No More Learning

TRIBOULET (_whispering, as he leads her to a hole in the wall_):

Come. See with your own eyes,
What kind of man our great King Francois is.

BLANCHE (_whispering, as she sees only_ SALTABADIL):
I only see a stranger.

TRIBOULET: Wait awhile.

[_As he whispers,_ KING FRANCOIS _enters the room by a
little door leading from an inner chamber. _

BLANCHE: Father!

[_She trembles, and follows with angry eyes the movements
of_ THE KING.

TRIBOULET: This is the man you wish to save.

THE KING (_slapping_ SALTABADIL _on the back_):
Tell Maguelonne to bring me in some wine.

TRIBOULET: King by the grace of God he is, with all
The wealth and splendour of the land of France
At his command; but to amuse himself
He drinks himself asleep in thieves' kitchens.

THE KING (_singing while_ TRIBOULET _talks outside_):
Oh, woman is fickle, and man is a fool
To trust in her word!
She changes without any reason or rule,
As her fancies are stirred.
A weather-cock veering to every wind
Is constant and true when compared to her mind.

[_While he sings_ MAGUELONNE _enters with a skin of
wine. _ SALTABADIL _goes out, and seeing_ TRIBOULET,
_approaches him with an air of mystery.
_ BLANCHE
_continues to watch_ THE KING.

SALTABADIL: We've caught our man! And now it rests with you
To let him live or die.

TRIBOULET (_looking at_ BLANCHE): Wait for a while.

THE KING (_to_ MAGUELONNE): Life is a flower and love the honey
of life;
Come, let us taste it, mouth to mouth, my sweet.

[_He tries to kiss her, but she escapes. _

MAGUELONNE: You got that from a book.

THE KING: Your dark, sweet eyes
Inspired me! It was only yesterday
We met at the Hotel du Maine, and yet
I love you with as passionate a love
As if we had been sweethearts all our lives.
Come, let me kiss you!

MAGUELONNE (_sitting herself gaily on the table where
he is drinking_): When you have drunk your wine.

[THE KING _empties the flagon of drugged liquor, and
with a mocking laugh the girl jumps down and sits
on his knee. _

THE KING: Oh, you delicious, fascinating thing.
What a wild dance you've led me! Feel my heart
Seating with love for you!

MAGUELONNE: And for a score
Of other women!