THE SAILOR. What a piece of luck! Is it real money? Where did you get
it?
THE FOOL. Your prince gave it to me, and said I was to treat any of his
sailors that I came across.
THE SAILOR. Then it's all right. Why didn't you say so before? Come
along. If you were as thirsty as I am--!
_They go down the steps. The door opens, and the Prince comes out. He
looks up and down_.
THE PRINCE. And now begins again my long journey from the east to the
west. . . .
_The old woman appears_.
THE OLD WOMAN. Well, have you waked at last?
THE PRINCE. You are a bitter-tongued old woman. But for all that, I
think you are my friend. Perhaps the only friend I have here.
THE OLD WOMAN. You are right. For all that you sleep your holiday away,
you are a brave man. And I am the only one in this kingdom that thinks
well of bravery. The rest want to smother it with kisses.
THE PRINCE. True enough. I feel that already I am becoming soft. Never
before have I been unwilling to leave a city--
THE OLD WOMAN. Or a Queen. . . .
THE PRINCE. I must go on board ship. Is it ready, I wonder? The captain
promised to send word to me. . . .
THE OLD WOMAN. Yes, it is time you went, before they have made a lapdog
of you.
THE PRINCE. You speak very freely. Are you not afraid of the Queen?
THE OLD WOMAN. She does not know what she is doing. She has grown up in
a base time of peace, and she does not understand that it is not a
man's business to sleep and drink wine and exchange kisses with pretty
queens. She would turn you from your purpose--
THE PRINCE. My purpose? What do you know of my purpose?
THE OLD WOMAN. I have not guessed your secret. But I know that you are
not merely taking a pleasure journey. I have seen heroes, and you have
the eyes of one. The end of all this journeying from the east to the
west is something great and terrible--and I will not have you turned
aside.
THE PRINCE. Something great and terrible....Yes....
THE OLD WOMAN. You have the look of one who does not care for rest or
peace or the love of a woman for more than a day. But there is a
weakness in you, too. If you would go, go quickly.
THE PRINCE. I wonder why the sailor does not come. It looks like a
storm.
_The sky has become ominously dark_.
THE OLD WOMAN. Would a storm hold you back?
THE PRINCE. Is that what you think of me, old woman?
THE OLD WOMAN. Well, we shall see what stuff you are made of....
_She shuffles off. The Queen enters_.
THE QUEEN. (_coming up to him, tenderly_) When did you wake?
THE PRINCE. Did you think your voice had enough magic in it to make me
sleep till you returned? We have just time to say farewell.
THE QUEEN. There is a storm coming up. Do you see how black the sky is?
THE PRINCE. I am not afraid of storms.
THE QUEEN. Of course you are not afraid of storms. Did you think you
had to prove your bravery?
THE PRINCE. The three days are over.
THE QUEEN. And how quickly!
THE PRINCE. I told you I could stay only three days.
THE QUEEN. I thought you were a king, and could do whatever you
chose....
THE PRINCE. I have chosen to stay only three days.
THE QUEEN. In what way have I offended you?
THE PRINCE. I made my choice long ago, before I knew you.
THE QUEEN. And now you are afraid to change your mind?
THE PRINCE. Do you think a brave man changes his mind for pleasure's
sake?
THE QUEEN. Forgive me. If it is your happiness to go on, to what end I
do not know, I will let you. I do not wish to make you unhappy. But I
would give you something to take with you, one more flower of my
garden, an unfading rose that shall be like a bright memory of me in
your heart always. Will you take it?
_She leads him back into the palace. The sailor enters, supported by
the fool_.
THE SAILOR. (_drunkenly_) Where--where is my Prince? I have a
message for him.
THE FOOL. So you said. But you haven't finished telling me about that
girl. Her eyes were blue, you said.
THE SAILOR. Blue, yes. If I said blue, then blue it was. Or maybe
green, or grey. Maybe I'm. thinking of the hussy back in the last port
we stopped at. It's all the same. Reminds me of a little song. Shall I
sing you a little song?
THE FOOL. Another song? Sing away then.
THE SAILOR. First another drink from this flagon. Ah! Now I'm ready.
I've often been complimented on my voice. (_Sings_)