[The King Amuses Himself][L]
Persons in the Drama
| François I., King of France |
| Triboulet, his jester |
| Blanche, Triboulet's daughter |
| Saltabadil, an assassin |
| Maguelonne, his sister |
| Dame Berarde |
| A woman; a man; a crowd of people |
Act I
Scene.—Triboulet, the ugly little hunchback jester to King François, has stolen from the Louvre to a secluded house in a remote part of Paris. He takes out the key to open the door, then stops and glances round uneasily.
Triboulet: I thought I heard a footstep.
Blanche must go
Back to the country. In this wild, rough town
My little lonely girl may come to harm.
I was a fool to bring her here. A fool!
Ah, if she learns what a vile part I play
In this vile city—sees her father dressed
In patchwork, using his deformities
To make sport for a proud, vain, wicked king.
Oh, how I hate the man who laughs at me!
When I am sick and miserable, and creep
Into some corner to bewail my lot,
He kicks me out into the light, and cries,
"Amuse me, fool!" Some day I shall go mad,
And kill——
[Saltabadil, who has been following him, comes forward and bows.
Saltabadil: Your servant, sir!