Very well, then! But I ask you from my heart, kind audience, to give my words the earnest meaning which belongs to them! How shall I succeed in moving your hearts, if you do not believe the plaints which come from my mouth!
THE SPECTATORS.
(Laugh and applaud enthusiastically.) What a pose he assumes!——And such droll grimaces!——Go on with your farce!
THE THEATRE MANAGER.
(Hissing.) Children! Children! Nothing is worse for the actor than applause! If you succeed in making him overvalue himself, the poor rogue will be capable only of the lowest kind of trash! Odi profanum vulgus et arceo! (To the King.) Continue, my son! It seems to me as if your parodies might amuse my enlightened public!
THE KING.
(Seeking by every means to invest his speech with earnestness.)
I am the ruler! To your knees with you!
What mean these bursts of mad, indecent mirth!
'Tis my own fault that here, in this my realm,
None knows me more. My sentinels slumber,
My doughty warriors serve another's wage.
I lack that highest earthly might, the gold!
Still, ever yet, was there a rightful king
Who spent his time in counting out his coin?
That task he graciously accords to slaves!
The farthing, soiled with sweat of tradesmen's toil
Was never struck with an intent to smirch
The hands of those anointed of the Lord!
THE SPECTATORS.
(Breaking out into the wildest laughter.) Da capo! ——Bravo!——Da capo!