life is a dream-第5章
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Lest by some chance mis…reading of the stars；
Or mis…direction of what rightly read；
I wrong my son of his prerogative；
And Poland of her rightful sovereign。
For； sure and certain prophets as the stars；
Although they err not； he who reads them may；
Or rightly readingseeing there is One
Who governs them； as； under Him； they us；
We are not sure if the rough diagram
They draw in heaven and we interpret here；
Be sure of operation； if the Will
Supreme； that sometimes for some special end
The course of providential nature breaks
By miracle； may not of these same stars
Cancel his own first draft； or overrule
What else fore…written all else overrules。
As； for example； should the Will Almighty
Permit the Free…will of particular man
To break the meshes of else strangling fate
Which Free…will； fearful of foretold abuse；
I have myself from my own son fore…closed
From ever possible self…extrication；
A terrible responsibility；
Not to the conscience to be reconciled
Unless opposing almost certain evil
Against so slight contingency of good。
Wellthus perplex'd； I have resolved at last
To bring the thing to trial： whereunto
Here have I summon'd you； my Peers； and you
Whom I more dearly look to； failing him；
As witnesses to that which I propose；
And thus propose the doing it。 Clotaldo；
Who guards my son with old fidelity；
Shall bring him hither from his tower by night
Lockt in a sleep so fast as by my art
I rivet to within a link of death；
But yet from death so far； that next day's dawn
Shall wake him up upon the royal bed；
Complete in consciousness and faculty；
When with all princely pomp and retinue
My loyal Peers with due obeisance
Shall hail him Segismund； the Prince of Poland。
Then if with any show of human kindness
He fling discredit； not upon the stars；
But upon me； their misinterpreter；
With all apology mistaken age
Can make to youth it never meant to harm；
To my son's forehead will I shift the crown
I long have wish'd upon a younger brow；
And in religious humiliation；
For what of worn…out age remains to me；
Entreat my pardon both of Heaven and him
For tempting destinies beyond my reach。
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 allLet 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； Sirif 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 strangenay； 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
Remittedand for everto 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 comealready 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。
ACT II
SCENE IA Throne…room in the Palace。 Music within。
（Enter King and Clotaldo； meeting a Lord in waiting）
KING。
You； for a moment beckon'd from your office；
Tell me thus far how goes it。 In due time
The potion left him？
LORD。
At the very hour
To which your Highness temper'd it。 Yet not
So wholly but some lingering mist still hung
About his dawning senseswhich to clear；
We fill'd and handed him a morning drink
With sleep's specific antidote suffused；
And while with princely raiment we invested
What nature surely modell'd for a Prince
All but the swordas you directed
KING。
Ay
LORD。
If not too loudly； yet emphatically
Still with the title of a Prince address'd him。
KING。
How bore he that？
LORD。
With all the rest； my liege；
I will not say so like one in a dream
As one himself misdoubting that he dream'd。
KING。
So far so well； Clotaldo； either way；
And best of all if tow'rd the worse I dread。
But yet no violence？
LORD。
At most； impatience；
Wearied perhaps with importunities
We yet were bound to offer。
KING。
Oh； Clotaldo！
Though thus far well； yet would myself had drunk
The potion he revives from！ such suspense
Crowds all the pulses of life's residue
Into the present moment； and； I think；
Whichever way the trembling scale may turn；
Will leave the crown of Poland for some one
To wait no longer than the setting sun！
CLO。
Courage； my liege！ The curtain is undrawn；
And each must play his part out manfully；
L
