(Theyenterthetower,andthencebringoutSegismundasleeponapallet,andsethiminthemiddleofthestage。)
CAPT。
Still,stillsodeadasleep,theverynoiseAndmotionthatwemakeincarryinghimStirsnotaleafinallthelivingtree。
SOLDIERS。
Ifliving——ButifbysomeinwardblowForeverandirrevocablyfell'dBywhatstrikesdeepertotherootthansleep?
——He'sdead!He'sdead!They'vekill'dhim——
——No——hebreathes——
Andtheheartbeats——andnowhebreathesagainDeeply,asoneabouttoshakeawayTheloadofsleep。
CAPT。
Come,letusallkneelround,Andwithablastofwarlikeinstruments,Andacclamationofallloyalhearts,Rouseandrestorehimtohisroyalright,Fromwhichnoroyalwrongshalldrivehimmore。
(Theyallkneelroundhisbed:trumpets,drums,etc。)
SOLDIERS。
——Segismund!Segismund!PrinceSegismund!
——KingSegismund!DownwithBasilio!
——DownwithAstolfo!SegismundourKing!etc。
——Hestaresuponuswildly。Hecannotspeak。
——Isaidso——driv'nhimmad。
——Speaktohim,Captain。
CAPTAIN。
OhRoyalSegismund,ourPrinceandKing,Lookonus——listentous——answerus,Yourfaithfulsoldieryandsubjects,nowAboutyoukneeling,butonfiretoriseAndcleaveapassagethroughyourenemies,Untilweseatyouonyourlawfulthrone。
Forthoughyourfather,KingBasilio,NowKingofPoland,jealousofthestarsThatprophesyhissettingwithyourrise,Hereholdsyouignominiouslyeclipsed,AndwouldAstolfo,DukeofMuscovy,MounttothethroneofPolandafterhim;
Sowillnotwe,yourloyalsoldieryAndsubjects;neitherthoseofusnowfirstApprisedofyourexistenceandyourright:
NorthosethathithertodeludedbyAllegiancefalse,theirvizorsnowflingdown,AndcravingpardonontheirkneeswithusForthatunconsciousdisloyalty,Offerwithustheserviceoftheirblood;
Notonlyweandthey;butatourheelsTheheart,ifnotthebulk,ofPolandfollowsTojointheirvoicesandtheirarmswithours,InvindicatingwithourlivesourownPrinceSegismundtoPolandandherthrone。
SOLDIERS。
——Segismund,Segismund,PrinceSegismund!
——OurownKingSegismund,etc。
(Theyallrise。)
SEG。
Again?Sosoon?——What,notyetdonewithme?
Thesunislittlehigherup,Ithink,ThanwhenIlastlaydown,ToburyinthedepthofyourownseaYouthatinfestitsshallows。
CAPT。
Sir!
SEG。
Andnow,Notinapalace,notinthefineclothesWeallwerein;buthere,intheoldplace,Andinouroldaccoutrement——
Onlyyourvizorsoff,andlipsunlock'dTomockmewiththatidletitle——
CAPT。
Nay,Indeednoidletitle,butyourown,Then,now,andnowforever。For,behold,Ev'nasIspeak,themountainpassesfillAndbristlewiththeadvancingsoldieryThatglittersinyourrisingglory,sir;
And,atoursignal,echotoourcry,'Segismund,KingofPoland!'etc。
(Shouts,trumpets,etc。)
SEG。
Oh,howcheapThemusterofacountlesshostofshadows,Asimpotenttodowithastokeep!
Allthistheysaidbefore——tosoftermusic。
CAPT。
Softmusic,sir,towhatindeedwereshadows,That,followingthesunshineofaCourt,Shallbackbebroughtwithit——ifshadowsstill,Yettosubstantialreckoning。
SEG。
Theyshall?
Thewhite—hair'dandwhite—wandedchamberlain,Sobusywithhiswandtoo——theoldKingThatIwassomewhathardon——hehadbeenHarduponme——andthefinefeather'dPrinceWhocrow'dsoloud——mycousin,——andanother,Anothercousin,wewillnotbearhardon——
And——ButClotaldo?
CAPT。
Fled,mylord,butclosePursued;andthen——
SEG。
Then,ashefledbefore,Andafterhehadswornitonhisknees,Camebacktotakeme——whereIam!——Nomore,Nomoreofthis!Awaywithyou!Begone!
WhetherbutvisionsofambitiousnightThatmorningoughttoscatter,orgrownoutOfnight'sproportionsyouinvadethedayToscaremefrommylittlewitsyetleft,Begone!IknowImustbenearawake,KnowingIdream;or,ifnotatmyvoice,Thenvanishattheclappingofmyhands,Ortakethisfoolishfellowforyoursport:
Dressingmeupinvisionaryglories,WhichthefirstairofwakingconsciousnessScattersasfastasfromthealmander——
That,wakingonefinemorninginfullflower,OnerougherinsurrectionofthebreezeOfallhersuddenhonourdisadornsTothelastblossom,andshestandsagainThewinter—nakedscare—crowthatshewas!
CAPT。
Iknownotwhattodo,norwhattosay,Withallthisdreaming;IbegintodoubtTheyhavedriv'nhimmadindeed,andheandweArelosttogether。
ASOLDIER(toCaptain)。
Stay,stay;Iremember——
Harkinyourearamoment。
(Whispers。)
CAPT。
So——so——so?——
Oh,nowindeedIdonotwonder,sir,YoursensesdazzleunderpracticesWhichtreason,shrinkingfromitsowndevice,Wouldnowpersuadeyouonlywasadream;
ButwakingwasasabsoluteasthisYouwakeinnow,assomewhosawyouthen,Princeasyouwereandare,cantestify:
Notonlysaw,butunderfalseallegianceLaidhandsupon——
SOLDIER1。
I,tomyshame!
SOLDIER2。
AndI!
CAPT。
Who,towipeoutthatshame,havebeenthefirstTostirandleadus——Hark!
(Shouts,trumpets,etc。)
ASOLDIER。
Ourforces,sir,ChallengingKingBasilio's,nowinsight,Andbearingdownuponus。
CAPT。
Sir,youhear;
Alittlehesitationanddelay,Andallislost——yourownright,andthelivesOfthosewhonowmaintainitatthatcost;
Withyouallsavedandwon;without,alllost。
ThatformerrecognitionofyourrightGrantbutadream,ifyouwillhaveitso;
Greatthingsforecastthemselvesbyshadowsgreat:
Orwillyouhaveit,thislikethatdreamtoo,People,andplace,andtimeitself,alldreamYet,beingin't,andastheshadowscomeQuickerandthickerthanyoucanescape,Adoptyourvisionarysoldiery,Who,havingstruckasolidchainaway,Nowputanairyswordintoyourhand,Andharnessingyoupiece—mealtillyoustandAmidstusallcompleteinglittering,Ifunsubstantial,steel——