His Majesty laughed loud when he heard that.
"I can send nothing more proper back again," said he, "than a flock of geese. I have enough and to spare of them."
Then, when all about were laughing, he turned very solemn. "You had best not tell them that," he said; "or they might take some of my friends away with them in mistake."
(This was pretty fooling; but it scarce struck me as suited to the dignity of the occasion.)
Presently the interpreter was saying how consumed with loyal envy were these Moors at all the splendour that they saw about them.
"It is better to be envied than pitied," observed His Majesty, with a very serious look.
* * * * *
At first be bore himself with extraordinary geniality this evening. He had been drinking a little, I think, yet not at all to excess, for this he never did, though he had no objection to others doing so in his company. There was related of him, I remember, how the Lord Mayor once, after a City Banquet, pressed His Majesty very unduly to remain a little longer after he had risen up to go. His Majesty was already at the door when the Mayor did this, even venturing—(for he was pretty far gone in wine)—to lay his fingers on the King's arm.
His Majesty looked at him for an instant, and then burst out laughing.
"Ah well!" he said, quoting the old song, "'He that is drunk is as great as a King.'"