Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/704

 686 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

Gow. That is your tale. Swerve from it by so much as the breadth of my dagger and here's your instant reward. You heard not, saw not, and by the Horns of ninefold-cuck- olded Jupiter you thought not nor dreamed not anything more or other!

THE KING. Ninefold-cuckolded Jupiter. That's a rare oath! Shall we look closer?

FERDINAND. Not yet, my Lord! (I cannot hear him breathe.)

GARDENER. The North Park wall? It was so. Pluck- ing nectarines. It shall be. But how shall I say if any ask why our Lady the Queen

Gow (stabs him}. Thus! Hie after the Prince and tell him y'are the first fruits of his nectarine tree. Bleed there behind the laurels.

THE KING. Why did Gow buffet the clown? What said he? I'll go look.

FERDINAND (above). Save yourself! It is the King!

Enter the KING and FERDINAND to Gow Gow. God save you! This was the Prince!

THE KING. The Prince! Not a dead branch? (Un- covers the face.} My flesh and blood! My son! my son! my son!

FERDINAND (to Gow). I had feared something of this. And that fool yonder?

Gow. Dead, or as good. He cannot speak. FERDINAND. Better so.