KING
In my lifetime I did not look after her enough—enough—enough!
And now she is lost to me, and I shall never see her more. Had I
but known, had I but thought of it! Gentlemen, when did I lose the
Princess Amelia?
FIRST ATTENDANT
The second of last November, your Majesty.
KING
And what is it now?
FIRST ATTENDANT
Now, sir, it is the beginning of June.
KING
Ah, June, I remember!... The June flowers are not for me. I
shall never see them; nor will she. So fond of them as she was.
... Even if I were living I would never go where there are flowers
any more! No: I would go to the bleak, barren places that she never
would walk in, and never knew, so that nothing might remind me of
her, and make my heart ache more than I can bear!... Why, the
beginning of June?—that’s when they are coming to examine me! [He
grows excited.]
FIRST ATTENDANT [to second attendant, aside]
Dr. Reynolds ought not have reminded him of their visit. It only
disquiets him and makes him less fit to see them.
KING
How long have I been confined here?
FIRST ATTENDANT
Since November, sir; for your health’s sake entirely, as your Majesty
knows.
KING
What, what? So long? Ah, yes. I must bear it. This is the fourth
great black gulf in my poor life, is it not? The fourth.
[A signal from the door. The second attendant opens it and whispers.
Enter softly SIR HENRY HALFORD, DR. WILLIAM HEBERDEN, DR. ROBERT
WILLIS, DR. MATTHEW BAILLIE, the KING’S APOTHECARY, and one or two
other gentlemen.]
KING [straining his eye to discern them]
What! Are they come? What will they do to me? How dare they! I
am Elector of Hanover! [Finding Dr. Willis is among them he shrieks.]
O, they are going to bleed me—yes, to bleed me! [Piteously.] My
friends, don’t bleed me—pray don’t! It makes me so weak to take my
blood. And the leeches do, too, when you put so many. You will not
be so unkind, I am sure!