their feet.
2nd Dowager Messenger: And next to good
manners and next to good looks ...
Guardian:
I know what you'll say ...she asks news of the cooks;
I'm with her in putting them equal to books;
There's some rule by coaxing and some rule by beating,
But my principle is, tempt them on with good eating.
When everything's said, isn't Sparta as dead
As many a place never heard of black bread?
And as to a lad who a tartlet refuses,—
If Cato stewed parsnips he hated the Muses!
1st Dowager Messenger: And at meals are they
taught to behave as they ought?
Guardian:
You'll be well satisfied and the Queen will have pride,
You will see every Prince use a fork with his mince,
And eating his peas like Alcibiades,
Who would sooner go mute than play on the flute
Lest it made him grimace and contorted his face.
1st Dowager Messenger: Oh, all that you say
delights us to-day!
We'll have good news to bring of these sons of
a king.
Servant: Here they are now coming.
(Wrenboys in Princes' clothes come in awkwardly.)
Guardian:
Now put out a chair.
Where these ladies may hear.
Come over, my boys ...(Now what is that noise?)
Come here, take your places, and show us your
faces,
And say out your task as these ladies will ask.
I would wish them to know how you say Parlez-vous,
And I'd like you to speak in original Greek
And make numeration, and add up valuation;
But to lead you with ease and on by degrees
In case you are shy in the visitors' eye
I will let you recite, as you easily might,
The kings of that Island that no longer are silent
But ask recognition and to take a position—
(Though if stories are true they ran about blue,
While we in Hy-Brasil wore our silks to a frazzle—)
So the rhymes you may say that I heard you to-day;
And the opening will fall on the youngest of all.
Servant: Let you stand up now and do as you
are bid. (Touches 5th Wrenboy.)
Guardian: Go on, my child, say out your lesson.
William the First as the Conqueror known....
(Boy puts finger in mouth and hangs his head.)
Ah, he is shy. Don't be affrighted, go on now;
don't you remember it?
5th Wrenboy: I do not.
Guardian: Try it again now. You said it off
quite well this morning.
5th Wrenboy: It fails me.
Guardian: Now I will give you a start: "William
the First as the Conqueror known,
At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne
..." Say that now.
5th Wrenboy: (Nudging 4th.) Let you word it.
4th Wrenboy: (To Guardian.) Let you word it
again, sir.
Guardian: "William the First as the Conqueror
known."
4th Wrenboy: William the First as the congereel
known....
Guardian: What is that? You would not do
it to vex me! Gillie is maybe right. There is
something strange.... (To another.) You may
try now. Go on to the next verse. "William
called Rufus from having red hair." ...(He does
not answer.) Say it anyone who knows....
3rd Wrenboy: (Putting up his hand.) I know
a man that has red hair!
All the Wrenboys: (Cheerfully) So do I! So
do I!
2nd Wrenboy: He lives in the wood beyond!
He is no way good! He is an Ogre, a Grugach....
1st Wrenboy: He can turn himself into the shape
of a beast, or he can change his face at any time;
sometimes he'll be that wicked you would think
he was a wolf; he would skin you with his
cat-o'-nine-tails!
Guardian: What gibberish are you talking?
2nd Wrenboy: He goes working underground to
get gold!
3rd Wrenboy: It is minded by enchanted cats!
4th Wrenboy: They would tear in bits anyone
that would find it!
Guardian: Now take care, lads, this is carrying
a joke too far. I was wrong to begin with that
silly history. Tell me out now the parts of speech.
5th Wrenboy: An owl's the name of anything....
Guardian: A noun.
5th Wrenboy: An owl.
Guardian: Don't pretend you don't know it.
5th Wrenboy: I do know it. I know an owl
that sits in the cleft of the hollow sycamore and
eats its fill of mice, till it can hardly put a stir
out of itself.
Guardian: I do wish you would stop talking
nonsense.
1st Wrenboy: It is not, but sense. It devoured
ere yesterday a whole fleet of young rats.
2nd Wrenboy: It's as wise as King Solomon.
Guardian: Gillie was right. There is surely
something gone wrong in their heads.
2nd Wrenboy: Go out yourself and you'll see are
we wrong in the head! Inside in the old sycamore
he is sitting through the daylight.
1st Dowager Messenger: There is something gone
wrong in somebody's head.
2nd Dowager Messenger: (Tapping her
forehead.)
The poor Guardian; he is too long past his youth.
It is well we came to look how things were going
before it is too late.
1st Dowager Messenger: Ask them to say something
they do know.
Guardian: Here, you're good at arithmetic, say
now your numbers.
1st Wrenboy: Twelve coppers make a shilling.
I never handled more than that.
Guardian: (Angrily.) Well, do as the lady
said,
tell us something you do know.
2nd Wrenboy: (Standing up, excited.) I
know
the way to make bird-lime, steeping willow rods in
the stream....
3rd Wrenboy: I know how to use my fists; I
knocked a tinker bigger than myself.
4th Wrenboy: I am the best at wrestling. I
knocked himself. (Pointing at 3rd.)
5th Wrenboy: I that can skin a fawn after
catching him running!
2nd Dowager Messenger. Where now did you get
that learning?
5th Wrenboy: Here and there, rambling the
woods, sleeping out at night. I would never
starve in any place where grass grows!
1st Dowager Messenger: This is worse than
neglect. The poor old Guardian the Queen put
her trust in must be in his dotage.
Guardian: (Hastily.) Here, there is at least
one
thing you will not fail in. Take the harp (hands
it to the 1st Wrenboy) and draw out of it sweet
sounds, (To Dowager Messengers.) He can play
a tune so sweet it has been known to send all the
hearers into a sound sleep. Here now, touch the
strings with all your skill.
(1st Wrenboy bangs harp, making a crash.)
2nd Dowager Messenger: (With hands to
ears.)
Mercy! Our poor ears!
1st Dowager Messenger: That is the poorest
music we have ever heard.
2nd Dowager Messenger: That sound would send
no one into their sleep. It would be more likely
to send them into Bedlam.
1st Dowager Messenger: Whatever they knew
last year, they have forgotten it all now.
Guardian: (Weeping into his handkerchief.)
I
don't know what has come upon them! At noon
they were the most charming lads in the whole
world. Their memory seems to have left
them!
2nd Dowager Messenger: It is as if another
memory had come to them. They did not learn
those wild tricks shut up in the garden.
Servant: (To Boys.) Can't ye behave nice and
not ugly? (To Guardian.) You would not believe
me a while ago. I said and I say still there is
enchantment on them, and spells.
Guardian: Oh, I would be sorry to think such
a thing. But they never went on this way in their
greenest youth.
2nd Dowager Messenger: If there is a spell upon
them what way can it be taken off?
Servant: It is what I always heard, that to make
a rod of iron red in the fire, and to burn the enchantment
out of them is the only way.
Guardian: Oh, boys, do you hear that! You
would not like to be burned with a red hot rod!
Say out now what at all is the matter with you?
What is it you feel within you that is putting you
from your gentle ways?
1st Wrenboy: The thing that I feel in me is
hunger. The thing I would wish to feel inside me
is a good fistful of food.
1st Dowager Messenger: They have been starved
and stinted! It would kill their Godmother on
the moment if she was aware of that!
Guardian: It is a part of their playgame. They
have everything they ask.
2nd Wrenboy: I did not eat a farthing's worth
since yesterday.
3rd Wrenboy: My teeth are rusty with the want
of food!
4th Wrenboy: I want some dinner!
5th Wrenboy: We want something to eat!
Guardian: Give them whatever you have ready
for them, Gillie.
Servant: (Giving the plates.) Here is the supper
ye gave orders for this morning.
1st Wrenboy: What is it at all?
Servant: It is your choice thing. Jellies and
grapes from Spain.
2nd Wrenboy: (Pushing away grapes) Berries!
I thought to get better than berries from the bush.
3rd Wrenboy: There's not much satisfaction in
berries!
4th Wrenboy: If it was a pig's foot now; or as
much as a potato with a bit of dripping.
5th Wrenboy: (Looking at jelly.) What now is
this? It has like the appearance of frog spawn.
1st Wrenboy; Or the leavings of a fallen star.
5th Wrenboy: Shivering it is and shaking. It's
not natural! (Drops his plate.)
4th Wrenboy: There is nothing here to satisfy
our need.
2nd. Dowager Messenger: I am nearly sorry for
them, poor youngsters. When they were but little
toddlers they never behaved like that at home.
3rd Wrenboy: It's the starvingest place ever I
was in!
1st Dowager Messenger: There must be something
in what they say. They would not ask for
food if they were not in need of it. And the
Guardian making so much talk about his table and
his cooks. We cannot go home and report that
they have no learning and no food.
2nd Dowager Messenger: As to learning I don't
mind. But as to food, I would not wish to leave
them without it for the night. They might be as
small as cats in the morning.
Guardian: They are dreaming when they say
they are in want of food.
1st Dowager Messenger: It is a dream that will
waken up their Godmother.
Servant: Look, ma'am, at the table behind you,
and you will see is this a scarce house! That is
what is set out for yourselves, ma'am, lobsters
from Aughanish! A fat turkey from the barley
gardens! A spiced and larded sucking pig! Cakes
and sweets and all sorts! It is not the want of
provision was ever brought against us up to this!
2nd Dowager Messenger: If all this is for us, we
would sooner give it up to those poor children.
(To Wrenboys.) Here, my dears, we will not eat
while you are in want of food. We will give it all
to you.
1st Wrenboy: Is it that we can have what is on
that table?
2nd Dowager Messenger: You may, and welcome.
1st Wrenboy: (With a shout.) Do you hear
that news! Come on now. Take your chance!
I'll have the first start! Skib scab! Hip, hip,
hooray!
(They rush at table and upset it, flinging
themselves on the food)
CURTAIN
ACT III
ACT III
The Hall of Justice. It is nearly dawn. The last
of the Princes is getting in through the window.
They are wearing their masks.
Ogre: (Outside door to left.) Open now the door
for myself.
1st Prince: No, we will get rid of him now. Let
the Grugach stay outside.
2nd Prince: That will be best. He cannot
break the bars of this door, or get round over the
high wall to the door on the other side.
3rd Prince: I am sore with the blows he put on
us, driving us before him through the wood.
4th Prince: Let us call to the Guardian, and let
him deal with him. He can bring his foot soldiers
and his guns.
5th Prince: A villain that Ogre is and a thief,
wanting to steal away the golden-handled sword.
But we would not tell him where it was, and he
never will find it under the step of the Judge's
chair. (Lifts top of step, takes out sword and puts it
back again.)
Ogre: (Outside.) Are ye going to open the door?
1st Prince: It is a great thing to have that
strong door between us.
2nd Prince: Take care would he break it in.
3rd Prince: No fear. It would make too much
noise. It would bring every person in the house
running.
4th Prince: Let us go quick and call the
Guardian.
5th Prince: What will he say seeing us in
these
clothes? He will be vexed with us.
1st Prince: It was folly of us running away.
But he will forgive us, knowing it will teach us
better sense.
2nd Prince: Come to him then, I don't mind
what he will do to us so long as we are safe from
the terrible Grugach of an Ogre. (All go to right
door, it opens and Ogre bursts in.)
Ogre: Ye thought to deceive me, did ye? Ye
thought to bar me out and to keep me out? And
I after minding you and caring you these seven
years!
3rd Prince: What way did you get in?
Ogre: It's easy for me to get in any place. If
I had a mind I could turn into a house fly and come
through the lockhole of the door. It's much if I
don't change the whole lot of ye into small birds,
and myself to a hawk going through you! Or, into
frightened mice, and I myself into a starving cat!
It's much if I don't skin you with this whip, and
grind your bones as fine as rape seed!
4th Prince: I will call for help! (Tries to shout.)
Ogre: (Putting hand over his mouth and lifting
whip.) Shout now and welcome, and it is bare
bones will be left of you! If it wasn't that I need
you to search out the golden-handled sword for me
I'd throttle the whole of ye as easy as I'd squeeze
an egg! Come on now! Show me where the
treasure is hid.
5th Prince: How would we know?
Ogre: Didn't I send ye spying it out, and if it
fails ye to make it out, I'll boil and bake you!
1st Prince: (Looking about and pointing to end
of room.) It might be there.
Ogre: What way would it be on the bare floor?
Search it out.
2nd Prince: (Looking under a bench.) It might
be here.
Ogre: It is not there.
3rd Prince: (Looking up chimney?) This would
be a good hiding-place.
Ogre: (Looks up.) There is nothing in it, only
an old nest of a jackdaw,—a bundle of bare twigs.
Trying to deceive me you are and to lead me astray.
4th Prince: It might be on the shelf.
Ogre: Stop your chat unless you have something
worth saying.
5th Prince: (Sitting down on step under which
sword is hidden.) Are you certain there is any
treasure at all?
Ogre: You are humbugging and making a fool
of me! (Lashes whip and seizes him.) Get up
now out of that! (Drags him up and taps board.)
There is a hollow sort of a sound.... That is
a sort of place where a treasure might be hid.
(Drags up board.) I see something shining. (Pulls
out sword.) Oh, it is a lovely sword! And the
handle of pure gold. The best I ever seen!
1st Prince: (To the others.) I'll make a run now
and call out and awaken all in the house! (Is going
towards door.)
Ogre: (Seizing him.) You'd make your escape
would you?
1st Prince: (Calling out.) Ring the big bell,
ring the bell! I forgot it till now.
(They pull a bell-rope and bell is beard clanging.)
Ogre: (Rushing at them as they ring it.) I'll
stop
that!
(Voices are heard, at door to right. Ogre rushes to other door.)
2nd Prince: I'll get the sword from him.
(Snatches
it away as Ogre is rushing at him. Servant and
Guardian come in.)
Guardian: What is going on! (Blows a
whistle.)
Here, soldiers of the guard!
(Feet are heard marching and bugle blowing at
left door. Ogre rapidly slips off his mask,
and appears as a harmless old man.)
Guardian: Thieves! Robbers! Burglars!
Here, soldiers, surround the place; who are these
ruffians? Murder! Robbery! Fire!
(Two soldiers come in.)
Servant: They are the very same youngsters
were at our door this morning, doing their play;
those Wrenboys!
Guardian: They are thieves. There is one of
them bringing away my gold-handled sword. (He
and Servant seize sword.)
Ogre: (Coming forward and bowing low.) It
is time for you to come, your honour my lordship!
I am proud to see you coming! It was I myself
that rang the bell and that called and awakened
you, where I would not like to see the place robbed
and left bare by these scum of the world!
All the Princes: Oh! Oh! Oh!
Guardian: What have you to do with it?
Where do you come from?
Ogre: An honest poor man I am....
Servant: You have a queer wild sort of a
dress.
Ogre: Making a living I do be, dressing up as a
hobgoblin and a bogey man to get an odd copper
from a mother here and there, would be wishful to
frighten a stubborn child from bawling or from
tricks. Passing the door I was, and hearing a noise
I looked in, and these young villains were after
rising a board and taking out that sword you seen
in their hands. It is then that I made a clamour
with the bell.
(Princes laugh.)
Guardian: Who are they at all?
Ogre: It is I myself say it; they are the terror
of the whole district.
1st Prince: You may save your breath and stop
that talk. This gentleman knows us well. He
knows us and will recognise us.
Guardian: I do recognise you. I saw you but
yesterday.
2nd Prince: There now, what do you say?
Guardian: You are those vagabond Wrenboys
that came tricking and begging to my gate.
Princes: Oh! Oh! Oh!
Ogre: That's it! Spying round they were!
Thinking to do a robbery! Robbery they're after
doing!
3rd Prince: We were doing no such thing!
Guardian: You were! I stopped you making
off with my sword of Justice.
Ogre: If it wasn't for me hindering them they
would have it swept.
Guardian: That was very honest of you.
4th Prince: (Rushing at Ogre.) It is you
that
are a rogue and a thief!
Other Princes: Throw him down while we have
the chance. (They surround him.)
Guardian: Silence! Don't make that disturbance!
I felt a suspicion yesterday the first
time I saw your faces there was villainy hidden
beneath the dust that was on your cheeks.
4th Prince: Listen to us, listen!
Guardian: And whatever I thought then, you
are seventeen times more wicked looking now!
And the very scum of the roads!
5th Prince: Oh, have you forgotten your
nurslings!
Guardian: It is well you reminded me of them.
(To Servant.) Go now and bring the young Princes
here till they will see justice done! They are
maybe gone a bit wild and foolish since yesterday,
put out by those Dowager Messengers. But whatever
they were at their worst, they are King George
compared with these!
1st Prince: You must listen!
Guardian: Must! What is that language!
That is a word was never said to me since I was
made the Queen's Chamberlain. Here! Put a
gag upon their mouths! (Soldiers do so, tying a
handkerchief on mouth of each.) Tie their hands
behind them with ropes. (This is done.)
Rapscallions!
Do they think to terrify and command me!
I that am not only Governor of the Island but am
Supreme Judge whenever I come into this Court.
Ogre: That is very good and very right! Keep
the gag in their mouth! You wouldn't like to be
listening to the things they were saying a while
ago! They were giving out great impudence and
very disrespectful talk!
Guardian: Give me here my Judge's wig and
my gown! (Puts them on.) Where now are the
young Princes?
Servant: They are coming now.
Guardian: It will be a great help in their
education
seeing justice done by me, as straight as was
ever done by Aristides. Give me here that book of
punishments and rewards. I'll see what is bad
enough for these lads! (He consults book.)
Servant: Here now are the Princes.
(Wrenboys come in wearing Princes' clothes)
1st Wrenboy: (To another) Do you see who it
is that is in it?
2nd Wrenboy: It is the young Princes in our
clothes!
3rd Wrenboy: What in the world wide brought
them here? Believe me it was through some
villainy of the Grugach.
4th Wrenboy: What at all has happened?
5th Wrenboy: Go ask them what it was brought
them, or what they came doing.
1st Wrenboy: (To Princes) What is it brought
you here so soon?
(Princes shake their heads)
2nd Wrenboy: (Coming back) There is a gag
on their mouths!
3rd Wrenboy: (Going and looking) Their hands
are tied with a rope.
4th Wrenboy: They had not the wit to stand
against the Grugach; it is not long till they were
brought to trouble.
5th Wrenboy: It was seventeen times worse
for them to be under him than for ourselves that
was used to him, and to his cruelty and his ways.
1st Wrenboy: It was bad enough for ourselves.
We were not built for roguery.
(The Dowager Messengers rushing in.)
Dowager Messengers: (Together.) What is going
on? What has happened?
Guardian: What you see before you has happened.
Those young thieves came to try and to
rob the house. They were found by myself in the
very act of bringing away my golden-handled
sword! They were stopped by this honest man.
(Points to Ogre.)
1st Dowager Messenger: There would seem to be
a great deal of wickedness around this place!
Guardian: I'll put a stop to it! I'll use my
rights as Judge! To have that sort of villainy
running through the Island, it would come through
walls of glass or of marble, and lead away the best.
2nd Dowager Messenger: There must be something
gone wrong in the stars, our own young
princes having gone wild out of measure, and these
young vagabonds doing no less than house-breaking!
It is hard to live!
Ogre: Indeed, ma'am, it would be a great blessing
to the world if all the boys in it could be born
grown up.
Guardian: (Sighing.) I, myself, am beginning
to have that same opinion.
1st Dowager Messenger: And so am I myself.
Young men have strength and beauty, and old
men have knowledge and wisdom, but as to boys!
After what we saw a while ago in the supper
room!
Servant: The Court is about to sit! Take your
places!
(Wrenboys make for the dock and Princes the
jury-box.)
Guardian: What do you mean, prisoners, going
up there, that is the place for honourable men!
For a jury! It is here in the criminals' dock your
place is.
Servant: (To Wrenboys.) Oh, that is the wrong
place you're in. That is for the wicked and the
poor that are brought to be tried and condemned.
1st Wrenboy: It is a place the like of that I was
put one time I was charged before a magistrate
for snaring rabbits.
Servant: Silence in the Court. The Judge is
about to speak.
Guardian: (Reading out of book.)
It's laid down in a clause of the Cretian laws,
That were put through a filter by Solon,
That for theft the first time, though a capital crime
A criminal may keep his poll on.
Though (consults another book) some jurists believe
That a wretch who can thieve,
Has earned a full stop, not a colon.
Ogre: That was said by a better than Solon.
Guardian:
And the book says in sum, to cut off the left thumb,
May be penalty enough for a warning;
Though (looks at another book) the Commentors say
That one let off that way
Will be thieving again before morning.
Ogre: So he will, and the jury suborning.
Guardian:
For the second offence, as the crime's more immense,
Take the thumb off the right hand instead;
And the third time he'll steal, without any appeal,
The hangman's to whip off his head.
Ogre: Very right to do so, for a thief as we
know,
Isn't likely to steal when he's dead.
2nd Dowager Messenger:
You won't order the worst, as this crime is the first,
It's a pity if they have to swing.
Guardian:
In the Commentors' sense, a primal offence
Is as much an impossible thing
As a stream without source, a blow struck without
force,
Or leaves without roots in the spring.
Ogre: Or a catapult wanting a sling.
Guardian:
But although this case is proved on its face
To be what is called a priori
I cannot refuse to consider the views
Of the amiable lady before me. (Bows to 2nd
Dowager Messenger.)
In compliance to her I am ready to err
On the side that she leans to, of mercy,
For she has a kind tongue, and the prisoners are
young;
But that they may not live to curse me,
I give out my decree, the left thumb shall be
Kept in Court till the next time they'll come.
And now if you please let whoever agrees
With my pledge turn down his own thumb.
1st Dowager Messenger: It is very just and right.
(Turns down hers.)
Ogre: You're letting them off too easy. They're
a bad example to the world. But to take the
thumb off them is better than nothing! (Turns
down both his thumbs.)
Guardian: (To Wrenboys.) Well, my dear pupils,
I don't see you turn down your thumbs.
1st Wrenboy: We cannot do it. (They cover
their faces with their hands.)
Ogre: Get on so. I never saw the work I'd
sooner do than checking youngsters!
Guardian: Where is the Executioner?
Servant: I sent seeking him a while ago, thinking
he might be needed.
Guardian: Bring him in.
Servant: He is not in it. There was so little
business for him this long time under your own
peaceable rule, that he is after leaving us, and
taking a job in a slaughter house out in foreign.
2nd Dowager Messenger: Maybe that is a token
we should let them off.
Ogre: (Briskly.) I am willing to be useful; give
me here a knife or a hatchet!
Servant: (To Ogre.) You need not be pushing
yourself forward. (To Guardian.) There is a
stranger of an Executioner chanced to be passing
the road, just as I sent out, and he looking for
work. He said he would do the job for a four-penny
bit and his dinner, that he is sitting down
to now.
Servant: (At door.) Here he is now.
(Jester comes in, disguised as Executioner, a
long cloak with hood over his head.)
Guardian: Here is the sword (hands it to him
and reads), "In case of the first act of theft the
left thumb is to be struck off." There are the
criminals before you. That is what you have to do.
Jester: (Taking the sword.) Stretch out your
hands! There is hurry on me. I was sitting at
the dinner I engaged for. I was called away from
the first mouthful, and I would wish to go back
to the second mouthful that is getting cold.
Guardian: (Relenting.) Maybe now the fright
would be enough to keep them from crimes from
this out. They are but young.
Jester: (To Princes.) Don't be keeping me
waiting! Put out now your hands. (They shake
their heads.)
Servant: They cannot do that, being bound.
Jester: If you will not stretch out your hands
when I ask you, I will strike off your heads without
asking! (Flourishes sword.)
Guardian: (Standing up.) I did not empower
you to go so far as that! It is without my
authority!
Jester: You have given over the power of the
law to the power of the sword. It must take its way!
Guardian: I will not give in to that! I have
all authority here!
Jester: If you grow wicked with the Judge's
wig on your head, so do I with this sword in my
hand! You called me in to do a certain business
and I am going to do it! I am not going to get a
bad name put on me for breach of contract! If
a labourer is given piece work cutting thistles with
a hook he is given leave to do it, or a rat catcher
doing away with vermin in the same way! He
is not bid after his trouble to let them go loose out
of his bag! And why would an Executioner that
is higher again in the profession be checked. Isn't
my pride in my work the same as theirs? And
along with that, let me tell you I belong to a
Trades Union!
(Guardian moans and covers his face.)
(To the Princes.) Kneel down now! Where you
kept me so long waiting and that the Judge attempted
to interfere with me, I have my mind
made up to make an end of you! (Holds up sword.)
1st Wrenboy: (Rushing forward and putting his
arms about Prince.) You must not touch him!
These lads never did any harm!
2nd Wrenboy: (Protecting a Prince.) It is we
ourselves are to be punished if anyone must be
punished.
3d Wrenboy: They are innocent whoever is to
blame.
Jester: Take their place so! Someone must be
put an end to.
(All the Wrenboys kneel.)
1st Wrenboy: Here we are so. We changed
places with them for our own pleasure, thinking
to lead a prince's life, and if there is anyone must
suffer by reason of that change let it be ourselves.
Jester: I'll take off their gags so and let them free.
(He cuts cord of gags and hands, then throws
some dust over all boys as before, saying):
(The Princes throw off their masks.)
1st Prince: It is all a mistake! Oh, Guardian,
don't you know now that we are your murslings
and your wards! Look at the royal mark upon
our arm, that we brought with us into the world.
(They turn up sleeves and show their arms.)
2nd Dowager Messenger: I am satisfied without
looking at the royal sign. I have been looking at
their finger nails. Those other nails (pointing to
Wrenboys) have never been touched with a soapy
brush.
2nd Prince: It is strange you did not recognise
us. It was that Jester yesterday when we changed
our coats that threw a dust of disguise between you
and us.
1st Dowager Messenger: Was it that these lads
robbed you of your clothes?
3d. Prince: Not at all.
4th Prince: We ourselves that were discontented
and wishful to change places with them.
Guardian: A very foolish thing, and that I have
never read of in any of my histories.
5th Prince: We were the first to wish the change.
It is we should be blamed.
5th Wrenboy: No, but put the blame on us!
The Wrenboys you seen yesterday.
Guardian: Ah, be quiet, how do I know who
you are, or if ever I saw you before! My poor
head is going round and round.
1st Wrenboy: Now do you know us! (All recite
"The Wren, the Wren, the King of All Birds." Give
first verse.)
Guardian: (Stopping his ears.) Oh, stop it!
That makes my poor head worse again.
2nd Wrenboy: (Pulling up sleeve.) If you had
chanced to see our right arm you would recognise
us. We were not without bringing a mark into
the world with us, if it is not royal itself.
(Wrenboys strip their arms.)
1st Dowager Messenger: What is he talking
about? (Seizes arm and looks at it.)
2nd Dowager Messenger: It is the same mark as
is on the princes, the sign and token of a King!
1st Dowager Messenger: It is certain these must
be their five little royal cousins, that were stolen
away from the coast.
1st Wrenboy: If we were brought away it was
by that Grugach that has kept us in his service
through the years.
2nd Dowager Messenger: It is no wonder they
took to one another. It was easy to know by the
way they behaved they had in them royal blood.
(The Boys turn to each other, the Ogre is
slipping out.)
Jester: (Throwing off his cloak and showing his
green ragged clothes.) Stop where you are!
Ogre: Do your best! You cannot hinder me!
I have spells could change the whole of ye to a
cairn of grey stones! (Makes signs with his hands.)
Jester: (In a terrible voice.) Are you thinking
to try your spells against mine?
Ogre: (Trembling and falling on his knees.) Oh,
spare me! Hold your hand! Do not use against
me your spells of life and death! I know you
now! I know you well through your ragged dress!
What are my spells beside yours? You the great
Master of all magic and all enchantments, Manannan,
Son of the Sea!
Jester: Yes, I am Manannan, that men are apt
to call a Jester and a Fool, and a Disturber, and a
Mischief-maker, upsetting the order of the world
and making confusion in its order and its ways.
(Recites or sings.)