No More Learning

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!

THE KING: No, for you alone!

[BLANCHE _cannot bear to look at them any longer. Pale
and trembling, she turns away, and falls into her
father's arms. _

BLANCHE: Oh, God, how he deceived me! My heart breaks.
All that he said to me he now repeats
To this low, shameless slut. He is a man
Without a soul.