[The Queen enters to a flourish of trumpets, attended by her Ladies. Following these comes the Royal Nurse bearing a tiny infant, wrapped in a magnificent silken coverlet. The Nurse stands in the background, with the Ladies, while the Queen converses with the King.]

The Queen.

Oh, my dear, what luck to have caught you!

The King.

How can I serve my gracious consort?

The Queen.

[About to tell him the news.] Listen, then, and I’ll begin at the beginning.

The King.

As you please! Hark! What noise is that!