第8章

But if, as I misdoubt, at his first step The hoof of the predicted savage shows;Before predicted mischief can be done, The self-same sleep that loosed him from the chain Shall re-consign him, not to loose again.

Then shall I, having lost that heir direct, Look solely to my sisters' children twain Each of a claim so equal as divides The voice of Poland to their several sides, But, as I trust, to be entwined ere long Into one single wreath so fair and strong As shall at once all difference atone, And cease the realm's division with their own.

Cousins and Princes, Peers and Councillors, Such is the purport of this invitation, And such is my design.Whose furtherance If not as Sovereign, if not as Seer, Yet one whom these white locks, if nothing else, to patient acquiescence consecrate, I now demand and even supplicate.

AST.

Such news, and from such lips, may well suspend The tongue to loyal answer most attuned;But if to me as spokesman of my faction Your Highness looks for answer; I reply For one and all--Let Segismund, whom now We first hear tell of as your living heir, Appear, and but in your sufficient eye Approve himself worthy to be your son, Then we will hail him Poland's rightful heir.

What says my cousin?

EST.

Ay, with all my heart.

But if my youth and sex upbraid me not That I should dare ask of so wise a king--KING.

Ask, ask, fair cousin! Nothing, I am sure, Not well consider'd; nay, if 'twere, yet nothing But pardonable from such lips as those.

EST.

Then, with your pardon, Sir--if Segismund, My cousin, whom I shall rejoice to hail As Prince of Poland too, as you propose, Be to a trial coming upon which More, as I think, than life itself depends, Why, Sir, with sleep-disorder'd senses brought To this uncertain contest with his stars?

KING.

Well ask'd indeed! As wisely be it answer'd!

/Because/ it is uncertain, see you not?

For as I think I can discern between The sudden flaws of a sleep-startled man, And of the savage thing we have to dread;If but bewilder'd, dazzled, and uncouth, As might the sanest and the civilest In circumstance so strange--nay, more than that, If moved to any out-break short of blood, All shall be well with him; and how much more, If 'mid the magic turmoil of the change, He shall so calm a resolution show As scarce to reel beneath so great a blow!

But if with savage passion uncontroll'd He lay about him like the brute foretold, And must as suddenly be caged again;Then what redoubled anguish and despair, From that brief flash of blissful liberty Remitted--and for ever--to his chain!

Which so much less, if on the stage of glory Enter'd and exited through such a door Of sleep as makes a dream of all between.

EST.

Oh kindly answer, Sir, to question that To charitable courtesy less wise Might call for pardon rather! I shall now Gladly, what, uninstructed, loyally I should have waited.

AST.

Your Highness doubts not me, Nor how my heart follows my cousin's lips, Whatever way the doubtful balance fall, Still loyal to your bidding.

OMNES.

So say all.

KING.

I hoped, and did expect, of all no less--And sure no sovereign ever needed more From all who owe him love or loyalty.

For what a strait of time I stand upon, When to this issue not alone I bring My son your Prince, but e'en myself your King:

And, whichsoever way for him it turn, Of less than little honour to myself.

For if this coming trial justify My thus withholding from my son his right, Is not the judge himself justified in The father's shame? And if the judge proved wrong, My son withholding from his right thus long, Shame and remorse to judge and father both:

Unless remorse and shame together drown'd In having what I flung for worthless found.

But come--already weary with your travel, And ill refresh'd by this strange history, Until the hours that draw the sun from heaven Unite us at the customary board, Each to his several chamber: you to rest;I to contrive with old Clotaldo best The method of a stranger thing than old Time has a yet among his records told.

Exeunt.