop that!

_(Voices are heard, at door to right. Ogre rushes to other door_.)

_2nd Prince_: I'll get the sword from him. _(s.n.a.t.c.hes it away as Ogre is rushing at him. Servant and Guardian come in_.)

_Guardian_: What is going on! (_Blows a whistle_.) Here, soldiers of the guard!

_(Feet are heard marching and bugle blowing at left door. Ogre rapidly slips off his mask, and appears as a harmless old man.)_

_Guardian:_ Thieves! Robbers! Burglars!

Here, soldiers, surround the place; who are these ruffians? Murder! Robbery! Fire!

_(Two soldiers come in_.)

_Servant_: They are the very same youngsters were at our door this morning, doing their play; those Wrenboys!

_Guardian_: They are thieves. There is one of them bringing away my gold-handled sword. _(He and Servant seize sword_.)

_Ogre: (Coming forward and bowing low_.) It is time for you to come, your honour my lordship!

I am proud to see you coming! It was I myself that rang the bell and that called and awakened you, where I would not like to see the place robbed and left bare by these sc.u.m of the world!

_All the Princes_: Oh! Oh! Oh!

_Guardian_: What have you to do with it?

Where do you come from?

_Ogre_: An honest poor man I am....

_Servant_: You have a queer wild sort of a dress.

_Ogre_: Making a living I do be, dressing up as a hobgoblin and a bogey man to get an odd copper from a mother here and there, would be wishful to frighten a stubborn child from bawling or from tricks. Pa.s.sing the door I was, and hearing a noise I looked in, and these young villains were after rising a board and taking out that sword you seen in their hands. It is then that I made a clamour with the bell.

(_Princes laugh_.)

_Guardian_: Who are they at all?

_Ogre_: It is I myself say it; they are the terror of the whole district.

_1st Prince_: You may save your breath and stop that talk. This gentleman knows us well. He knows us and will recognise us.

_Guardian_: I do recognise you. I saw you but yesterday.

_2nd Prince_: There now, what do you say?

_Guardian_: You are those vagabond Wrenboys that came tricking and begging to my gate.

_Princes_: Oh! Oh! Oh!

_Ogre_: That's it! Spying round they were!

Thinking to do a robbery! Robbery they're after doing!

_3rd Prince_: We were doing no such thing!

_Guardian_: You were! I stopped you making off with my sword of Justice.

_Ogre_: If it wasn't for me hindering them they would have it swept.

_Guardian_: That was very honest of you.

_4th Prince_: (_Rushing at Ogre_.) It is you that are a rogue and a thief!

_Other Princes_: Throw him down while we have the chance. (_They surround him_.)

_Guardian_: Silence! Don't make that disturbance!

I felt a suspicion yesterday the first time I saw your faces there was villainy hidden beneath the dust that was on your cheeks.

_4th Prince_: Listen to us, listen!

_Guardian_: And whatever I thought then, you are seventeen times more wicked looking now!

And the very sc.u.m of the roads!

_5th Prince_: Oh, have you forgotten your nurslings!

_Guardian: It_ is well you reminded me of them.

(_To Servant_.) Go now and bring the young Princes here till they will see justice done! They are maybe gone a bit wild and foolish since yesterday, put out by those Dowager Messengers. But whatever they were at their worst, they are King George compared with these!

_1st Prince_: You _must_ listen!

_Guardian_: Must! What is that language!

That is a word was never said to me since I was made the Queen's Chamberlain. Here! Put a gag upon their mouths! (_Soldiers do so, tying a handkerchief on mouth of each_.) Tie their hands behind them with ropes. (_This is done_.) Rapscallions!

Do they think to terrify and command me!

I that am not only Governor of the Island but am Supreme Judge whenever I come into this Court.

_Ogre_: That is very good and very right! Keep the gag in their mouth! You wouldn't like to be listening to the things they were saying a while ago! They were giving out great impudence and very disrespectful talk!

_Guardian_: Give me here my Judge's wig and my gown! (_Puts them on_.) Where now are the young Princes?

_Servant_: They are coming now.

_Guardian_: It will be a great help in their education seeing justice done by me, as straight as was ever done by Aristides. Give me here that book of punishments and rewards. I'll see what is bad enough for these lads! (_He consults book_.)

_Servant_: Here now are the Princes.

_(Wrenboys come in wearing Princes' clothes_)

_1st Wrenboy: (To another_) Do you see who it is that is in it?