(Courtier admits COLUMBUS. He kneels before the King.)
Rise, Columbus, and tell us what you seek.
COLUMBUS (rising). Ships, sire, to prove the plans which I did send your Majesties; plans for sailing in the unknown seas.
QUEEN. They seemed to me most wise and sensible.
COLUMBUS (with joy). Ah, your Majesty believes with me?
KING (hastily). I'd have our Wise Men speak. Unfold your maps before them, sir.
[Columbus crosses to Wise Men and unfolds a map before them. They look at it, shake their heads and laugh.]
COLUMBUS (with dignity). I propose to sail by this route to find that eastern land.
FIRST WISE MAN. Ha, ha! I never heard anything so absurd! He'd sail west to find the east! Ha, ha!
SECOND WISE MAN (pointing to map). The edge of the world is out there in those strange waters! And you are willing to fall off with your ships into space, sir?