THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE JESTERS THE JESTERS A SIMPLE STORY IN FOUR ACTS OF VERSE ADAPTED FROM THE FRENCH OF MIGUEL ZAMACOiS BY JOHN N. RAPHAEL NEW YORK BRENTANO'S 1908 COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY BRENTANo's D. B. UPDIKE, THE MEHRYMOUNT PRESS, BOSTON THE FIRST ACT DRAMATIS PERSONAE RENE DE CHANCENAC (afterwards C H I C O T) NICOLE SOLANGE DE MAUTPRE VULCANO BARON DE MAUTPRE ROBERT DE BELFONTE (afterwards NARCISSUS) OLIVER BAROCO -jesters JACK PUDDING HILARIUS JACQUES ' JULIAN - servants of the BARON DE MAUTPRE PIERRE HUBERT, servant to RENE DE CHANCENAC A Pedlar, tyc. The story runs its course in France in the year 1557 THE JESTERS ACT FIRST The scene is a large hall in a picturesque old castle which has seen better days. A large window at the back of the stage opens on to a broad stone terrace, overgrown with moss and showing signs of age and dilapidation. Green creepers and roses frame the window, through which a bright sun shines and piti- lessly discloses the lack of comfort and need of re- pairs. The furniture, of which there is very little, bears eloquent witness to the poverty of the BARON DE MAUTPRE, owner of the castle. There is a stair- case on the right, leading up to a small door. Under the stairs is another small door opening on to the stairs down to the cellar. Both of these staircases are used. At the rise of the curtain s ACQUES,JU LI ATS, PIERRE and NICOLE are discovered. JULIAN rLiGHTEEN months' wages due, and not a penny piece. (To JACQUES) Speak up for us. JACQUES *T is time this worrying should cease; 4 THE JESTERS Because, forsooth, I can say what I want to say, I have to risk my place by dunning for our pay. NICOLE You are of all of us the cleverest, you see. You are the one to speak. You speak convincingly. JACQUES No ! I am tired of it. My voice alone is heard, I am the grumbler. You never vouchsafe a word. You're bright enough, Nicole. Julian is not a dunce. When the time comes to-day, let's all four speak at once. PIERRE Hush! Dr. Oliver! Enter OLIVER OLIVER Come, come, my friends, to work ! For the last day or two everyone seems to shirk All that there is to do. (To JULIAN) What have you done to-day? JULIAN Fed the ass. OLIVER, to NICOLE Have you swept? ACT FIRST 5 NICOLE, crossly Ev'ry one's in the way. OLIVER, laughing Dame Nicole's out of sorts. (To all) Come, come, there's work to do. Put off these sulky airs, set to it all of you. (Pointing to stones which are heaped up under the archway at the back of the stage) Where do these stones come from? JACQUES (Pointing to the arch) They fell out in the night. OLIVER Ah, yes! The castle's old. (Looking up) Well, we'll have this put right. But you must not forget, when you pass; more may fall. JACQUES All the walls shed their stones. This is no house at all. OLIVER What is it, pray? JACQUES A sieve. When the wind blows at night, 6 THE JESTERS None of us close an eye; some are half dead with fright. OLIVER Why? JACQUES Why? Because, instead of crumbling bits away, The whole house will fall in when it blows hard one day. NICOLE Yes. And that's not the worst, for if the walls could tell What they have heard us say all our complaints (She sighs) Ah ! well ! OLIVER You are cared for and fed ! What more can you de- sire ? JACQUES Wages ! NICOLE Yes! PIERRE and JULIAN Yes! JACQUES We have all earned and want our hire. ACT FIRST 7 OLIVER Ah! All your heads are thick and all your hearts are hard As the stones fallen there. (Struck by a sudden idea, to JACQUES) With them we '11 pave the yard. (To the malcontents) Surely you know how poor all of the tenants be, And that the harvest 's poor, doubling their pov- erty! None of the rents are paid our coffers here to fill. Why, for those of three years ago we 're waiting still ! What does the Baron do ? Summon his men-at-arms, Harry the countryside, go down and sack the farms? No. Many times have I seen him in anger rise, Ready for war, then pause, and with tears in his eyes Shake his head, smile, and then: "Oliver, 11 he will say, "Call me my soldiers back." JACQUES Soldiers, but where are they ? Every day we hear trumpeters sound the call, But when the call does sound there are no men at all. No doubt the farmer hears, trembles there on his farm, 8 THE JESTERS Thinks you have men, but we know and feel no alarm. Ah! Mautpre's tiger-claw no longer strikes to kill, And when the pow'r is lost, what is the use of will ? Army forsooth! Our lord owns just one man, and he Is all our foot, our horse, infantry, cavalry, General, Colonel, drums, linesman, and sentry-go. And what a man for all these posts is Vulcano! This great Italian who bullies and bates us all, Half soldier, half bravo ! When he patrols the wall, Down in the country lanes villagers pause and say : "Strange that we only see one sentry ev'ry day." OLIVER Do they say that? NICOLE They do, and many want to know Why the same man is always upon sentry-go. OLIVER Ah, yes! The mice may squeak, but when the cat appears, Into their holes they pop Vulcano each one fears. NICOLE Vulcano? What, that great long scraggy braggart 1 Why, ACT FIRST 9 Not a field mouse, Fm sure, before his sword would fly. Don't you remember how, gone to collect the dues, Vulcano hurried back pelted with wooden shoes ? OLIVER Take care he hears you not! JACQUES None of us for him care, But can you say as much? Else why do you for- bear To punish for his faults this ever drunken sot, With his Italian oaths ? His is a happy lot. OLIVER He has fought much and well, been through some twenty wars. NICOLE Says so himself, no doubt! OLIVER, angrily Woman, I've seen his scars! Merely a sight of him strikes terror all around As with his martial tread his mailed foot spurns the ground. He 's our protector. 10 THE JESTERS JACQUES . Tcha! As oft I've said before, All that protects us, sir, is the great castle door. OLIVER, angrily Silence ! (JACQUES makes as though he would go on arguing') Be still, I say ! I and your master know We have a hundred men in one in Vulcano. NICOLE If he's a hundred men, why are we always sent With him when he's on guard, on to the battlement To play at soldiers? (Imitating) March! pacing to left and right, Carrying pikes by day, torches and lamps at night. Why, too, unless to seem double our numbers, do You make us all not one pike or torch bear, but two ? Surely your paladin, if he be worth a score Of men-at-arms, on guard can have no need of more! OLIVER Where, now, is Vulcano? In the watch-tower? JACQUES Ho! Down in the cellar. ACT FIRST 11 OLIVER, startled Why? What there does Vulcano? JACQUES, grinning He said he'd gone to drink all the sad thoughts away Which had been troubling him since he had drawn no pay; Said that to dry his eyes of their regretful brine, As he could draw no pay, he'd go and draw your wine. OLIVER, startled Drinking! But Vulcano, when drunk, is mad, and takes No care of what he does, whom he hurts, what he breaks. We must be quiet, friends, try not to rouse him, for Like a wild beast aroused from his lair, through that door He would come storming up. (JACQUES, NICOLE, and the others exchange a look of intelligence, and all shout together at the top of their voices) JACQUES, NICOLE, JULIAN, and PIERRE Pay us our wages! 12 THE JESTERS OLIVER Oh! Softly, my friends, I beg! (In a panic) Ah! Here is Vulcano! I '11 to the Baron ! (He runs off) PIERRE There ! Master will come, now, too ! He will be angry and JACQUES Coward! Here's a to-do. Lady Solange will come, too, on her father's arm. NICOLE Yes ! And she will not let us poor folk come to harm. JULIAN No. She is sweet and kind. PIERRE Yes, but in case you know NICOLE Here is the Baron ! She's not with him. JACQUES Let us go ! (All run out together. Enter the BARON DE MAUT- PRE and OLIVER) ACT FIRST 13 MAUTPRE As long as Vulcano lies sleeping down below, The others will not dare to brave us, will they? OLIVEE No. But how I wish, my lord, we dared a little more, Dared rid us of this great braggart who irks us sore, This long Italian, this MAUTPRE, with some impatience Aye! But I fain would know What is due to the men, and what to Vulcano. OLIVER To the men and Nicole eighteen months, if not more, Eighteen months and some weeks. MAUTPRE To the Italian? OLIVER Four. MAUTPRE Twenty-two months in all. And what can we afford To pay them in hard cash? OLIVER Nothing at all, my lord. 14 THE JESTERS MAUTPRE Good. Do not look surprised. The matter stands this way: Nothing at all we have, so nothing can we pay ; Had we a little we half could pay and half owe, Could satisfy the men and enrage Vulcano, Or the Italian pay, and there it is again By paying him alone enrage our honest men. Therefore as it is clear with cash we cannot pay, We fain, my Oliver, must find another way. OLIVER Another way, my lord, we fain must find. But still I know of naught but cash an empty purse to fill. MAUTPRE And what is speech made for ? I have seen dying men At a mere spoken word rise up and fight again. I have seen hungry men with a word sated be, Angry men calmed, and calm men rise up angrily. Speech is more than mere coin fitted the heart to reach. We have no money, friend, but we have gift of speech, And with the gift of speech I possess you shall see This small household revolt finish quite peacefully. ACT FIRST 15 OLIVER What will you tell them? MAUTPRE I shall, when they come, unfold The tale of swift alarms, quick flight, and hidden gold, Which, as you know, maintains that treasure will be found On the de Mautpre lands buried deep in the ground. OLIVER But is the legend true? MAUTPRE, with dignity That, sir, I do not know. But I am very sure they will believe it so. Summon them, nothing else can I devise to do. OLIVER, at the door Jacques, Nicole, Julian, Pierre, my lord would speak with you ! Enter JACQUES, PIERRE, JULIAN, NICOLE. All are in evident fear of the BARON, and dare not speak MAUTPRE Now then! What do you want? Will no one say the word? 16 THE JESTERS JULIAN Nothing, sir. MAUTPRE Nothing? PIERRE No, nothing at all, my lord. JACQUES Nothing, that is, except NICOLE, desperately Nothing except our pay. (The BARON makes an angry gesture) JACQUES Oh ! not at once, my lord. When it may suit, some day. MAUTPRE, to OLIVER in feigned surprise Are they not paid? OLIVER My lord, not since December last. NICOLE Not since October, sir. MAUTPRE Ah ! How the time has passed ! Welllyou shall all be paid; but, as you have been told, ACT FIRST 17 Farm rents are due, and I at present have no gold. No gold at hand, that is, for if I knew but where, On my land, chests of gold, jewels beyond compare, Lie waiting for me which centuries three ago Hector de Mautpre hid, as you all doubtless know. NICOLE Nay, my lord, we know naught. MAUTPRE Listen then. One dark night Rose from the farms down there one long scream of affright Out of the darkness, and, stricken with swift alarm, Women and men rushed out, out of each house and farm, Up to the castle gates, and made the night air ring With their cries : " Help, my lord ! Save us, my lord ! The King!" For those days, you must know, were not the days of peace, And the King, fearing that Mautpre's wealth would increase Until my ancestor should grasp the regal pow'r, Had sent his soldiers down. Mautpre, within the hour, 18 THE JESTERS Mustered his men within, calmed all the fear with- out, Formed a great army, put the King's armed men to rout, And, lest they should return, buried his treasure deep Down in a sheltered spot under the castle keep. Just where that treasure lies, no man has ever found, But I know that it lies somewhere below the ground. Treasure of coined gold, jewels beyond compare, In mighty chests, brassbound, for me lie waiting there. Soon we shall dig them up ( With sudden farceness he turns on the servants who shrink before it) Now, sirs ! The truth ye know, Know that you will be paid. Why are you waiting? Go! (They huddle together and make for the door. MAUTPRE turns to OLIVER) It was not hard to stem the storm of discontent With a few words, you see, spoken with that in- tent. OLIVER Aye, but the treasure? ACT FIRST 19 . MAUTPRE, laughing That, till it is found, will sleep And be food for their dreams down there below the keep. (A tremendous uproar is heard from the cellar below) Beshrew my ears ! What 's that? OLIVER It came up from below ! NICOLE, peeping down the cellar stairs Oh! let us fly! He's drunk! JACQUES Or mad ! OLIVER Who? JACQUES Vulcano ! (VULCANO, noisily drunk, staggers on to the stage through the little door leading to the cellar stairs, and, leaning against a pillar, looks around him at the BARON, OLIVER, and the servants) MAUTPRE Whence come you, sirrah! Why such a wild air? Explain ! 20 THE JESTERS VULCANO I come from death. MAUTPRE, coldly Indeed? OLIVER, aside Would he were back again ! VULCANO with abundant gesture, exciting himself as he goes on Aye, sirs, I come from death. Down in the cellar there From my sleep I awoke. A blast of icy air Circled me. 'T was the cloak of a gigantic form, Clad in a coat of mail. Out of the freezing storm Circling it, it advanced, threat'ning, without a word. I stood back to the wall, and sirs, {Slowly ', solemnly, and with drunken emphasis) I drew my sword, (Suiting the action to the words) Cut and thrust! Whoop! Sa, ha! I advanced. He retired, Thrust in carte, point, and tierce, eye nor wrist neither tired. For a full hour we fought in the dark there below, Till with both hands he dealt me such a mighty blow ACT FIRST 21 Full on the sconce, that I staggered and with both hands Clung to a pillar. (Showing his hands) See! These were as iron bands. I was a Samson, for down came the pillar tall, And I, my lord, came up to you here in the hall, For 't was an omen ! I came to relate the curse Which must fall on Mautpre out of my empty purse ! MAUTPRE How prick this windbag? OLIVER Hush! He's drunk, my lord. Beware! VULCANO Daggers and swords 1 I stand ! Oliver, hand a chair ! (OLIVER does so in spite of the BARON'S annoyance) Ah! I'mathirst! MAUTPRE Again! Nay, sir, you've drunk enough. (OLIVER takes beaker and goblet from table) VULCANO, with dignity I thirst, sir, for respect, not for the weakling stuff Which you miscall your wine. Aye! and I'll have it too, 22 THE JESTERS Or I (he goes to the pillar) will pull your walls down on the top of you. Nay, never sneer ! Enough ! I am awrath today ! Give me the gold you owe, or by the saints (He raises his sword) OLIVER Nay, nay! No bloodshed, Vulcano! (He hands him a purse) Here is your guerdon. (To the BARON) I Give him eight golden crowns, money I had put by Last week for stores of food. JACQUES, to the other servants See! They 're afraid! (Aloud) And we! Where is our pay ? VULCANO, turning fiercely What now? That will come presently, Next week, next month, next year JACQUES But we VULCANO I '11 grind the bone Into dust of the man who dares to raise his tone. ACT FIRST 23 NICOLE But our good gold ! VULCANO Be still! Form up in line there! So! Who are ye dare mistrust the word of Vulcano ! Baron, pray understand, not your gold did prevail Against my anger. Naught but respect could avail. Now then! Your halberds, quick! Strange are a man's affairs, I, Vulcano, command a regiment of hares ! (VULCANO arms the three men and NICOLE with two halberds and a helmet apiece, and forms them into line. Plenty of comic business may be introduced here) VULCANO By the right, march! NICOLE Oh! Oh! Pierre, you are joggling me! VULCANO Silence ! Per Bacco ! Now ! By your right, one, two, three ! Up the stairs, and so, out ! I follow last of all. March! One, two, three! And out on to the castle wall! 24 THE JESTERS NICOLE I am afraid ; my heart for very fear is sore, What can a woman do under arms? VULCANO Make one more! Forward March ! (Exeunt the Jour servants and VULCANO up the stairs leading to the battlements) OLIVER God be thanked that they are gone at last! Some good is Vulcano! There's one more danger past. MAUTPRE Now will I hie me back to my account books. You, Oliver, try to fell just one more tree or two. SOLANGE who has entered just in time to hear this last order Poor trees! MAUTPRE Solange ! SOLANGE I heard sounds of strife here, methought. MAUTPRE, carelessly Our servant Vulcano had not done what he ought. Well, I must go. ACT FIRST 25 SOLANGE My lord MAUTPRE My child? SOLANGE *T was in my mind To ask a boon, but MAUTPRE, smiling But? SOLANGE I can no courage find. MAUTPRE, uneasily Boons mean expense. OLIVER, aside Poor child; I fear her slightest whim, Cost what it may, will cost much, too much far, for him. SOLANGE Nay, father, 'twill cost naught. But I do long to hear News of the feast to which, by our next neighbour dear, We were bid yesterday. There are to be, I 'm told, 26 THE JESTERS Sorcerers there, a witch, a tourney for the bold Knights of the neighbourhood. Oh ! I 'm afire to go. I must prepare me, sire. How did you answer? MAUTPRE No! SOLANGE Father! You have refused ? MAUTPRE Yes, my child. You forget Your tender years, my girl ; the time has not come yet For jousts and tourneys. SOLANGE But MAUTPRE, crossly I have said " no." Enough. Let me hear naught again of tourneys and such stuff. (Exit MAUTPRE. OLIVER looTfS CUlioUsty at SO- LANGE, who, after a moment , bursts into tears) SOLANGE Let us seek, Oliver. Perchance we two may find Why, loving me, my lord is sometimes so unkind. ACT FIRST 27 OLIVER Nay, not unkind, my child ; you are but seventeen. SOLANGE Old enough that, old friend, of jousts to be the queen. No, there is something else ; 'tis my heart tells me so. Father's eyes shouted "yes" while his lips muttered "no. 1 ' Why, knowing as he knew what joy consent would give, Did he of that delight his little girl deprive? OLIVER Now, now, you know full well SOLANGE Oliver, I believe My second father, too, would his Solange deceive. There are tears in your eyes because my eyes are dim; Father's eyes, too, were moist when I looked up at him. What does it mean? OLIVER, affected My child ! SOLANGE, nestling to him Whisper that once again 28 THE JESTERS Down in your heart, then say if you would give me pain. Since mother went to rest in paradise above, From you I Ve had, dear friend, almost a mother's love. You fondled me, and with your finger in my hand I learned to walk and run when I had learned to stand. And once when, fever-rid, I tossed upon my bed, You, Oliver, sat by, cooling my aching head, Whispering gentle words, scolding in accents mild, Chafing the icy feet of a small suffering child. To make me laugh how oft on all fours you would crawl; With you I first went out on to the castle wall; You have enjoyed my joys, sorrowed at my distress, And in my prison have brightened my loneliness. OLIVER Loneliness? Prison? SOLANGE Aye. I am no baby now. Why should my father not, like other sires, allow Me some slight freedom? Why? Why should I lonely brood Here in this castle's grim, unfriendly solitude? ACT FIRST 29 OLIVER, reproachfully Solitude? SOLANGE Oliver, do you remember how Over a year ago, just eighteen months 't is now, We wandered, you and I, down a tree- vaulted glade In the wood, towards the brook, old man and little maid? All was asleep. The leaves upon the trees were stijl, The flowers slumbered each with curled bent head. The hill Rose in the calm of sleep over the valley, glowed Green, tipped with gold sunlight. Even the pale white road, Dust-laden, slept in peace; for the wind slumbered, and The brook's wee wavelets sang songs of a far dream- land. All the birds sweetly slept, each in its feathered nest. Nature was hushed, was taking her well-earned rest After the storm of winter. Then with gentle thrill, Nature awoke and stirred. The grass-blades on the hill Stretched themselves in the sunshine, and with quivering gleam 30 THE JESTERS The sun replied, awoke, warmed with its darting beam The green tree vault above. The breeze awoke, and strong With its first waking sang, tempting the brook to song. All the birds answered ; sang to their friends, wind and sun, Sang the glad hymn of life, merging it ev'ry one Into the birds' love-song. In my heart something stirred, Fluttered, awoke, and lived, sung to life by the bird ! Something which must awake in ev'ry maiden's breast, Something which changes peace into a sweet unrest, Something which, craving, pleads for a gift from above, Something which whispers her that God's great gift is love. My eyes were wet, my heart throbbed, and I seemed to fear Nature's glad message now, after the winter drear; But as the wavelets danced and as the sunlight beamed, Warmer and warmer a voice from the sunlight seemed ACT FIRST 31 To raise its hymn of joy, and in glad tones to sing: "Maid, thou art woman now! Waken! Here is the spring ! " I have no words to tell what I would fain explain, Old friend, but do not let me sink to sleep again. Try, dear, to understand, strive what I mean to find, Without plain words. I know your heart will help your mind. Old friend, your child's heart craves for something all unknown, Which the sunbeams told her springs from the good God's throne. Help me, dear friend, to find it. OLIVER, much moved, but with a half smile If I help in this, What guerdon shall be mine ? SOLANGE, throwing her arms around his neck A loving daughter's kiss. OLIVER, half to himself, half to SOLANGE So then I too have slept, and the weight of my years Crushed down the old man's pow'r to see a young girl's tears. Now my heart is awake, it cannot yet rejoice, For from above it drop tears in your mother's voice, Softly reproaching. So, wiseacre deaf and blind, 32 THE JESTERS I have been erring. Not trying the truth to find, Satisfied with the lore musty old books have given, On parchment peering down instead of up to heaven, Wise in the bookworm's lore, by other fools com- piled, Knowing the world, ignoring your true heart, my child, Reading the stars, not seeing life's true guerdon lay Not in the starlit night, but in the sunlit day. Child, can you now forgive ? See, I my sin confess, And will in future strive to win your happiness. SOLANGE No pardon, dear, you need old men are ever so; They search and seek for things which younger hearts all know, Searching, they cannot find. It is the human lot. What in a young heart glows is by old hearts forgot. Dear one, you do not know OLIVER Aye, from today I do, And having always loved, know you and love you too; And as your heart forgives thoughtlessly given pain, Now that we know, we are, I hope, old friends again. ACT FIRST 33 SOLANGE, gaily Answer my question then. Why does my father now, When I would dance, refuse ? Why with deep- wrin- kled brow, Grudging himself the joy to see me glad, does he Keep me within these walls alone, unceasingly? Every "no" he speaks pains him. I read his eyes As you read books, and see. Why then this sacrifice ? Why does he grudge me joy ? Why make my young heart sore? Punishing me, I know, punishes him yet more. OLIVEE Dear heart, the reason is, Mautpre is passing poor. Poverty is the cause of your fast-closed door, For on your father's back ever together ride Two grim, unsparing guests, poverty and his pride. SOLANGE Poverty ? OLIVEE Aye. SOLANGE Poor sire! Why did I never know? OLIVEE 'T is his wish. Never let him guess I told you so. 34 THE JESTERS SOLANGE Nay, of course, by no word. Enter the BARON DE MAUTPRE with a paper in his hand OLIVER Hush! MAUTPRE Here upon this plan I have marked woods to fell. Oliver, look, my man. (Sees SOLANGE) Still here, Solange? SOLANGE Yes, father, I 've been scolded so By Oliver, and wait for your forgiveness. MAUTPRE, smiling Oh, You are forgiven, sweet; you cannot plead in vain For pardon. Do not let it, though, occur again. OLIVER, who has been looking" at the plan Yes. This will bring in gold, and MAUTPRE, quickly, with a glance at SOLANGE 'T will improve the view From the east window. ACT FIRST 35 SOLANGE Sirs, I bid good day to you. I have my household cares, my dove to feed. (She curtsies and trips up the staircase and out) MAUTPRE, to OLIVER, poring over the plan You see Twelve cords from Coulange glade, good wood, too, they tell me, Fifteen at Valvert, twelve VULCANO, bursting" into the room Up to the gate there ride Three evil-looking men, each on a mule astride. MAUTPRE Spies again, doubtless ! VULCANO, staggering Fear not; my men are below. I go to join them ! (Menacingly shaking his sword at the window) Ah! Scoundrels! You're doomed, I trow. (He goes towards the door and is met fo/ JACQUES) JACQUES Good my lord, 'tis three pedlars would have au- dience, they 36 THE JESTERS Have with them things of worth and of virtu, they say. VULCANO Pedlars, are they? Aha! So they escape my sword. Had they been thieves, I would MAUTPRE, handing him a paper Vulcano, send this word With all speed to the town. (To JACQUES) Bring in the pedlars. I Will see their wares. (Exit JACQUES) (To OLIVER) We may look, though we cannot buy. (JACQUES shows in an old pedlar, who is followed by RENE DE CHANCENAC and ROBERT DE BEL- FONTE, disguised as porters and carrying large packs) PEDLAR God keep you, sirs. OLIVER and MAUTPRE And you. MAUTPRE, looking at PEDLAR Do I not know your face ? PEDLAR Etienne, from Elbreuf town, an it so please your grace. ACT FIRST 37 MAUTPRE Ah, yes. And so youVe something I may buy, Etienne ? Well, well, undo your packs for me. ( With sudden suspicion) Who are those men ? PEDLAR, in some confusion Good my lord, porters both. MAUTPRE Men I Ve not seen before. PEDLAR No, my lord. Lately hired. MAUTPRE, tO RENE and ROBERT Friends, wait outside the door. (To OLIVER) They spy around too much. PEDLAR But good my lord ! MAUTPRE How so! Gave I no order, sir? PEDLAR Good my lord OLIVER Bid them go ! 38 THE JESTERS (PEDLAR makes a sign to RENE and ROBERT, who go out) MAUTPRE Now what have you to show? PEDLAR, kneeling, to undo his packs Sirs, I've new things and old, Armour, steel corselets, spears, daggers, and cloth of gold ; Velvet from Venice. MAUTPRE No. These do not please me. PEDLAR Well, If you care not to buy, sir, have you naught to sell ? MAUTPRE, interested, with a glance at OLIVER Sell ? Some oddments, perhaps, to sell I have a mind. I '11 go and see. Wait here. Oliver, we might find One or two things. (Exit BARON in converse with OLIVER. The PEDLAR, on tiptoe, calls in RENE and ROBERT) RENE Beshrew me! So a Chancenac waits At the door. ROBERT, loudly De Belfonte ACT FIRST 39 PEDLAR, imploring a quieter tone When, at the castle gates, I begged you'd show discretion, you both pro- mised. RENE True. But we did not expect PEDLAR What would you have me do? I'm but a pedlar, you are for the day my men; If you but raise your voice, out we all go again. RENE, looking round him Poverty reigns, I see. So it is true what I Was told about Mautpre's odd eccentricity. PEDLAR Lower, my lord, your presence here is an outrage. ROBERT, laughing No! 'T is to decide a bet. Did we not tell you so ? Rene, against all sense, maintains that wit ensnares A maiden's heart. RENE Belfonte, fatuous fool, declares That a man's beauty o'er a man's wit will prevail, 40 THE JESTERS And that where wit may win, a handsome face may fail. ROBERT Yes! And to prove our points RENE We had to find the maid. There is one here, Etienne; but be not you afraid: We'll be discreet. Mautpre shall not know our in- tent. ROBERT, laughing No; lest he call his men down from the battlement. 'T is Oliver must help. With this old friend of mine And of my father's, we will some sage plan combine To gain us entry here. RENE, laughing On this side of the door. PEDLAR I hear them coming back. Pray ye, sweet lords, no more. (He pushes them out. Enter DE MAUTPRE, followed by OLIVER and JACQUES) MAUTPRE, to the PEDLAR We've found some things below, if you will come with me. ACT FIRST 41 PEDLAR Have you no suits of mail, cuirass for cavalry, Spurs, daggers, gorgets, or MAUTPRE Aye, there's my martial gear, Helmet, spurs, all complete. Go, Jacques, and bring it here. (Exit JACQUES) There is the stout cuirass which, in the Pavian strife, Won me the royal thanks in that it saved my life. PEDLAR Good! MAUTPRE You must pay it dear, for 't was a valued friend, In fifteen twenty-five, when stout blows without end Rained down on it. Ah, me ! Those were heroic days, And I fought hard to win my royal master's praise. Each time my blade I swung, a Spaniard bit the dust; But the blade has been cleaned and is quite free from rust. And the blows I received my good cuirass did scorn, For 'tis of finest steel. JACQUES, bringing in coat of armour It has not yet been worn, And is in perfect state. 42 THE JESTERS PEDLAR, coughing to hide his amusement Hem! hum! MAUTPRE, to JACQUES You idiot! (To PEDLAR) He Must be excused, Etienne; he knows no history. On the bright surface each blow once could be seen here! Here again! The repairs cost me exceeding dear. PEDLAR, who has been examining the suit On the back here's a dent. MAUTPRE On the back ? Let me look. ( With offended dignity) 'Tis here we hang it up. 'Tis the mark of the hook. PEDLAR What will you take for it ? OLIVER 'Tis priceless, for't has borne The brunt of battle and was by a hero worn. MAUTPRE How would you price, Etienne, great Hector's shield and spear? ACT FIRST 43 How can I price the suit of armour that is here? Shall I say eighty crowns? A hundred? I know not. PEDLAR Say forty and I buy. MAUTPRE Nay, sirrah! Why, God wot, I do not care to sell. PEDLAR Sixty crowns. OLIVER, to DE MAUTPRE Let it go. We need the gold. He may buy other things below. MAUTPRE Take it then. PEDLAR, counting and paying Sixty crowns. MAUTPRE Oliver, take his gold. Now come with me and price a brass-bound chest. Tis old Oaken, wondrously carved ; from an old abbey torn, Where it held treasure. PEDLAR Now in it you store 44 THE JESTERS MAUTPRE Our corn. (MAUTPRE and the PEDLAR go out. Enter ROBERT and RENE, who have been peeping in, waiting 1 until OLIVER was alone) OLIVER, putting away the money Sixty gold crowns in hand. Robert de Belfonte! ROBERT I Would have your pardon for coming thus privily, But, friend, in you I trust. I know you wish me well. I and de Chancenac here (OLIVER bows) have an odd tale to tell. RENE, bowing Odd? No! The old, old tale youth ever tells to age. We are in love. OLIVER In love? ROBERT You were my grand sire's page, And with my father made vow of true friendship. Now I, sir, my father's son, ask you to keep that vow. ACT FIRST 45 OLIVER In love? RENE With sweet Solange. Nay, start not. Not one word From our lips of our love has that sweet maiden heard. As the bird which she fed when we first saw her, she, Sweet Solange de Mautpre, from all offence is free. OLIVER, looking from one to another In love? And with Solange? Both of you? ROBERT Hear our tale. And I am sure your heart's true kindness will pre- vail Over all prejudice. 'Tis but a week agone, In mind and heart my friend Rene and I were one. Then we both saw the maid, and now we drift apart, For her sweet picture fills all of my RENE And my heart. Help us, good sir. 'Tis time two old friends were at peace, Time that strife between two brothers in arms should cease. Both of us love the maid 46 THE JESTERS OLIVER Love her, young sir, but how? You say you've seen her. Where? How can you love her now? RENE Shooting, one day, the birds drew us near to the line Which, as you know, divides de Mautpre's lands from mine, And, through a quickset hedge, our thoughts of aught but love, We saw the fair Solange feeding a milk-white dove. It kissed her lips, her neck, rippled her golden hair With its pink beak. To me, standing and gazing there, It was as though some saint touching my sinful eyes Had granted them a glance into God's Paradise. ROBERT I too could scarce believe Solange was not divine, And, like Rene, felt straight that I must make her mine. What now to do? OLIVER, to himself as much as to the young men 'Tis true. Little Solange must wed, Seventeen years have passed over her golden head. But if I help the child these two fair youths to see, ACT FIRST 47 Will not Mautpre with right say I act traitorously ? And if I help her not, do not I wrong her sore ? De Mautpre owes me much. I owe Solange far more. Sirs, I will serve your wish. To that I pledge my troth. (Aside) God grant that serving them I may be serv- ing both De Mautpre and Solange. ROBERT Let us a plan devise By which we both may be seen by the dainty prize Each of us hopes to win. OLIVER It will be hard to find, For dark suspicion lurks deep in de MautpreTs mind. Poverty's pride forbids his oldest friends the door, Lest coming they should see that he is now grown poor. Yet wiU I think. RENE And when we may return again, Send word to me. ROBERT Or me. 48 THE JESTERS RENE, laughing Send, if you can, two men, Each with the one word "Come." OLIVER Well, I will not say no. But now, my young friends both, the word I say is "Go." You've tamed long enough. RENE Hush ! Here the maiden comes. ROBERT, jealously How know you that, Rene? RENE, with a smile A pricking in my thumbs. (SOLANGE appears in the gallery carrying her white dove in a cage) SOLANGE, to her dove Each day, well in the shade, my bird, I hang your cage. Why, then, in your plump breast does fruitless anger rage, Ruffling it with the sound of a weak old man's snore? Know you not, foolish bird, if through your open door ACT FIRST 49 I let you fly, your life would be the forfeit? Aye, All the wild birds would peck and mock you as you die. Evil aye stalks abroad. But do not be afraid, Cages there always are for each young bird (a little sadly) or maid. (She hang's her cage up on the branch of a climbing rose-tree ; R o B E R T , R E N E , and OLIVER stand watch- ing her) RENE She is delicious. ROBERT Yes. RENE She lends these crumbling walls All the poetic sheen of the enchanted halls Of the old legends. See the light upon her head As she hangs up her cage. Did you hear what she said To the white bird ? I fear, Robert, we wrong her. Oh, Let us forego our bet! ROBERT Double it rather! No? Does "ready wit" now fear that it will meet rebuff? Are you afraid to lose, that you hold back? 50 THE JESTERS RENE Enough ! (To OLIVER) On you we count, sir. SOLANGE speaking to the bird and coming down stage (the young men stand back) There! coo to the sun and look Out to the farms, while I, diligent, con my book. OLIVER Peste! I can think of naught! What is your book, my child? SOLANGE T is John the Jester's tale, who, by his capers wild, Gladdened King Philip's court until in love he fell. (Pensively) A jester here would make, were we but rich OLIVER Ah, well, That may come. SOLANGE Which? The jester or OLIVER, aside I have my plan. (To SOLANGE) Both perhaps. But now, hark! Just to please an old man, ACT FIRST 51 When Mautpre comes, be still or speak of languor, and i When he is looking, lean your fair head on your hand. I have no time to tell you why. T is but a trap Into which a sunbeam may find its way, mayhap. Enter MAUTPRE and VULCANO MAUTPRE Oliver, what is wrong? More woeful tales to tell, Needing another sale? OLIVER, pointing to SOLANGE Hush, sir, she is not well. MAUTPRE Not well? OLIVER No, good my lord. Too long this castle drear Has cloistered her. To me her case is sadly clear. Her languor MAUTPRE, kneeling' by her chair My Solange, have I neglected you? SOLANGE playing the part OLIVER has bidden her to play No, father, no, I cast no jot of blame on you, But if I could but laugh, nay, if I could but smile, 52 THE JESTERS If some one could my life's sad moments but be- guile ! MAUTPRE, despairingly Oliver, you're a leech! OLIVER What says Hippocrates In his immortal book on melancholy? These Are cases which to cure no drugs we should apply, But look to jesters rather for our remedy. MAUTPRE To jesters? SOLANGE Jesters ? OLIVER Yes. VULCANO Rich lords keep one or two. Their tricks are much like those which dogs or monkeys do. OLIVER They animate a court and might amuse our dear. MAUTPRE A jester by all means ! How can we get one here ? How are you now, Solange? ACT FIRST 53 SOLANGE Better, I think, my lord. Be not distressed. MAUTPRE But how to spread abroad the word That we a jester need? Enter PEDLAR, followed by ROBERT and RENE PEDLAR Now, my men, pray ye do Get to work; fasten up these three packs, both of you! OLIVER, aside to the young men Listen! My plan is found. (To the BARON) Good my lord, by your grace, I will indite the scroll which shall, from place to place, In all the villages from Mautpre down to Tours, In ev'ry market-place tell all this need of yours. (He sits and writes, readingaloud what he is writing,) "Wanted, a jester whose converse can entertain A maid of high degree, and make her smile again ; A jester of rare wit, courtly, refined, and Trustworthy " ROBERT, aside to RENE What is this? 54 THE JESTERS RENE Hush, man, I understand. CURTAIN As the curtain (a slow one) descends, RENE and ROBERT load the packs on to their shoulders. THE SECOND ACT ACT SECOND The great reception room of the Chateau de Maut- pre. This great baronial hall shows many signs of dilapidation, but many, also, of its glories in the past. A large window (up stage) affords a magnificent view over the country-side. The room is being trimmed with garlands of wild flowers so disposed as to hide the mural dilapidations wherever possible. A large state armchair with a smaller seat beside it have been placed for DE MAUTPRE and SOLANGE. Opposite these seats, and somewhat to one side, is a wooden bench. As the curtain rises VULCANO is superintend- ing the work of j A c Q u E s, of 3 u L i A N, and pfp i E E R E who are hanging the garlands. VULCANO HANG that piece higher No. Somewhat more to the left, Now to the right. Dio! Of eyesight art bereft? Drop the loop of your wreath. Not so much, dolt. Stop! There! So shall we have a hall bedecked beyond compare With all your tapestries panelled or set in frieze. Nowhere, embroidered, shall you find such flow'rs as these. 58 THE JESTERS What is that scarlet flow'r which twinkles like a star Up there? JACQUES 'Tis pimpernel. VULCANO And those green ones which are So lightly graceful there ? Say, sirrah, what are they ? JACQUES Those? They are hops, i' faith you see them ev'ry day. VULCANO T is well. Clear up the mess of moss and fallen leaves, That when the baron comes he naught of it per- ceives. Dress yourselves in your best and when dressed come below. (As they go out by one door, OLIVER enters by an- other and sees the decorations) OLIVER Artist, I see, as well as fighter, Vulcano. VULCANO Pooh! An idea of mine. Still I admit to you My garlands do look well hung thus. ACT SECOND 59 OLIVER Indeed they do. T is pleasant, too, to think that all these tapestries So charmingly arranged, so pleasant to the eyes, Cost naught. VULCANO That is because I know with half an eye How I can make the most of such field mercery As pimpernel and hops OLIVER How many jesters, pray, Are there in waiting ? VULCANO Three of them have come to-day. They are but sorry knaves. In the guard-room they sit, And not one of the three appears to have much wit. OLIVER, to himself, anxiously Where are the two young lords, who promised they would come, For whom this tourney was proclaimed with beat of drum ? Were they but jesting? No. They plan some glad surprise. (Aloud) Comes no one? Vulcano! You have the bet- ter eyes, 60 THE JESTERS Look down the road. No fools you see who wend their ways Up to the castle? VULCANO, at window One. (OLIVER runs to window) Our ass was set to graze By the road. OLIVER Imbecile. Ah! Here comes de Mautpre! Show him your garlands, then go watch the king's highway In case more jesters come. Enter MAUTPRE MAUTPRE Bravo, my friends, bravo! How brave a show of flow'rs. Who made it ? OLIVER Vulcano. MAUTPRE 'Tis skilfully well done. VULCANO Florentines in their heart Cherish a trinity of gods : love, war, and art. ACT SECOND 61 MAUTPRE None of those who may come to-day must even guess That we are poor. Your flow'rs hide my poor walls' distress. I thank you, Vulcano. (To OLIVER, who is standing by the windoiv crossing himself devoutly and mur- muring prayers) Why, Oliver, what now? Why these signs of the cross, devotion-wrinkled brow, And mumble^ prayers? OLIVER, in some confusion Three! But three jesters are here, Three to choose from, and if Solange we are to cheer We must have more five fools two more at least the three Are far too few. MAUTPRE, carelessly Unless one of those three be he Whom we elect to keep. Tell me how does Nicole In her duenna's dress fill her duenna's role? OLIVER Passing well, good my lord. Vows, tho', she cannot budge In her corset of wood. But you yourself shall judge. 62 THE JESTERS She waits without. Hola! Hola! Without, I say! (Throws open a door and announces with mock cere- mony) Make way for Dame Nicole, duenna de Mautpre. (NICOLE, looking' extremely uncomfortable in her grand clothes, comes in and is inspected by the BA- RON) MAUTPRE How do you feel, Nicole, in these fine clothes? NICOLE My lord, Like a fowl trussed to roast. Never, upon my word, Have I been ill at ease as I am now. I seem To be packed in a case. If it lasts I shall scream Loud for help presently, thinking, my lord, that I Have been encoffined now, living, before I die. This ruff around my neck chokes me I never could Be a great dame and wear this great corset of wood. (She taps it) With it I cannot breathe; I cannot (showing her dress) walk in this Bell-shaped thing, and my shoes are pointed mi- series. Give me back, good my lord, my rags of yesterday; In these I feel, i' faith, a dressed-up ape. ACT SECOND 63 MAUTPRE Hey, hey! Here 's gratitude. OLIVER Come, come. Tis not so bad, I trow. Show us the reverence I taught you. So ! And now Go fetch your mistress in. And do not drag your feet As you walk. Lift them up. So! And let me entreat You not to wipe your nose on your sleeve. NICOLE Well, but, sir, What shall I wipe it on? My gloves, my stomacher? MAUTPRE Go now, and fetch Solange. NICOLE I go, my lord. This train Will trip me up. I long to scrub my pans again And wear my kitchen dress. In that at least I look Not like a doll dressed up, but what I am a cook. (She goes out) MAUTPRE Now, Oliver, 'tis time. (Pointing) Post here the men-at-arms 64 THE JESTERS With the ploughmen whom you have brought up from the farms; The jesters on this bench. We, by this door in state, Will make our entry Too long do not let us wait. (He goes out) OLIVER And all this for the two who have not come. I fear (shaking his head) None of the three we have will be your mate, my dear. (Opening guard-room door) Now, Vulcano. VULCANO Hola! OLIVER Come in, and place your men. (OLIVER goes to the window. Enter from guard- room VULCANO With JACQUES, PIERRE, JULIAN, etc., etc. They are helmeted, dressed in breastplates and btiffjerkins, and armed with halberds which they manage with some difficulty) JULIAN Murder ! Help ! On my foot your lance-butt dropped again. JACQUES ' T was your own fault. ACT SECOND 65 VULCANO No more. JACQUES But he VULCANO Maladetto! Silence I say. Stand there. You there, and there. I know (To JULIAN) You will put out an eye with your lance point. JULIAN Perchance It would be no bad thing to take away my lance. VULCANO Rest on it, dolt. (Calling) Now, you fool triad, sit there, pray, And forget not to rise when the lord of Mautpre And his fair daughter come. (The three jesters, HILARIUS, BAROCO, and JACK PUDDING, enter and take their places on the bench. HILARIUS, white-faced, clean-shaven, and sinister looking, is dressed in black and scarlet and is in ap- pearance the exact opposite of his name. BAROCO is a smirking, affected Italian, and JACK PUDDING is a grinning peasant lad) 66 THE JESTERS HILARIUS, in a deep and mournful voice It is damp here. B A R o c o , looking" round him Is this the vaunted wealth of France ? JACK PUDDING Heigho! Take care (to JULIAN), you'll put my eye out with your lance. JULIAN Whose fault is that but yours? Your thick head's in my way. VULCANO Way for the Baron George Charles Henry de Maut- pre! (Enter DE MAUTPRE and SOLANGE hand in hand folloivedby NICOLE who carries so LANCETS hand- kerchief and fan. The BARON and SOLANGE sweep ceremoniously round towards their places, while the "men-at-arms" salute as best they can and the three jesters rise from their bench and bow deeply. NI- COLE, who i$ anxious to sit down, plumps into the big state chair intended for her master, then, when he sees her, upon SOLANGE'S stool, and eventually takes her stand behind SOLANGE. At a sign from VULCANO the three jesters resume their seats) ACT SECOND 67 OLIVER Does my lord condescend these men to interview? (MAUTPRE nods assent) VULCANO Avanti, then, the first. Now, red face, up with you. (JACK PUDDING gets up and giggles foolishly) OLIVER, aside They cannot mean to come. MAUTPRE Well, have you naught to say, And if not, prithee, why have you come here to-day ? JACK PUDDING My name is Pudding. (All laugh) SOLANGE, to NICOLE He is not ill-named. I had No fitter name found. NICOLE But he is a likely lad. JACK PUDDING, after a pause My name is Pudding. OLIVER So you have already said. 68 THE JESTERS JACK PUDDING, another pause Pudding, my name is. MAUTPRE, smiling Or perhaps 'tis pudding-head. {All laugh as in duty bound at DE MAUTPRE 's little joke) PUDDING My name is Pudding. When last Monday the man came And read his parchment, all the farm-hands said 'twere shame If I did not obtain the fool's place speedily, As none of them had seen a greater fool than I. (Everybody laughs at him) OLIVER I doubt it not, my lad. Where have you served be- fore? PUDDING Down on the farm, that's all. But that's no matter, for I've always played the fool, little else did I do. I always have amused the lads (with a grin) and lasses too. MAUTPRE We doubt not that all must have laughed at you, Tfegs. ACT SECOND 69 SOLANGE How did you make the lasses laugh? PUDDING, gigging loudly A' pinched their legs. OLIVER, to the BARON This Pudding shall I send at once back to his farm ? He is no good. MAUTPRE Tis true. But he can do no harm. Let him stay here his month. VULCANO prods BAROCO with his sword. He springs into the air and cuts a caper Your name, sir. BAROCO Baroco, My name is, and that name you, my lord, doubt- less know. For ten years past that name has made all Florence smile. VULCANO You are from Florence? BAROCO Si, signore. 70 THE JESTERS VULCANO Wait a while. From Florence ? Italian ? Why, yes ! This man I know. Ecco la meraviglia. Come sta, Baroco? Buon giorno, mio caro. Godo di vederla, Baroco, come va la sua famiglia? BAROCO Per la grazia di Dio, sta bene tutta. MAUTPRE, who is tiring of this effusion Do Not, I pray, let your feelings overpower you. Let us proceed. VULCANO, surprised Proceed? Did I not say that I Knew him, my lord? And that he comes from Italy? Surely that is enough and these two fools may go. No jester will you find better than Baroco. OLIVER Our lord must judge of that. VULCANO Judge? But the man's my friend! Surely my lord to me no insult can intend? ACT SECOND 71 MAUTPRE, to BAROCO Where have you served before ? (BAROCO is much embarrassed and remains silent) VULCANO, quickly Baron de Polignac Was his first master. Then the Duke of Lambrissac. MAUTPRE Well, we shall see. Now, you dressed all in sable, why Being a jester do you dress so soberly ? (HILARIUS, who is dressed in black from head to foot, with the exception of his belt and of the cox- comb on his black donkeys-eared cap., which are scarlet, rises to his feet. He is tall and thin, cada- verous of face, and looks anything but a merry- maker) HILARIUS, in a hollow voice Hilarius my name and so my nature too. Though I may not appear a joyful man to you, Usually I am gay as the morning lark, Singing and full of fun from early dawn till dark. But I am sad just now; family woes insist On a foors hearing them, and I could not resist. But, good my lord, this day of my grief is the last, 72 THE JESTERS And you will find me gay when the dark cloud has passed. OLIVER Surely we do not need a jester who is sad. SOLANGE Poor fellow, let him stay. MAUTPRE Well, stay your month, my lad. In a month from to-day my daughter will decide Which of you shall remain. VULCANO, in a fury So you my choice deride. I tell you, none there is better than Baroco, But you forsooth will not hearken to Vulcano. Maledetto ! My lord, but you shall rue this sore. OLIVER who has been at the window, in great excitement Heed him not, good my lord! My lord, here are two more. MAUTPRE Two? OLIVER Two more jesters who are knocking at the gate. (To JACQUES) Go down and let them in. ACT SECOND 73 MAUTPRE They have come somewhat late. OLIVER Forgive them, good my lord, they may come from afar, And I believe these two far better jesters are Than the three we have heard. VULCANO What proof have you of it ? OLIVER My eyes convince me that these two are men of wit. MAUTPRE What say you, my Solange? SOLANGE I say, admit them. I Feel that the one of them may cure my malady. OLIVER Here they are. (Enter RENE and ROBERT. They make low obeisance to the BARON, SOLANGE, and the company gen- erally. Each of them wears a long cloak and neither wears cap and bells, but each has a little three- cornered hat) 74 THE JESTERS MAUTPRE Sirs, 't is late. RENE, as CHICOT My lord, reproach us not. Surely, an you will think on it, hard is our lot, And we are punished sore in that so late we meet Mentor with one of the three Graces at his feet. (There is a gentle hum of approval at the compli- ment) OLIVER Cleverly turned. (He rubs his hands) MAUTPRE, to OLIVER This young man has a pretty wit. OLIVER I knew 'twas so, my lord; I felt quite sure of it. MAUTPRE Well, sirs, as you are here, tell us your names and say Each why you think to be jester to de Mautpre. ROBERT, a* NARCISSUS Narcissus is my name, a name poets have sung; On jest's step-ladder I have held the highest rung, For to my wit the gods a precious gift have joined, A gift worth more than all the gold was ever coined, The gift of beauty. Wit alone is not enough. ACT SECOND 75 The eye loves to drink in the beauties of a ruff Well starched, of virgin white, and to rest on a man Whose pourpoint clothes him well. My meaning, sir, I can Prove in a moment. Who would choose an ugly knave For servant just because he happened to be brave? An ugly man in park or terrace to display Blots out their loveliness, takes half their charm away. It is not for their song or for their wit, sir, but For their sheer beauty that the peacocks proudly strut On castle terrace, parapet, and lawn, I trow, And a poor jester's plea for beauty you'll allow For the same reason. He, I think, should harmonize With and set off each thing on which may rest your eyes, Should of a faulty pillar e'en correct the line, Should with his grace of wit a grace of form com- bine To charm the senses, should be handsome, straight, and strong. Apollo was the god of more than of mere song, And, good my lord, I think a jester for his part Should be worth gazing at, a living work of art, 76 THE JESTERS And that he should not please by stringing words alone, But, silent, please you more than beauty carved in stone. (He throws off his cloak, appearing in a well fitting suit qf rose -coloured silk. There is a murmur of ad- miration at his handsome figure) OLIVER This young man will break hearts. SOLANGE What grace he has ! NICOLE I'fegs, A proper youth and what a proper pair of legs. NARCISSUS Who cares for wisdom which from ill-shaped lips one hears? Our eyes have their rights just as surely as our ears. A lovely pearl, well set, will ill-set pearls surpass, Good wine has better taste out of a well-cut glass. Can you imagine an Achilles with a limp, A Paris in the shape of a deformed imp? And who would dare to limn Adonis with a leer Unevenly absurd? Or Venus, drawing near In dove-drawn carnage, thin and angular portray ? ACT SECOND 77 Beauty has equal worth, more worth than wit, I say. Who would not rather far a love-bird listen to Than to a grim gray parrot's hoarse- voiced speech? And you Will bear me out in this, sweet lady, whose white dove Is the incarnate shape of beauty and of love. Well, I, Narcissus, am a love-bird and demand, Wise sire and gentle maid, indulgence at your hand. OLIVER His speech is as well turned out as he is forsooth. VULCANO We summoned jesters here, not love-birds, dainty youth. NARCISSUS, looking VULCANO up and down At you, my scraggy friend, but once I need to gaze To see why beauty's name your senses should amaze And anger. VULCANO, drawing his dagger Cospetto! OLIVER, holds up his arm Stay. Jesters we permit All license they desire and do but laugh at it. 78 THE JESTERS They may say what they will. And therefore from this youth, Brave Vulcano, you must for once accept NARCISSUS, laughing The truth. (VULCANO, more furious than ever, makes a rush at NARCISSUS, but OLIVER and BARoco hold him back) MAUTPRE, to VULCANO Even at kings their fools such insolence have flung That all save fools for such words had straightway been hung. Charlemagne never raged when his fool teased him. VULCANO with immense dignity, sheathing his weapon So? If Charlemagne endured, I vengeance may forego. SOLANGE, to OLIVER He showed no fear. OLIVER This jester 's proved himself a man. MAUTPRE, to CHICOT Tis your turn now. Speak up and show us, if you can, ACT SECOND 79 Your title and your claim our jester here to be. Do your best. I admit Narcissus pleases me. CHI COT, advances and bows (Speaking rapidly and with as much "zip" as can be got into the delivery of each verse) You all, of course, should know my name, My qualities you ought to guess, But time will teach you them and frame My memory in gold, unless I please you not, when for my shame I shall sink into nothingness Forgotten, an eternal blame. Chicot's my name. I am a jester. Would you know Just what a jester claims to do? I will enlighten you, and go The long list of our duties through. Remember, I am jesting, though, So that the half will not be true, As on my lips these duties glow. My name's Chicot. Tales of all kinds my lips can frame, Riddles I have for you to guess, And as a fun-maker I claim 80 THE JESTERS Proudly the highest place, no less. I can an ardent fancy tame With a tale of true love's distress, Or I can kindle fancy's flame. Chicot's my name. My own self I can from me throw, Be troubadour, or clown, and you What lies behind need never know Nor to my jest need find the clue. For when I choose and will it so, True tales are false and false ones true, At will I cause new minds to grow. My name's Chicot. While here I hope with skilful game To lighten yon fair maid's distress, The boredom in her heart to tame, Her mind in lightsome joy to dress. Nor shall I fail and win your blame For this my task, I know, unless Dame Nature fails to fan the flame. Chicot's my name. Let others advertise. I know You will soon see what I can do ACT SECOND 81 And if it pleases you or no. Therefore, why should I weary you E'er I begin with "I do so, And so" (points to the other jesters) like yon poor little crew? Why, an I please you not, I '11 go. My name's Chicot. (MAUTPRE, SOLANGE, and OLIVER show signs of evident pleasure at this effort qfc HI COT'S. BAROCO and VULCANO whisper together) BAROCO He grinds out epigram as though he were a mill. VULCANO Leave me your cause in hand. I'll take it up. Be still. (To CHICOT) In your impromptu, sir, how much is memory Of other's wit ? CHICOT Your shaft does not come home to me, My memory is short, so short it irks me sore. Why! I cannot recall where I've seen you before, Whether 'twas in a rout of cowards and poltroons In the war, or with chains on your wrists as galloons, (Laughter) In the king's galleys. 82 THE JESTERS v u L c A N o, furiously Dare but say those words again SOLANGE, frightened Hold him back, Oliver. VOLCANO I'll split your tongue in twain For speaking them. CHICOT To us our speech is like his sword To a brave belted knight. We jesters use a word As the wasps use their sting, as the hawks use their beak, And when we know its use to wound have but to speak. You attacked, I replied. ( Turning his back on him and speaking to DE MAUTPRE) Sir, I repeat my plea, And entreat you to let Chicot your servant be, Servant and histrion, mimic, musician, I Care not if I must clown, practise astrology, Read your eyes (to SOLANGE) or the stars, tell you of treasure trove In the seas, or unfold old tales of mirth and love. Mine is no purchased zeal. I would with humour gay ACT SECOND 83 Brighten your eyes again, brighten this dungeon gray. Lady, 'tis joy to serve when one so sweet commands, Blows, even, were delight from such rose petal hands. My heart lies on the ground longing to be your stool, And 'tis an honest one,tho' the heart of a fool. Swollen with pride, that heart no task could find more sweet Than a footstool to be for your two tiny feet. SOLANGE No compliment was ever turned more prettily. \ * t CHICOT My heart instructs the lips; sweet lady, that is why. VULCANO The knave has wit. NICOLE He speaks fine and soft, that young man, His words fall on the ear like dripping in the pan. CHICOT So keenly felt, sweet maid, was my desire to-day To be your slave, that crest and arms of de Maut- pre I "broidered on my coat. (He throws off his cloak and shows the DEMAUTPRE 84 THE JESTERS arms. At the same time everybody sees that he is humpbacked) BAROCO He is humpbacked! Oho! An Aesop he may be, but not an Apollo. (BAROCO should almost crow the word Apollo) CHICOT Of Aesop I have both the figure and the walk, And like him, too, the pow'r to make a donkey talk. OLIVER, aside If he would wed Solange, this ornament is strange. Why wear a thing which must a maiden's heart estrange? He had no hump before. SOLANGE How sad that such a mind As his in such a form by fate should be confined! VULCANO Three-cornered like his hat! BAROCO Like Pisa's tow'r he leans. CHICOT I see you wish to know, all of you, what this means. ACT SECOND 85 SOLANGE Nay, nay! CHICOT Oh, never fear to wound me. In a trice You will see that to talk of it 's no sacrifice. You all think my hump a misfortune. Not a jot! And I should pray to have a hump had I it not. Ill add something which may perhaps astonish you, Sometimes I feel regret that I cannot have two. You glory in the straight backs God gave you, but know If my back could be straight I would not have it so, And though my hump may not find favour in your eyes, Could I change it I would have one of twice the size. Surely you know what luck a hump brings in its train If you but touch it once. While if you touch again Luck is yours all your life. Maidens of high degree For just one single touch have sweetly smiled on me, And lovers often beg upon my back to write Their love-letters for luck. Merchants come in the night And ask my hump to touch, and lest I fear the cold Offer to warm the place with bags of good red gold. 86 THE JESTERS Had I the taste to use my hump as use't I can I should not be here now ; I 'd be a wealthy man. Mines may be emptied,but never, it seems to me, Can we quite exhaust all human credulity. T is enough nowadays an you 'd be rich or great To have a crooked back and not to be quite straight. Fools amateurs of me often delight to say That from the casement my nurse let me drop one day. No, sirs ! When I was young I was as straight as you, My back was flat and I was quite as foolish, too. Then my brain grew and grew till my head was too small To hold the brain which pressed hard on the frontal wall, And all the doctors said that I was sure to die, Killed by too great a brain too much precocity. One day my mother, as she bathed and dressed me, found My forehead normal quite and on my back this mound Of knowledge grown. My brain, ill at ease in my head, Had found its way, while I lay fast asleep in bed, Into snug quarters. Lest I pain should have endured ACT SECOND 87 My mother kissed the place, and I, my friends, was cured. VULCANO This rogue must surely have the devil for a friend If such case to his needs he can so neatly bend. Answer him, Baroco. Cospetto! As I live, An answer some one must to him try to contrive, Or he will win. BAROCO Pray, what does the young man conclude From this defence of his er I would not be rude Of his protuberance? CHICOT Conclusions you require, Baroco ; your delightful crassness I admire. I conclude that to have no hump upon your back Shows that in common sense and in brain pow'r you lack, And that your brainpan must rattle, it seems to me, Your little brain about like a small dried-up pea. (General laughter) BAROCO Why, you insult us all! Baron de Mautpre too! He has no hump. CHICOT I know But(fo MAUTPRE), good my lord, with you 88 THE JESTERS 'Tis not the same. Your brain is stocked with all the lore Of the long line of great men who have gone before. There is no need for you to have as great a size Of brain as I. You draw wisdom from Paradise. MAUTPRE, laughing Nay, now, Chicot. No more. For if I list to you Longer I shall regret I am not hunchbacked too. BAROCO, to CHICOT Prithee one question more. Gifted one, tell us why Such a rare bird as you from his gilt cage could fly, Tell us why your last lord from his Chicot did part. CHICOT Ah, wretched man ! You must, I see, revive the smart Of vain regret, and with this question must enforce Me to feel bitter pangs of never stilled remorse. (Very solemnly) Why did I leave him? Why? To Heaven oft I've cried Up the same question. Know, it was my fault he died. Struck (everybody shudders) by a jest of mine which I had made too well, My noble master laughed till his sides cracked, and fell Into ten thousand bits! Yes, at my joke accurst, ACT SECOND 89 My master laughed and died. For he laughed till he burst. MAUTPRE So! (To VULCANO)TO all five now show the rooms where they may sleep, And ev'ry day on the terrace above the keep We will hold tourney, till after the thirty days My daughter shall award her meed of blame or praise, Shall choose the jester who shall remain in our pay And with his wit amuse fair Solange de Mautpre. (Everybody rises) OLIVER to VULCAN appointing to HILARIUS, BAROCO, and JACK PUDDING Let none of these approach the cellar door too near. VULCANO I have concealed the key. OLIVER Where? VULCANO In my pocket here. (All go out except DE MAUTPRE and his daughter, who go up to the window and remain there, talking, and OLIVER, NARCISSUS, and CHICOT. As the jes- ters go out,) 90 THE JESTERS HILARIUS I hope my room is near the wine vaults, I am dry. PUDDING I hope the kitchen is not too far off. OLIVER who has been talking to CHICOT and NARCISSUS Now I Will show you to your rooms. The Baron listens. (Changing his voice and speaking sharply) Now Youtwohave surely gazed down on those fields enow! Come with me. Would you keep me waiting here all day? Come with me, sirs. ( The BARON turns to the window again) Excuse this rudeness, sirs, I pray. (They go out) MAUTPRE, to SOLANGE Ah, may you, sweet, be cured by this odd remedy ! SOLANGE It is a good one, father, for my malady. MAUTPRE, kisses her and going out Her forehead is quite cool, her colour unchanged. Still, Oliver, who's a leech, says she is very ill. (Exit) ACT SECOND 91 s o L A N G E , alone, meditatively How wondrously he speaks. All things he seems to know; I wonder how he came to be a clown, Chicot! Were he a noble Oh, how lonely I have been. He's but a low-born clown and I am seventeen. (She goes back to the window and does not see o L f v E R , NARCISSUS, and CHICOT who come in quietly) CHICOT She is there. Speak to her. Both of us long to learn What she thought of us. Go. NARCISSUS With impatience I burn. Pray ask her. Well, Solange? SOLANGE Oliver? NARCISSUS to CHICOT, continuing an argument begun outside It is true Her eyes were turned to m e tho' her ears turned to you . She listened while you spoke, attention never slept, But 't was always on me her lovely eyes were kept. 92 THE JESTERS CHICOT Why, man, she drank my words. OLIVER And so my young men gain Upon acquaintance, eh? Which for my lady's train Would she prefer? s o L A N G E , carelessly F faith, old friend, I hardly know. Narcissus handsome is, brimful of wit Chicot. Both are but servants, though. (Dreaming again) If Chicot count had been, And I a lady-in-waiting upon the queen, Narcissus a young lord then OLIVER Then? SOLANGE I do not know. Oh, Oliver, my friend, why do you plague me so? This tourney's meaning you to me have not ex- plained, My illness, and the clowns. By these what will be gained? I'm lonely yet. Where is my fairy prince, I pray? You promised one should come. ACT SECOND 93 OLIVER, embracing her affectionately Child, he is on the way. CURTAIN THE THIRD ACT ACT THIRD The terrace above the keep. A broad and beautiful terrace, with a magnificent view over the cmmtry. It is late afternoon of a glorious summer day. The sun sets during the course of the act. As the curtain rises JACQUES, JULIAN, and PIERRE, dressed as men-at-arms, loll about and chat. JACQUES How hot it is ! This stone bench upon which I lie Is like an oven's shelf, and I feel like a pie Crusted with steel. PIERRE Were I an enemy to scan I 'd give him my cuirass in exchange for a fan. JULIAN I would right gladly give him up the postern key If he would find a place where I could cooler be. PIERRE I too would yield him up the castle in a trice If in my mouth he'd drop a little piece of ice. JACQUES In this heat but few wake. T is hard that we should be 98 THE JESTERS Posted here under arms to please the fantasy Of Vulcano. PIERRE And this without a crown for pay! JACQUES I shall talk to Chicot about our wrongs to-day; He with a quip can speak about this chest of gold Which warmed our fancies, but which leaves our pockets cold. But why does Vulcano keep us so long on guard? PIERRE I can smell dinner stewing. JACQUES So can I. 'T is hard. A captain at this hour should not expect his troop To conquer hunger's pangs, but to attack the soup. JULIAN, uncorking his flask and raising it When 'tis so hot as this I sometimes wish that I Had been born without hands and without arms. Enter VULCANO PIERRE But why? JULIAN Why? Why, because I then no work need try to do. ACT THIRD 99 I 'd rest, and eat, and sleep, and drink a year or two. (He raises his bottle to his lips. VULCANO, who is behind him, takes it out of his lifted hand) VULCANO Numskull and triple dolt ! Did you then never think That without hands you could not unassisted drink? (JULIAN makes a grab for his bottle, but VULCANO keeps it out of his reach) Oh! You will answer me, that dogs and cats, may- hap, With head bent drink their fill. No, fool ! They can but lap, And lapping you do miss the savour of the wine (Drinks) Which we enjoy who use of hand and lip combine. Why ! drinking is an art ! First one delights the eye With the red fire which gleams thro' the wine cheerily. Then our nose humes its scent, and then our greedy lip, Moist, eager with desire, takes one first tiny sip. Master Tongue follows, tastes, passes the good wine to Dame Palate, who enjoys the molten rubies, who, 100 THE JESTERS Having enjoyed them, lets the red wine, drop by drop, Roll slowly down our throat. Then for a while we stop, Teasing our appetite until we can no more Outrival Tantalus, and then we open door, Let the wine gurgle down in its perfumed stream Until Silenus' self does not our rival seem. So with unending care, and not as filthy swine Slobber their hogwash down, varlets, should you drink wine, And I am glad I seized bottle and chance before You had the time to drink your wine wrong any more. Go, now, and eat your fill and pray tell Baroco That I would speak with him. Off with ye, varlets, go! (He throws JULIAN his empty bottle) JACQUES Here the man comes. (Exeunt the men-at-arms. Enter BAROCO, who is finishing his dinner) VUI.CANO What now ! Red, and all out of breath ? ACT THIRD 101 BAROCO Lord! VULCANO Your mouth full, chewing your dinner still ! God's death! This is no man of brain and wit whose ev'ry mood Turns upon song, it is but a great sack of food. BAROCO My appetite is good. VULCANO But your position bad Unless at once you set your brain to work, my lad. BAROCO Bad? VULCANO Aye! You greedy knave! See you not that Chicot Crushes you all? That you all will most surely go Out on the road again unless you prove that you Can turn an epigram, something save eat can do? Each ev'ning, as you know, fair Solange does pro- pound A subject upon which with touch light or profound Each jester must devise. Each ev'ning you are left By Chicot far behind. Art of all sense bereft That you no effort make? He has a touch so sure 102 THE JESTERS That ev'ry day he makes his chance the more secure. Yester eve 't was the moon, who was, he said, an old Fairy transformed because of her great love of gold Into a cheese by a mighty magician's spell, And now lies shivering down in the castle well. Then 'twas the glow-worms, which Chicot declared to be The souls of children. But, Baroco, you must see That unless you, too, can something of wit devise You must, all surely, fail in this your enterprise. To-day, again, will meet here Mautpre's court of wit, Have you, then, aught prepared for when you're called to it? (BAROCO shakes his head) Nothing! And once again like a whipped cur you'll go To your beds vanquished by that knave of knaves Chicot. Your wit to his is like a burnt brand to the sun, What he is finishing you, fool, have not begun, And you must something find, for the month passes by And a choice will be made, when 't is a surety Fair Solange will declare Narcissus or Chicot ACT THIRD 103 The tourney's victor, and your day's done, Baroco. BAROCO Dio! And once again must I go hungry! I VULCANO Not if you effort make. This ev'ning you must try To better what Chicot devises. BAROCO So I will. VULCANO Then come ! And search your brain for sentiments until The tourney opens. Come with me and I will oil Your rusty brain so that invention's arduous toil Shall be more easy. I have a liqueur below Which shall help you to find an answer to Chicot. Courage then, and anon your eloquence shall be An honour to myself, thyself, and Italy ! (They go out. Enter NARCISSUS and CHICOT) NARCISSUS At last the hour draws nigh when one can breathe again. CHICOT, looking at the sunset The hour, say rather, when a man must feel how vain 104 THE JESTERS Is unbelief. The hour when God chose to impart The first seeds of belief to ev'ry doubting heart. Look at the sky. See how its robe of blue and white Has purpled into crimson and to gold to-night, Then watch the sunbeams die, God putting out the flame, While the whole world in pray'r murmurs its Mas- ter's name. NARCISSUS You are quite lyric, friend ! Have you turned poet too As well as jester? What can have come over you? CHICOT Nay, Robert, mock me not. There comes to ev'ry one A day when, wondering, watching the setting sun, Mystery fills the soul, the heart swells and the eyes Fill with tears, yearning for a distant Paradise. We feel more deeply all that happens and we move Along life's path in dreamland, for we are in love. NARCISSUS In love? Then fair Solange, my friend, has con- quered you, The man of wit. CHICOT Mock not. Mock not. ACT THIRD 105 NARCISSUS after a slight pause and quite simply and quietly I love her too. CHICOT So shall our bet lead on to word warfare and strife NARCISSUS In which the one must win, the other lose, a wife. CHICOT Do you your best, my friend ! I for my part shall do All a man can to win Solange's hand from you. NARCISSUS And I from you that hand to win shall try. I fear You, Rene, more to-night, though, than CHICOT Hush ! They are here. (Enter from the castle SOLANGE, MAUTPRE, OLI- VER, NICOLE, JACQUES, PIERRE, and JULIAN, and a little later VULCANO and BAROCO. From the other side enter JACK PUDDING and HILARIUS) OLIVER Come, sound the bugle call. The tourney must be- gin! 106 THE JESTERS All take your places. You, Pierre, call our people in. (All take their places) SOLANGE I love the breeze of evening now that the sun Has sunk to rest. To-day true pleasure was there none In active movement. I slumbered thro' half the day Watching from under heavy lids my dog at play, Too hot to play myself, too hot to feed my dove, Too hot for needlework, too hot indeed to move. NARCISSUS Had I, fair lady, an enchanter's magic pow'r You had not suffered from the heat a single hour. NARCISSUS I had become a storm to quell The sun's hot rays with rain. CHICOT And I my magic spell I would, had I possessed the power, used to blow The sun out altogether. ACT THIRD 107 SOLANGE No, indeed, Chicot, That would have frightened me. CHICOT Then, lady, would I bend The swallows to my wish, and ev'ry bird should lend Their flapping wings to fan with gently soothing stir The breezes round your head and neck. SOLANGE I thank you, sir, Now I am better. OLIVER Come. The tourney we begin, Which, of our jesters here, but one alone can win. Your places, pray. Here sits the queen and here the king, The others here and here will form the jousting ring In which with ready wit you five brave fools shall fight. Knights of the cap and bells, prepare! Be sure the right God will defend. 108 THE JESTERS VULCANO 'Tis well. Art ready, Baroco? BAROCO who is slightly excited by the wine he has drunk and who has the bottle with him Ready am I and primed brimful, my Vulcano! This wine is Moses' staff which can set free the stream Of wit from stony brains, and I have dreamed a dream! You shall see, Vulcano, me carry off the prize And win distinction in our gentle lady's eyes. VULCANO, uneasily Have you not drunk too much ? OLIVER Now an our lady please To name a subject for discourse? SOLANGE I name the breeze Of which we have just spoken. 'Tis to-night my whim That each do tell us what the breeze suggests to him. OLIVER, announcing The breeze ! ACT THIRD 109 CHICOT A pretty subject. HILARIUS A sad one. BAROCO Confused. OLIVER Hilarius, you first. Now, sir, keep us amused. HILARIUS The breeze. (A pause) MAUTPRE Well, sir? HILARIUS The breeze howls through the winter night, Keeps us awake and drives the women mad with fright, Lugubriously howls and whistles on its way. Death on its path it spreads, horror and wild dis- may, Death on the ships at sea, widows along the shore, Misery, wounds, and death. MAUTPRE We prithee, sir, no more ! 110 THE JESTERS This wit of yours is grim and makes our blood run cold. HILARIUS, more dolefully than ever I am gay as a rule and I am always told That my wit lightsome is and as a song-bird gay. You must excuse me if family cares to-day Sadden me. OLIVER Far from me be it your grief to blame, But I would fain point out that each day 't is the same. Every day your tale is a dark tale of woe. We asked for jesters. . HILARIUS Well? Am I no jester? OLIVER No. If my opinion should weigh with you in the least I would suggest that you become a Trappist priest. 'T is your vocation. MAUTPRE Now, Narcissus, an it please You to stand forth, we'd hear you discourse on the breeze. ACT THIRD 111 NARCISSUS There's elegance in the breeze. She is so debonair, Softens the summer heat, Ripples a maiden's hair With a desire to please. There's elegance in the breeze. There's cleverness in the breeze. Without her aid each fold Of this my cloak would hang Heavily, stiffly cold, Cold as life's ironies. There's cleverness in the breeze. The breeze is a winsome maid, Merrily, gaily bright, Frolicsome, with a depth Of human love to-night, Warmhearted, unafraid. The breeze is a winsome maid. The breeze is fantastic, she Loves with light things to play, Lifting up, sweeping off All that endure her sway, 112 THE JESTERS In a whirlwind of glee. The breeze has her fantasy. The breeze is the soldier's friend, Spreads with her forceful wave The flapping flag which makes Even a coward brave To attack or defend. The breeze is the soldier's friend. The breeze is the friend of love, Whirling my heart to meet Happiness, untold joy, Low at my lady's feet, Then up, her eyes to greet, And its devotion prove. The breeze is the friend of love. Lady, I love the breeze, For she is ne'er the same, Understands ev'ry move In life's bewild'ring game. May she aid me to please! Lady, I love the breeze. MAUTPRE 'T is marvellous well turned, Narcissus. Is 't not so, Solange ? ACT THIRD 113 SOLANGE Indeed 'tis clever. VULCANO, aside What says Baroco? BAROCO It is well turned, quite well; indeed, 'tis wondrous fine, But do but wait, my friend, until you have heard mine. SOLANGE Narcissus until now is champion of the breeze. Who takes the gauntlet up, our minds and ears to please ? OLIVER Jack Pudding's next. Nicole! Your seat I prithee keep. NICOLE who has risen and is gazing in open-mouthed admi- ration at NARCISSUS His beauty would a maiden's virtue send to sleep. Beshrew me ! He is handsome. MAUTPRE Now, Jack Pudding, pray, Your discourse on the breeze are we to hear to-day ? 114 THE JESTERS JACK PUDDING, with a silly chuckle I dunno if the breeze is the friend of a clown, But I know that to home it blows ripe apples down. {Everybody laughs, JACK PUDDING more loudly than the rest) VULCANO Furbish your wit up; try, now, my friend Baroco, These gentlefolk of France your poet's gift to show, Give them now of your best and you must surely win. BAROCO My trouble is that I scarce know where to begin, So much have I to say. Is it my turn now? OLIVER No! (There is a movement of general interest and at- tention) Upon the breeze the next to discourse is Chicot. CHICOT The gentle breeze which stirs the leaves of yonder vine Recalls to me a tale a favourite of mine, A story which one day in an old book I found, An ancient tome, gaunt, grim, black-lettered, lea- ther-bound, ACT THIRD 115 Which tome, looking as though 'twere filled with tales of sin, Promised but little of the charm I found within. 'Twas in this book I read the tale which, if you please, I will repeat to-night The Story of the Breeze. A breeze one day, abroad on fun or mischief bent, Entered a castle grim, traversed the battlement, And on the terrace found, sitting and spinning there, A maiden of sixteen, blue-eyed, with golden hair. Blue were her eyes, and soft as the young sky at dawn, Or the waves of the lake the breeze had crossed that morn, And as th' intruder loosed a strand of golden hair The maid looked up and laughed, so sweet, so chaste, so fair, That the breeze, who till then had kissed and whirred away Over the trees and far, fickle until to-day, Knew that this time his heart was bound and teth- ered there To that child of sixteen, blue-eyed, with golden hair, For the fair maid had won, won all unconsciously, A lover without name and whom she could not see, 116 THE JESTERS While the breeze loved to love, and for no royal throne Would have exchanged his right to love her thus unknown. Then, as he could not bring her flowers all abloom, The butterflies he'd waft in shoals into her room From forest glades and fields, from near and far, and they, Blue, yellow, red, and green, a quivering bouquet, He blew into her hair, bejewelled it, and then, When he grew jealous, swiftly blew them out again. The scent of new-mown hay he brought in from the fields, From evYy bush and flow'r what each of sweetest yields, Marjoram, meadow-sweet, and sage he carried there, For the maid of sixteen, blue-eyed, with golden hair. Sometimes he'd wander off, down into far Provence, And from the fairest lands of the fair land of France He would come laden, back with orange blossoms' breath, Which he had stolen e'er men crushed the blooms to death. For all that ailed the maid he found a ready cure ; Were the day stormy, he would fetch her air more pure ACT THIRD 117 From snowy mountain-tops, and if she were cold, why, His own love blew so warm he warmed her easily. When she was reading in works of old bard or sage, The breeze was waiting there to help her turn the page. And when at night she slept in her white-curtained bed, He 'd venture till he touched his darling's golden head, And, drunken with the joy forbidden, dare to sip A kiss that maddened him from the child's smiling lip. One day, alas! there came a lord from Aquitaine To woo and win the maid. He came and came again, And the unhappy breeze howled in his mad despair. Gone the maid of sixteen, blue-eyed, with golden hair, Handsome the swain and rich, strong in his man- hood's spring, , Blushes, a whispered word, the chaplain, and a ring. What, when a wooer's young, rich, and has all to please, What, against such a man, can the most perfumed breeze ? 118 THE JESTERS Off went the breeze, and rushed heartbroken, de- sire-torn, Into the desert, where, anguished, alone, forlorn, He gathered strength to rush back with unwonted might, Batter the castle walls, howl, the unhappy wight, As though his storm-tossed soul could in the noise find peace, Or, with a whirl of rage, could his poor heart re- lease, And when the sexton old rang out the marriage bell So fiercely blew that he tolled a funereal knell. So that no flow'rs should deck the couple's bridal way, Every rose-bush he swept into sad disarray, Murdering all the blooms he had caressed of old, For the sixteen-year bride, blue-eyed, with hair of gold. NICOLE He's set me weeping. JACQUES I tremble the end to know. SOLANGE Poor little breeze! ACT THIRD 119 MAUTPRE Upon your lips we hang, Chicot, Finish your story. We are anxious all, my friend, With what you've said entranced, to hear how it will end. CHICOT Off and away the breeze, sweeping a weary world, Off and away he went, misery tossed and whirled, Came back in two years' time, back to the castle old, Where dwelt the sweet young wife, blue-eyed, with hair of gold ; Back to the castle grim, and in a cradle there Found a wee baby girl, blue-eyed, with golden hair. Gently and softly blew, turning the child's toy mill, Eager to win a smile where he had come to kill; Turning the tiny mill as he had kissed of old The mother's sweet blue eyes and hair of burnished gold, Then sank to endless rest under the mother's chair, To dream of her blue eyes and of her golden hair. (All applaud) SOLANGE I cannot speak my thanks. 120 THE JESTERS MAUTPRE A charming legend. VULCANO, to BAROCO You Must now tell yours. SOLANGE With pleasure I my duty do, And for to-day with wreath of laurel crown Chicot The victor of the breeze's tourney. VULCANO Lady, no! E'er you decide you must my friend Baroco hear. MAUTPRE We'll hear him. Justice is to all our hearts most dear. Now, sirrah! VULCANO Now, my friend ! Repeat the legend fine You promised me, and show yourself a Florentine. BAROCO Er he VULCANO Per Bacco ! Now what has come over you ? Speak up, man ! ACT THIRD 121 CHICOT That I fear is more than he can do. VULCANO Silence, I beg. BAROCO He Haw (AU laugh) VULCANO My friend shall speak, I say. CHICOT By all means, if he can. But he does naught but bray! BAROCO, with much difficulty Not on me, sirs and dames, is't fair to lay the blame, I had a legend, but but Chicot's was the same. (General laughter. VULCANO shakes BAROCO rudely) VULCANO Drunkard ! BAROCO, very drunk Your wine was very potent. Do not touch Me, sir! How could I dream that I had drunk too much? 'Twas sweet as milk. (Lurching over to CHICOT) He stole 122 THE JESTERS CHICOT Hola! Hold up there! Well, Baroco wishes me the tale for him to tell Which he upon the breeze had ready, and which now Emotion deep has stilled in his full throat, I trow. An hour agone our friend, the noble Baroco, Feeling athirst had drunk his usual draught, you know He drinks but water, and he lay and took his ease Upon the terrace, when the wicked summer breeze Quaffed from his purpled face its winey colour, then Between his open lips swift blew it in again. When with some effort he to his feet did arise Baroco found that he, to his intense surprise, Could neither walk nor run. His face was not as red As it had been, but he, poor man, was drunk instead. The breeze which ev'ry day passes him, I suppose, Had made him drunk with wine quaffed from his purple nose. BAROCO (lurches forward to attack CHICOT and nearly falls. VULCANO holds him up) Did you hear what he said? I must VULCANO What can you do, ACT THIRD 123 You drunken pig? If I did not look after you, Why, what would happen? BAROCO I should fall down, I suppose. But look at me and say, have I a purple nose? I 'm nearly sober. Why should crook-backed Chicot scoff? He can't walk straight, can he, nor sleep his hump- back off Like I my drink? VULCANO Come, now! (Exeunt VULCANO and BAROCO) JULIAN, to JACQUES Speak to him now. JACQUES, mysteriously Chicot, We want to ask you, for so wondrous well you know How to put words in place as they should be, to plead Our cause, for you alone can help us in our need. CHICOT Your need? 124 THE JESTERS JACQUES Our purse's need. PIERRE The treasure must be found. JULIAN We must be paid. What good is gold when under ground? CHICOT Have all of you gone mad? What is it you would ask? JACQUES Hunting for buried treasure is a thankless task Unless where it is buried one may know, and then PIERRE It needs no sage to go and dig it up again. CHICOT What buried treasure? JACQUES Why, that of our wages, man. CHICOT Beshrew me if your mystery now probe I can. JACQUES Come with us. We '11 explain. (JACQUES, PIERRE, and JULIAN go out with CHICOT) ACT THIRD 125 MAUTPRE who has been talking to OLIVER and SOLANGE, to SOLANGE Your eyes are overbright, Your cheek is flushed, your chamber waits for you. Good-night. (MAUTPREg-ofr? out. OLIVER and SOL ANGE remain, talking together. NICOLE, who has been hovering around NARCISSUS, approaches him) NICOLE, slyly Narcissus. NARCISSUS Dame Nicole? NICOLE, timidly Nay, 't were no burning shame If you should say Nicole to me, without the "dame." NARCISSUS, smiling Nicole, then. NICOLE, offers him a rose See, it is the colour of your hose And of your doublet. So accept from me this rose. NARCISSUS, taking the rose, but looking puzzled Thank you, Nicole. 126 THE JESTERS NICOLE, growing more and more enthusiastic Let it my feeling for me speak, For it is red as is with shame each burning cheek Of poor Nicole. (NARCISSUS draws away from her) Nay, nay. Draw not thus oft' afar, Draw nearer rather. ( With a sudden outburst) What a handsome man you are! And what an air! Alas! I am a weakling NAECISSUS, trying to stop her Dame NICOLE Hush ! I have ne'er endured such burning, such sweet shame As now. But when below, down in the kitchen there, A burnished platter tells me that my face is fair, I think of you, my lord Narcissus, and I can Swear that no heart could beat for a more proper man. NARCISSUS But I NICOLE I have for years some little store put by Of crowns, and we could live, Narcissus, wondrously Snug. NARCISSUS We? Then you suggest ? ACT THIRD 127 NICOLE That we two should be wed, That you should (taking his hand) share with me my fortune and (coyly) my bed. NARCISSUS Nicole, you flatter me. But I have taken vow Never to wed. It is too late to tell you now The why and wherefore, but, alas, it cannot be. Good night, Nicole, good night, and do not dream of me. Take with you to your couch, to read, your kitchen book. (As he goes off) Solange I would have won and I have pleased the cook. {He goes out laughing) NICOLE He's young and timid yet a woman's craft and will Over his bashfulness may be triumphant still. (She goes after him) OLIVEE Solange, child, have you thought that the time now draws near To choose your jester? What of Narcissus? 128 THE JESTERS SOLANGE I fear That he would cloy my taste. He thinks but of his hose, His doublet, and himself. Speak to him, into pose Instinctively he falls, for admiration cries, And looks himself o'er with ever adoring eyes. He is too elegant by far. What need, I ask, If the wine have fine flavour, for so fine a flask? Why need the outer man be dressed in clothes so grand When, were they there, we could his virtues under- stand Under a humbler garb. Narcissus' flask is fine, But, Oliver, I do not think I like the wine. OLIVER, aside Dear crystal heart! (Aloud) Then which, child, of the other four Who have assembled, than Narcissus pleases more My sweet Solange? SOLANGE Why, not that drunkard Baroco, Hilarius, or Jack. There is but one, Chicot. And were he not crook-backed, oh, Oliver, he'd be ACT THIRD 129 OLIVER Yes, dear, he would be what? SOLANGE, with a little sigh Perfect, it seems to me. OLIVER, aside I think I understand. SOLANGE Ah, friend ! Did you but know What wondrous flow'rs of thought from the mind of Chicot Sprout for my pleasure! He looks first into mine eyes, Then pours his fancies out, witty or wondrous wise, Just as my fancy bids. Weaves me a legend, and The whole world lies within the hollow of my hand. He, first of all men, has successfully brought light Into the darkness of my ignorance's night, He has with words my prison walls pierced thro' and thro', Has opened out beyond a fair horizon, too, And, Oliver, he has such seeds of knowledge sown That he has made my very mind and heart his own. When he is gay I laugh, when sad, I am distressed, And of the two I hardly know which is the best. 130 THE JESTERS OLIVER, slyly He makes you weep? Why, then, Solange, it seems to me He is no jester. SOLANGE, to herself Ah ! If he could only be Of noble birth and if his back were only straight. OLIVER These things occur sometimes, Solange, to those who wait Their time SOLANGE What mean you ? OLIVER Naught. But I have heard it said That crookbacks lose their humps the night before they wed. It is but idle superstition, of course. SOLANGE Oh! Then he must wed to lose it, must he ? Poor Chicot ! (OLIVER makes a sign to CHICOT, who is visible in the wing, land goes out leaving CHICOT and SO- LANGE together) ACT THIRD 131 CHICOT Sighing, my lady ? Sad ? Why, such things cannot be, Sadness must always be the child of memory, And memory for you, Lady Solange, can ne'er Hold aught but gladness and joy. Surely one so fair, On life's fair journey now but starting, cannot yet Have ground for sighs, which are the voices of re- gret. SOLANGE Who knows what grief the fates may have for me in store? I tremble as a ship which, pushed off from the shore, Quivers and faces the horizon, knowing naught Of dangers with which ev'ry voyage must be fraught. CHICOT Danger from off your path, sweet maid, will dis- appear, Horizon brighten, when your dainty bark draws near, And my prophetic eye beyond it clearly sees A vista of an isle set with groves of great trees, Under whose shade all fears of unknown danger cease, And you live radiant in one sweet eternal peace. 132 THE JESTERS Run down your little ship, fair lady, from the shore, Launch it, and let your fears be stilled for ever- more. For you, sweet maid, a life I can and do assure Of happiness and peace, in safety and secure. ( With growing tenderness) An alchemist who sought perfection's purity Would have, Solange, to seek what God has given thee, For thou hast ev'ry gift. A name so sweet to voice That it, as thou art, was, I can but think, God's choice. A mouth so gently pure and lips so free from guile That from them I believe the angels learned to smile. Blue eyes so deep, so good, so earnest, I can tell Their secret. They have been and are Truth's holy well, And the deep azure which their bright depths glows within Was garnered from the skies when they were Sera- phin. Your eyes in grandeur born have remained large, and show Wide- opened wonder at the smallness here below, And with the glory of their wondrous heav'nly birth They put to shame all that is impure here on earth. ACT THIRD 133 SOLANGE Chicot, what are you saying? CHICOT Sweet Solange, your soul To open to the sunlight is my life's one goal, So that in after years you shall remember how One summer's eve we sat where we are sitting now, And how a fool who had learned wisdom sitting there Was the first man to tell you, sweet, that you are fair. Ah, child! Such words as these you oft again will hear From other lips than mine. But in your shell -like ear I first have whispered them ; trembling I first have drawn Upon that lovely cheek womanhood's early dawn Incarnate in a sweetly hot encarmined blush, Painted on velvet tissue with impassioned brush, Another's voice to you the selfsame words may say, But first from me, Solange, you have heard them to-day, And when that other comes he cannot take from me The treasure of to-night stored in my memory. 134 THE JESTERS SOLANGE Another who shall come ? I do not understand Who he may be. CHICOT He is crowned king in that fair land I have described. He will your heart most surely move And fill to overflow. His name, Solange, is Love. SOLANGE Love? What is love? CHICOT Alas! poets have tried alway What King Love is and does with woven words to say. To paint his godlike virtues and his vices, all Their minds and all their weft of words have proved too small. Love is a gift Itom Hell, an evil from above, A deadly poison which one loves to take is Love, A poison which imbibed causes terrific pain, For which all mortals who have tasted strive again. Love is, will always be, life in a little space, For death lurks in a "no," life wells up in a "yes." Love is the mighty force which leads to Paradise Over the foul morass of human prejudice. ACT THIRD 135 To love is on your road a second self to find Whose soul with yours shall be forever fastentwined, For they were born as twins beneath God^s golden throne, And so born He will not let either live alone. Love so met is the friend to whom your heart goes straight, For whom your heart, throughout, has always seemed to wait, Who is yours and you his, in whose voice is the ring To which your heart rings back in spite of ev'ry- thing. Love speaks. What matter, then, fortune or rank to you? Love is the master. Do you understand? SOLANGE, in a low voice I do. (SOLANGE and CHI COT rise from the seat on which they were sitting. SOLANGE drops, as if by accident, a rose, which CHICOT picks up and presses to his lips. As SOLANGE goes slowly out, CHICOT stands gazing after her) VERY SLOW CURTAIN THE FOURTH ACT ACT FOURTH The castle keep, overgrown with creepers, flowers, moss, and ivy, with the old postern gate, through which access may be gained into the castle. A path- way runs around the top of the keep wall, up to which the characters can climb by a small stone stair. BAROCO, HILARIUS, and JACK PUDDING are dis- covered as the curtain rises. They are preparing their bundles for departure. JACK PUDDING WELL, we must go, it seems. BAROCO No more de Mautpre's wine Will, trickling down, console this thirsty throat of mine. HILARIUS No more de Mautpre's fowls, their breasts so plump, so white, Boiled or roast, shall I have to stay my appetite. BAROCO The devil take Narcissus and crook-backed Chicot ! The month is over and we three must surely go, For when Solange this evening shall choose, not you Nor I shall win, but one out of those cursed two. 140 THE JESTERS HILARIUS Yes, we shall surely leave the castle of Mautpre To-morrow at the latest. I am far from gay When I think of the future. BAROCO Say you so? And I Could, when I think of it, with raging fury cry Out on my belly, for I know not where nor how I shall find meat nor drink with which to fill it now. JACK PUDDING Well, since Mautpre will not accept my jest nor song, I '11 take some apples in my pack with me. (He goes out) HILARIUS I long So for those tender birds that, lest my heart should break, I'll go and wring a neck or two for friendship's sake, And take them with me. (He goes out) BAROCO I some wine will pack away Snug in this bottle, for I fear I shall not stay After to-night. ACT FOURTH 141 Enter VULCANO VULCANO Hola ! What have you tied up there Into that bundle ? BAROCO Sir, the few poor rags I wear, And these (holds bundle up) are all the goods that I, poor fool, possess. I leave the castle, sir, in truly deep distress. VULCANO You leave it? You intend to leave us, Baroco? BAROCO Since no one can prevent my going, sir, I go. VULCANO Nobody can prevent? How mean you? Cannot I BAROCO Nay, my lord, you shall not through me court in- jury- These jesters twain, of whom Solange one will ap- point To-night to stay, have put our noses out of joint. VULCANO Our noses? 142 THE JESTERS BAROCO Aye, indeed ! I shall not be perplexed To guess whom they will try, sir, to get rid of next. VULCANO Can you mean me? (BAROCO nods) Get rid of me? of Vulcano? BAROCO Why not, sir ? They are strong in favour. You will g I trust, without a turmoil, will not, I suppose, Be rash, resist them, and resort to threats or blows? VULCANO, furiously angry I will not ? Aha ! You, my friend, to-night shall see, Whether I, Vulcano, can with impunity Be bearded by this stripling pair. BAROCO, aside I '11 not assuage His anger once roused. He may help me in his rage. (Aloud) Nay, sir, be patient. With affront and in- sult bear As we have done, and go; for each must take his share Of shame and cry content. ACT FOURTH 143 VULCANO Not I, by Mai's! Ah, no! They shall see what it means to insult Vulcano ! By Satan's cloven hoof, and by the two ram's horns Upon his head ! no man shall trample on my corns ! Upon my head I swear, by all that I hold dear I now make oath, you shall alone be jester here ! Dost hear me, Baroco ? Aye, if I have to pound These walls into a powder, raze them to the ground, Thou shalt be chosen and thou hast my plighted word. Go put away that (pointing- to bundle)', I will fetch and gird my sword. (He goes out) BAROCO, slyly Baroco is no fool. Methinks I've found the way Into the graces of the Baron de Mautpre. (He goes out) Enter CHICQT, followed by JACQUES, JULIAN, and PIERRE CHICOT Be patient. You will see the Baron de Mautpre Will pay you all in full. JACQUES But when? 144 "Some other day" Of course. So 't was before and so 't will be again. My patience has become too weak to bear the strain. JULIAN Always "to-morrow" 'tis and always "patience" too. Enter OLIVER OLIVER Grumbling again ! I 1 faith, methinks a night or two Down in the dungeon there would do ye grumblers good, And make ye grumble at a far less wholesome food Than Nicole serves ye. Or a thwacking blow or twain From Vulcano's great staff might make for peace again. In with ye all ! JACQUES This time we 11 say no more. Who knows (Sullenly) Next time it may be we who can deal out the blows. (Exeunt JACQUES, PIERRE, and JULIAN) CHICOT, to OLIVER Are we alone? ACT FOURTH 145 OLIVER We are. CHICOT Speak quickly. You have been Down to the wood and you my man down there have seen? OLIVER Yes. CHICOT Well? What did he say? Beshrew me! But a week Passes between each two words you vouchsafe to speak. OLIVER He told me that he had in readiness a horse, Four men, and the great chest. CHICOT Yes, then? OLIVER I said, of course, Just as you told me, that when he should see a white Kerchief wave from above the battlemented height Of Mautpre's castle, he should hasten here with speed With men, horse, and the chest. 146 THE JESTERS CHICOT You are in very deed A trusty friend to me, and I will tell you now How I intend to slip past Mautpre's taken vow Which ev'ry stranger knight from out this castle rude, Lest he should see its poverty, would aye exclude. De Mautpre 's poor, I 'm rich OLIVER You know him not, my friend. It will be useless, quite, to offer him to lend One crown, for de Mautpre is poor but proud. Your gold He would refuse. CHICOT I know. Let me my plan unfold. Some days since, pressed for gold, de Mautpre told a tale To Julian, Pierre, and Jacques, of treasure in some vale Of his, deep buried by an ancestor, and he Added that this great chest would soon discovered be. Now I am rich and I this treasure chest have found. ACT FOURTH 147 OLIVER Found it? CHI COT, laughing Yes, and have found it on de Mautpre's ground. OLIVER I do not understand. CHICOT I spoke but half in fun And half in sober earnest. Hark what I have done ! De Mautpre has within this castle gaunt and grim A priceless treasure which is half unknown to him. OLIVER Unknown ? A treasure ? Here ? CHICOT Solange's heart, I mean. OLIVER I see. You mean Solange CHICOT, warmly Should be a crowned queen Were I but king. I love her, Oliver, far more Than aught of all those things by which men set such store, As much as honour, more, far more, than fame or wealth. 148 THE JESTERS OLIVER And so? CHICOT Her father I mean to enrich by stealth. OLIVER By stealth? CHICOT The man with whom you spoke my servant is, And brings with him a key of gold. OLIVER These mysteries Do irk my patience. What, now, is this key of gold ? Speak plainly, not in riddles, for I am too old To grasp their meaning. You perchance in plainer speech Can put the matter? Then do so, I do beseech. CHICOT I will. The chest which my man Hubert hither brings Contains treasure of gold with jewels and with rings Out of my store. The tale Baron de Mautpre told I have made true. He has but to enjoy the gold. OLIVER If he refuse? ACT FOURTH 149 CHICOT That he will not, for I have taught His lesson to each man of those who now have brought The treasure, and each man his tale alike will tell And like de Mautpre's own. Why, man, you know full well That when the brass-bound chest of gold he doth perceive, De Mautpre then and there his own tale will be- lieve. Then being rich again, thanks to this treasure trove, My hope is he may smile on my tale of true love. Now, friend, will you help me to win Solange for wife, And by so doing make me your true friend for life ? OLIVER, after a slight pause Aye, that I will, Rene, for I believe you love Our little maid. CHICOT I swear by God who throned above In Heaven hears me, Oliver, I swear I do. OLIVER Then may she find, I pray, de Chancenac, in you 150 THE JESTERS A worthy husband. You may put your trust in me. Tell me now what in this deceit my part shall be. CHICOT Little and much. Your part shall be from yonder tow'r The handkerchief to wave at the appointed hour. But hush! Somebody comes. (Enter at intervals MAUTPRE with s OL A NGE, NAR- CISSUS, VULCANO, and BAROCO, JACK PUDDING, HILARIUS, NICOLE, JACQUES, PIERRE, and JUL- IAN) VULCANO I tell you, Baroco, That you shall stay. JACQUES I wonder why I tremble so. I think, i' faith, tho' armed all three, we are afraid, Tho' our opponents be two old men and a maid. NICOLE, looking at NARCISSUS Were mine the choice, I know OLIVER Now take your places, pray ! ACT FOURTH 151 Our tourney's queen will choose the jester of Maut- pre. (All arrange themselves a^mAcxTniRD) MAUTPRE Untrammelled, free as air, my child, select the fool Whom you have chosen. For under your mimic rule Each one has done his best. Speak. SOLANGE Him I choose is one Whose weft of pleasantry and fund of harmless fun Have charmed me. JACK PUDDING 'Tis my portrait, surely. SOLANGE He can be At will witty or sad. HILARIUS Sad? Why, she must mean me. SOLANGE Whiche'er he be he charms, with wit's unceasing flow Or touching metaphor, our minds. 152 THE JESTERS VULCANO 'Tis Baroco! What other of them all with his gifts, I say, can Have won such praise as this? SOLANGE, smiling Nay, Chicot is the man. VULCANO Chicot! Nay, fair Solange, awry I surely hear, Or you have failed to make, perhaps, your meaning clear. Crook-backed Chicot! (Laughs scornfully) NARCISSUS, to CHICOT YouVe won the bet. CHICOT, to NARCISSUS And happiness. BAROCO I am undone. VULCANO Come, come! What means this foolishness? Do you, I ask, so far all clear perception lack As to have chosen that mountainous crooked back To be your jester? Nay. You cannot mean it. Oh, I understand. You would but jest with Vulcano. ACT FOURTH 153 To see what I would say and do, you wished, and I Almost fell in the trap you laid so cunningly. MAUTPRE Chicot is chosen by the queen. The tourney's o'er. v u L c A N o , furloi isly Chicot! Now let me not hear that name any more! (To HILARIUS, JACK PUDDING, and NARCISSUS) Be off, you three, at once. And you, sir, too must go. (To CHICOT) BAROCO And I? VULCANO The jester who shall stay is Baroco. MAUTPRE Am I not master here? SOLANGE Father! CHICOT, to OLIVER Run ! Fetch us swords, I'll make that braggart eat his vainly boasting words, I have no doubt that he is quite used to the food, And for each tear Solange has shed, a drop of blood Shall Vulcano disgorge 154 . THE JESTERS MAUTPRE, to SOLANGE Fear not, my child! JACQUES, to PIERRE and JULIAN To act Now is the time. MAUTPRE, to the jesters Are all your goods and chattels packed? (Firmly) Give each a small gift, Oliver, and let them go, Hilarius, Jack Pudding, and you Baroco. Farewell, Chicot is chosen jester of Mautpre. VULCANO Not Baroco? MAUTPRE Enough. Go, sirrah! VULCANO, to BAROCO You shall stay. My word is plighted. MAUTPRE What care I for your pledged word, Are you the master? Ho there, some one, quick, my sword! SOLANGE Father, I beg ACT FOURTH 155 VULCANO Do not I pray, fair lady, balk Your father in his wish. T is time our swords should talk. CHICOT to OLIVER, who has brought rapiers to him and to NARCISSUS Thank you, my friend. And now OLIVER Nay, wait a moment's space, The time is not yet ripe. VULCANO Once more, the jester's place Is Baroco's. (To the servants) And will you, with me, not essay From Mautpre's close-drawn purse now to extract the pay Earned by your labour? 'Tis time pride with beg- gared purse Stepped down from horseback. Ye are certainly no worse Than those who call themselves your masters, but refuse To pay ye for your work with aught except abuse. JACQUES He's right. 156 THE JESTERS PIERRE Aye, he speaks sooth. JULIAN Three cheers for Vulcano. JACQUES We hardly dare, alone, to beard the Baron, though. VULCANO Follow me, I will lead! (To MAUTPRE) 'Tis you commence this strife! Now pay your men their wage. PIERRE, JULIAN, and JACQUES Our money! VULCANO Or your life! (He, with the servants close behind him, rushes on the BARON.CHICOT and NARCISSUS, each with a sword, step in between) CHICOT The first man who advances, dies. VULCANO One of you go, And take away those toys. 'Tis not for Vulcano To fight with jesters. ACT FOURTH 157 (The servants are frightened at the determination of CHICOT and NABCISSUS.) JACQUES But each seems to understand Right well the way to use the weapon in his hand. VULCANO This is absurd, I swear! Varlets, but me no buts. 'Tis time for deeds, not words. (To CHICOT) Your sword! CHICOT, with a menacing gesture Take care, it cuts. VULCANO Do you hear what I say ? Disarm these two mad men! JULIAN, very gently An't please ye, sirs, your swords I'd have. NAECISSUS, laughing Why, take them then. (The three servants huddle together around VUL- CANO) CHICOT Now, Vulcan o, step forth. (Looking him up and down) So 'tis this braggart here, 158 THE JESTERS This long, thin, scraggy loon whom all of you do fear. This windbag whom I need but with my swordpoint prick To empty him of words and gestures. This great stick Of uselessness,this knave, this drunken jumping jack Whom I VULCANO I've heard enough. En garde! Come on, Crookback ! I'll cut your heart out and will have it cooked. CHICOT Oh, no! You'll eat your own heart out with shame, my Vul- cano, When we have done with you. (They cross swords) VULCANO Sa, ha! One! CHICOT, parrying his thrust Two! How now? Your breath is coming somewhat laboured. VULCANO Tell me how You would be killed! ACT FOURTH 159 CHICOT I think that I will live instead. VULCANO Die then. CHICOT, parrying See there. Had I but wished, your foolish head Had I that moment cleft quite evenly in twain. VULCANO, contemptuously Actor! CHICOT 'Tis true I had not met with any brain. VULCANO, thrusting wildly Buffoon ! CHICOT Take care, my friend. One more such thrust and we Shall make a corpse of you. NARCISSUS Keep him alive for me. I want a turn with him, he's given me offence. CHICOT, disarming VULCANO Then take him, Narcissus, and teach him how to fence. VULCANO, looking at his sword on the ground Disarmed! By a Chicot! 160 THE JESTERS NARCISSUS Come, man, and let me try If I can teach you how to fence and how to die. JACQUES Into my pouch I have slipped all pretence of pride, Methinks 't is safer for us on the other side. (JACQUES, PIERRE, and JULIAN slip over unobtru- sively to the group behind the BARON) NARCISSUS, to VULCANO In carte shall I transfix you, or wouldst rather die In tierce? VULCANO Look to yourself! MAUTPRE, in admiration He fences wondrously, So does Chicot! I ne'er saw such men as these two. BAROCO, to himself I think I '11 slip across and join the others, too. (He does so) NARCISSUS, thrusting There! VULCANO There! ACT FOURTH 161 NARCISSUS Insulter of old men and maids, your tune You now must change. Yield up your steel. (He disarms him) BAROCO, with a sigh of relief Phew! None too soon. VULCANO I 'm done. MAUTPRE, to NARCISSUS and CHICOT I thank you, sirs. CHICOT Bind me that scurvy knave. (PIERRE, JACQUES, and JULIAN rush across and secure VULCANO. BAROCO follows them, carrying 1 a piece of rope) VULCANO, in reproachful astonishment to BAROCO You also? BAROCO Vulcano, I am not over brave And so, as now it seems that one of us must die, I thought it better that it should be you than I. And so I change my coat. 162 THE JESTERS VULCANO What foul ingratitude From one whom I protected! BAROCO Tush ! Be not so rude, I pray you. (HeJlicJcs him with the rope end) MAUTPEE Whence did you, young sirs, if I may ask, Acquire your fencing? OLIVEE They CHICOT Nay. It is time the mask Were thrown aside. My lord, before you now, be- hold Two men of your own rank, attracted by your gold. De Chancenac's my name. NARCISSUS Robert de Belfonte mine. CHICOT, taking off his hump As for this hump, I wore it as an outward sign Of my infirmity of wit. T is false! I throw It, false as his vaunted valour is, to Vulcano. ACT FOURTH 163 MAUTPRE But why, sirs, these disguises ? And where is the gold Of which you speak ? CHICOT De Mautpre, we were always told That you were poor. MAUTPRE, bitterly I see. And so that you should know, And tell your friends that I in bitter sooth am so, You came here. CHICOT No, my lord. I pray you let me speak Unto the end. We came a treasure here to seek. MAUTPRE A treasure here? Indeed! CHICOT Aye! One more precious far Than gold or jewelled trash. MAUTPRE who does not understand,but w very angry Enough, my lord. You are Here under false pretence. And I have made a vow That none should come within my castle walls. So now 164 THE JESTERS CHICOT You bid us go. But let me name ere we depart The treasure which we seek. MAUTPRE WeU? CHICOT Your fair daughter's heart. As de Belfonte and as de Chancenac we knew That you would not admit us into speech with you, So we assumed the jesters' garb and hither came To woo and win Solange. MAUTPRE For shame, my lords, for shame! SOLANGE, to OLIVER He is of noble birth! His back as mine is straight! Then 'tis no shame to love. OLIVER, to SOLANGE No longer need you wait For your Prince Charming. He is here. MAUTPRE Nay, sirs, I know Not how to speak my anger with you both ! ACT FOURTH 165 CHICOT, tO OLIVER Now go And make the signal. (Exit OLIVER) MAUTPRE I have told you, sirs, that I Live here in very real stress of poverty, But we Mautpres are proud, and love our name too well Our daughters into wedlock for your gold to sell. You have been welcome here as jesters, but you came As traitors, gentlemen, against de Mautpre's name. Your swords have pardoned much. It was a youth- ful freak, And of it I will in view of your youth not speak, But now the jest is done. Your suit of no avail Can ever be. Solange de Mautpre 's not for sale. CHICOT But were you, good my lord, not poor, but rich? MAUTPRE Then I Would welcome you. And now, farewell, sirs. (He rises and takes SOLANGE'S hand. CHICOT, as she passes, whispers to her) 166 THE JESTERS CHICOT, to SOLANGE Prithee try To meet me here anon. (MAUTPRE has been listening to the servants' pleas for pardon) JACQUES Lord, hear us swear Renewed allegiance. MAUTPRE Well, string up that braggart there On high, and pardoned be. (To CHICOT and NAR- CISSUS) Each of you, sirs, our guest Will till to-morrow be. I go to take my rest Within my chamber. Come, Solange. CHICOT, whispers I '11 linger yet Here for an hour. Forget not. SOLANGE I will not forget. (VULCANO, after a struggle, is carried off into the castle dungeon through the postern door. NARCIS- SUS and CHICOT are left alone) ACT FOURTH 167 NARCISSUS Well, I have loved and lost, it seems. And losing proved That wit must triumph over beauty. CHI COT, meditatively Am I loved Indeed by sweet Solange? Can one so wondrous sweet As she return the love which at her tiny feet My full heart pours? NARCISSUS Indeed she can. Why, friend, her throne No queen of love would care to occupy alone. She will come back. I'll leave you. (Exit) OLIVER Sir, the signal's made. CHICOT I thank you. OLIVER Here Solange comes. I will go. (Exit) CHICOT Afraid Am I now that Solange my trick may disapprove. What am I, after all, to win Solange's love? 168 THE JESTERS (Enter SOLANGE. She sits down without speaking. After a slight pause) CHICOT Surely, sweet maid, because your poor Chicot must g You will not scorn him? SOLANGE, gently You no longer are Chicot. CHICOT Oh, do not think, Solange, I prithee, that my ruse Had for object an idle moment to amuse, Or take me for a thief who came merely to pry Into your heart, and steal your friendship only. I Loved you, Solange, and sent Chicot here in my place To win, if so he could, some little of your grace. Then when upon your cheek mantled love's rosy shame, Hoping, I sent Chicot away, and Rene came. Believe me, dearest heart, and to me plight your troth. Chicot has disappeared, Rene loves you for both. SOLANGE, tenderly In Rene dear, I love the wit of poor Chicot, ACT FOURTH 169 Whose name I never shall forget. And always, so Remembering, I shall deep down in my heart unite My lovers twain into one long complete delight. (They kiss. Enter OLIVER) OLIVER My lord Rene. (SOLANGE, without leaving RENE'S arms, holds out a hand to OLIVER) SOLANGE Old friend! OLIVER The fairy prince is here At last I see. I pray all happiness, my dear, The good God may upon your golden head down- pour, That you in joy may live with Rene evermore. SOLANGE My father we must tell. CHICOT That task, sweet, leave to me. SOLANGE That and my life, my lord, an you will have of me. (DE CHANCENAC'S servant., HUBERT, appears on the pathway overlooking- the keep) 170 THE JESTERS HUBERT My lord ! All 's ready. The men with the chest are here. CHICOT Then let the play commence. SOLANGE What play? CHICOT Nay, nay, my dear, Your life you have but now entrusted all to me, Wait then a little while, Solange, and you shall see. HUBERT, calling Hola! Below there! Is there nobody, I pray, Who cares to cany good news to my lord Mautpre ? (There is a great stir in the castle. Heads appear at the windows) JACQUES, calling Good my lord ! NICOLE, calling My lord! JULIAN Lord! CHICOT, tO HUBERT Right well have you begun; ACT FOURTH 171 Bring presently the chest and then your task is done. HUBERT Baron de Mautpre ! MAUTPRE Well, sir, why this loud outcry? HUBERT I bring good news. MAUTPRE Welcome! De Mautpre, sir, am I. Who sends you? HUBERT I am come from Fol Bois, in Touraine, Where my lord's walls run with the walls of your domain And castle ! MAUTPRE Castle ! Why scarce do the old stones hold Together now ! HUBERT T is sooth. Yet there has been found gold. MAUTPRE Gold? On my land? HUBERT My lord, deep buried in the ground 172 THE JESTERS Beyond the castle walls, last week two peasants found A chest with treasure, and my lord did forthwith say, This is the buried treasure of old de Mautpre. MAUTPRE Old? HUBERT Old Lord Hector. MAUTPRE, to OLIVER There, I knew it must be true! (To HUBERT) Where is this treasure chest? Have you brought it with you? HUBERT Yes, my lord. MAUTPRE Bring it down. You, varlets (to PIERRE, JACQUES, and JULIAN), were afraid That your wages would ne'er by de Mautpre be paid. JACQUES My lord! MAUTPRE And you rebelled. It was enough, I trow, ACT FOURTH 173 That Mautpre pledged his word. The gold you shall see now And finger some of it, although your unbelief Refused me in my hour of need the least relief. JULIAN Pardon us, good my lord. RENE, to OLIVER His fable become truth, De Mautpre, as I thought he would,believes forsooth. (HUBERT appears again on the pathway above the keep watt. He is followed by four men and a horse with the treasure chest on its back) JACQUES Here is the treasure. MAUTPRE Bring it, my friends, down the wall. HUBERT 'T is heavy. PIERRE Here ""s the stairway. MAUTPRE Do not let it fall. NARCISSUS, to CHICOT Cleverly done, Rene. 174 THE JESTERS SOLANGE, to CHICOT Can I be worth, my lord, So great a chest of gold? CHICOT Now will your father's board Welcome me once again, for he is rich and he My treasure thrice returns giving Solange to me. (To MAUTPRE) Well, good my lord, I see fortune has smiled on you. NARCISSUS Will you not also smile, sir, now upon us two? We stand again before you, humble suitors, and CHICOT Each asks that priceless gift, the sweet Solange's hand. MAUTPRE Speak boldly up and choose, Solange, be not afraid, One of these two young lords. SOLANGE Father, my choice is made. (She gives her hand to CHICOT) But I would crave a boon. MAUTPRE Ask. Ere you ask, 't is thine. ACT FOURTH 175 SOLANGE Then let Vulcano live! Hast thou thought, father mine, That if thegallows-tree should with his body's weight Break, it 's worm-eaten, he crook-backed instead of straight Like my Rene here might become? MAUTPRE Well, Vulcano May leave the castle with his good friend Baroco. SOLANGE I thank you, sir. RENE And I. OLIVER, to JACQUES Now let loud trumpet blast Summon the countryside here to a great repast Where all shall be made welcome. Let our vassals know Fair Solange is betrothed to Rene* SOLANGE, laughing And Chicot. CURTAIN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. ...... Form L9-50m-9,'60(B3610s4)444 3 158 UC SOUTHERN REGION, A 001 17343