AsbyyourdealingGoddecideitmay，Tomyconfusion！——letmeansweritUntoyourselfalone，whoshallatonceApproveyourselftobeyourfather'sjudge，AndsovereignofPolandinhisstead，Byjustice，mercy，self—sobriety，AndallthereasonableattributesWithoutwhich，impotenttorulehimself，Othersonecannot，andonemustnotrule;
　　Butwhichifyoubutshowtheblossomof——
　　AllthatispastweshallbutlookuponAsthefirstout—flingofagenerousnatureRiotinginfirstliberty;andifThisblossomdobutpromisesuchaflowerAspromisesinturnitskindlyfruit:
　　Forthwithuponyourbrowstheroyalcrown，Thatnowweighsheavyonmyagedbrows，Iwilldevolve;andwhileIpassawayIntosomecloister，withmyMakerthereTomakemypeaceinpenitenceandprayer，Happilysettlethedisorder'drealmThatnowcriesloudlyforalinealheir。
　　SEG。
　　Andso——
　　Whenthecrownfaltersonyourshakinghead，Andslipsthesceptrefromyourpalsiedhand，AndPolandforherrightfulheircriesout;
　　Whennotonlyyourstol'nmonopolyFailsyouofearthlypower，but'crossthegraveThejudgment—trumpetofanotherworldCallsyoutocountforyourabuseofthis;
　　Then，ohthen，terrifiedbythedoubledanger，Youdragmefrommyden——
　　BoastnotofgivingupatlastthepowerYoucannolongerhold，andneverrightlyHeld，butinfeeforhimyourobb'ditfrom;
　　AndbeassuredyourSavage，onceletloose，Willnotbecagedagainsoquickly;notBythreatoradulationtobetamed，TillhehavehadhisquarreloutwiththoseWhomadehimwhatheis。
　　KING。
　　Beware！Beware！
　　SubduethekindledTigerinyoureye，NordreamthatitwassheernecessityMademethusfarrelaxthebondoffate，And，withfarmoreofterrorthanofhopeThreatenmyself，mypeople，andtheState。
　　Knowthat，ifold，IyethavevigourleftTowieldtheswordaswellaswearthecrown;
　　Andifmymoreimmediateissuefail，Notwantingscionsofcollateralblood，WhosewholesomegrowthshallmorethancompensateForallthelossofadistortedstem。
　　SEG。
　　ThatwillIstraightwaybringtotrial——Oh，Afterarevelationsuchasthis，TheLastDayshallhavelittlelefttoshowOfrightedwrongandvillainyrequited！
　　Nay，Judgmentnowbeginninguponearth，Myself，methinks，insightofallmywrongs，Appointedheaven'savengingminister，Accuser，judge，andexecutionerSwordinhand，citetheguilty——First，asworst，Theusurperofhisson'sinheritance;
　　Himandhisoldaccomplice，timeandcrimeInveterate，andunabletorepayThegoldenyearsoflifetheystoleaway。
　　What，doesheyetmaintainhisstate，andkeepThethroneheshouldbejudgedfrom？Downwithhim，ThatImaytrampleonthefalsewhiteheadSolonghaswornmycrown！Wherearemysoldiers？
　　OfallmysubjectsandmyvassalshereNotonetodomybidding？Hark！Atrumpet！
　　Thetrumpet——
　　（HepausesasthetrumpetsoundsasinActI。，andmaskedSoldiersgraduallyfillinbehindtheThrone。）
　　KING（risingbeforehisthrone）。
　　Ay，indeed，thetrumpetblowsAmemorablenote，tosummonthoseWho，ifforthwithyoufallnotatthefeetOfhimwhoseheadyouthreatenwiththedust，ForthwithshalldrawthecurtainofthePastAboutyou;andthismomentarygleamOfglorythatyouthinktoholdlife—fast，Socoming，soshallvanish，asadream。
　　SEG。
　　Heprophesies;theoldmanprophesies;
　　And，athistrumpet'ssummons，fromthetowerTheleash—boundshadowsloosen'daftermeMyrisinggloryreachandover—lour——
　　But，reachnotImyheight，heshallnothold，Butwithmebacktohisowndarkness！
　　（Hedashestowardthethroneandisenclosedbythesoldiers。）
　　Traitors！
　　Holdoff！Unhandme！——AmnotIyourking？
　　Andyouwouldstranglehim！——
　　ButIambreakingwithaninwardFireShallscorchyouoff，andwrapmeonthewingsOfconflagrationfromakindledpyreOflyingpropheciesandprophet—kingsAbovetheextinguish'dstars——ReachmetheswordHeflungme——FillmesuchabowlofwineAsthatyouwokethedaywith——
　　KING。
　　Andshallclose，——
　　ButofthevintagethatClotaldoknows。
　　（Exeunt。）
　　ACTIII。
　　SCENEI。——TheTower，etc。，asinActI。SceneI。
　　Segismund，asatfirst，andClotaldoCLOTALDO。
　　Princesandprincesses，andcounsellorsFluster'dtorightandleft——mylifemadeat——
　　ButthatwasnothingEventhewhite—hair'd，venerableKingSeizedon——Indeed，youmadewildworkofit;
　　Andsodiscover'dinyouroutwardaction，Flingingyourarmsaboutyouinyoursleep，Grindingyourteeth——and，asInowremember，Wokemouthingoutjudgmentandexecution，Onthoseaboutyou。
　　SEG。
　　Ay，Ididindeed。
　　CLO。
　　Ev'nnowyoureyesstarewild;yourhairstandsup——
　　Yourpulsesthrobandflutter，reelingstillUnderthestormofsuchadream——
　　SEG。
　　Adream！
　　Thatseem'dasswearablerealityAswhatIwakeinnow。
　　CLO。
　　Ay——wondroushowImaginationinasleepingbrainOutoftheuncontingentsensesdrawsSensationsstrongasfromtherealtouch;
　　Thatwenotonlylaughaloud，anddrenchWithtearsourpillow;butintheagonyOfsomeimaginaryconflict，fightAndstruggle——ev'nasyoudid;some，'tisthought，Underthedreamt—ofstrokeofdeathhavedied。
　　SEG。
　　Andwhatsoverystrangetoo——InthatworldWhereplaceaswellaspeopleallwasstrange，Ev'nIalmostasstrangeuntomyself，Youonly，you，Clotaldo——you，asmuchAndpalpablyyourselfasnowyouare，Cameinthisverygarbyoueverwore，Bysuchatokenofthepast，yousaid，Toassuremeofthatseemingpresent。
　　CLO。
　　Ay？
　　SEG。
　　Ay;andeventoldmeoftheverystarsYoutellmehereof——howinspiteofthem，Iwasenlargedtoallthatglory。
　　CLO。
　　Ay，Bythefalsespirits'nicecontrivancethusAlittletruthoftleavensallthefalse，Thebettertodeludeus。
　　SEG。
　　Foryouknow'Tisnothingbutadream？
　　CLO。
　　Nay，youyourselfKnowbesthowlatelyyouawokefromthatYouknowyouwenttosleepon？——
　　Why，haveyouneverdreamtthelikebefore？
　　SEG。
　　Never，tosuchreality。
　　CLO。
　　SuchdreamsAreoftentimesthesleepingexhalationsOfthatambitionthatliessmoulderingUndertheashesofthelowestfortune;
　　Bywhich，whenreasonslumbers，orhaslostThereinsofsensiblecomparison，Weflyatsomethinghigherthanweare——
　　Scarceeverdivetolower——tobekings，Orconquerors，crown'dwithlaurelorwithgold，Nay，mountingheavenitselfoneaglewings。
　　Which，bytheway，nowthatIthinkofit，MayfurnishusthekeytothishighflightThatroyalEaglewewerewatching，andTalkingofasyouwenttosleeplastnight。
　　SEG。
　　Lastnight？Lastnight？
　　CLO。
　　Ay，doyounotrememberEnvyinghisimmunityofflight，As，risingfromhisthroneofrock，hesail'dAbovethemountainsfarintotheWest，Thatburn'dabouthim，whilewithpoisingwingsHedarkledinitasaburningbrandIsseentosmoulderinthefireitfeeds？
　　SEG。
　　Lastnight——lastnight——Oh，whatadaywasthatBetweenthatlastnightandthissadTo—day！
　　CLO。
　　Andyet，perhaps，Onlysomefewdarkmoments，intowhichImagination，oncelitupwithinAndunconditionaloftimeandspace，Canpourinfinities。