Christina. Nay, I thought it was the privilege of a fool to speak the truth without offence.
Fool. Fool as you take me to be, I’m not fool enough yet to speak truth to a lady, and think to do it without offence.
Eleon. Why, you have said a hundred severe things to me within this week, and have I ever been angry with you?
Fool. Never; for, out of the whole hundred, not one was true. But have a care, lady—fool as I am, you’d be glad to stop a fool’s mouth with your white hand this instant, rather than let him tell the truth of you.
Christina (laughing, and all the other ladies, except Eleonora, exclaim)—Speak on, good fool; speak on—
Helm. I am much mistaken, or the lady Eleonora fears not to hear the truth from either wise men or fools—Speak on.
Fool. One day, not long ago, when there came news that our count there was killed in Finland—I, being a fool, was lying laughing, and thinking of nothing at all, on the floor, in the west drawing-room, looking at the count’s picture—In comes the Lady Eleonora, all in tears.
Eleon. (stopping his mouth.) Oh! tell any thing but that, good fool.
Helmaar (kneels and kisses her hand). Speak on, excellent fool.
Christina and ladies. Speak on, excellent fool—In came the Lady Eleonora, all in tears.