THE KING’S DREAM.
“I STROLLED THOUGHTFULLY ALONG THE BEACH.”
King Bilbonzo. It is well. We ourself now desire to make an important communication to you.
Palaemon (Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Kingdom). We are all attention.
King Bilbonzo. It pleased us to have a very strange dream last night.
Courtiers. Aha!
King Bilbonzo. I dreamed, gentlemen, that I was on an island in the midst of the ocean. My royal palace, surrounded by luxuriant gardens, stood in the centre of the island. My whole retinue was assembled there,—they were all laughing, dancing, and feasting. On all sides, smiling faces, rustling silks, and waves of sweet dance-music. Meanwhile, I strolled thoughtfully along the beach, reflected on the bounties of nature, and picked up shells.
Courtiers. Ah!
King Bilbonzo. But suddenly the ground trembled under my feet. I looked up, and perceived that the whole island was moving under me. It heaved, rocked this way and that, rose and fell on the water, and, finally, shot swiftly over the surface of the foaming sea. The beautiful island, my lords and gentlemen, was a living, terrible sea-monster!