The King. Oh, very cold. But why should he

have troubled to climb? He was free of all the fruit in my garden God knows! What, Gow?

Gow. Surely, God knows!

The King. A lad's trick. But I love him the

Queen. What a coil at a day's end!
She'll grieve for him.

Not as I shall, Fer

dinand, 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 God! When was yesterday?

Ferdinand. Come in! Come in, my Lord.
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 mineHer 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. God 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

Gow.

man's wife. Jocasta of the still-room. She'd kissed me good-night too; but that's

on the Prince's beastly loves, and I pay for all. Let me pass!

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 lustful 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

Gow. So! God 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 east

erly. I'm for the road.

Ferdinand. My horse is at the gate. God 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 WISHING CAPS

Life's all getting and giving,
I've only myself to give.

What shall I do for a living?
I've only one life to live.

End it? I'll not find another.

Spend it? But how shall I best?

Sure the wise plan is to live like a man.

And Luck may look after the rest!
Largesse! Largesse, Fortune!

Give or hold at your will.

If I've no care for Fortune
Fortune must follow me still.

Bad Luck, she is never a lady

But the commonest wench on the street, Shuffling, shabby and shady,

Shameless to pass or meet.

Walk with her once- it's a weakness!

Talk to her twice it's a crime!