Three Wonder Plays | Page 6

not right. I would never give in to let you
go ...if it wasn't ...
_Princess_: I know. _(Stands up.)_ For my own good!
_(Trumpet outside.)_
_Gatekeeper_: (Coming in.) There is company at the door.
_Queen_: Who is it?
_Gatekeeper_: Servants, and a company of women, and one that would
seem to be a Prince, and young.
_Princess_: Then he is come asking me in marriage.

_Dall Glic_: Who is he at all?
_Gatekeeper_: They were saying he is the son of the King of the
Marshes.
_King_: Go bring him in.
_(Gatekeeper goes_.)
_Dall Glic_: That's right! He has great riches and treasure. There are
some say he is the first match in Ireland.
_Nurse_: He is not. If his father has a copper crown, and our own King
a silver one, it is the King of Sorcha has a crown of gold! The young
King of Sorcha that is the first match.
_Dall Glic_: If he is, this one is apt to be the second first.
_Queen_: Do you hear, Nuala, what luck is flowing to you?
_Dall Glic_: Do not now be turning your back on him as you did to so
many.
_Princess_: No; whoever he is, it is likely I will not turn away from this
one.
_Queen_: Go now and ready yourself to meet him.
_Princess_: Am I not nice enough the way I am?
_Queen_: You are not. The King of Alban's daughter has hair as
smooth as if a cow had licked it.
_(Princess goes_.)
_Gatekeeper_: Here is the Prince of the Marshes!
_(Enter Prince, very young and timid, an old lady on each side slightly
in advance of him_.)
_King_: A great welcome before you.... And who may these be?
_Prince_: Seven aunts I have....
_First Aunt: (Interrupting.)_ If he has, there are but two of us have
come along with him.
_Second Aunt_: For to care him and be company for him on his
journey, it being the first time he ever quitted home.
_Queen_: This is a great honour. Will you take a chair?
_First Aunt_: Leave that for the Prince of the Marshes. It is away from
the draught of the window.
_Second Aunt_: We ourselves are in charge of his health. I have here
his eel-skin boots for the days that will be wet under foot.
_First Aunt_: And I have here my little bag of cures, with a cure in it
that would rise the body out of the grave as whole and as sound as the

time you were born.
_(Lays it down_.)
_King: (To Prince_.) It is many a day your father and myself were
together in our early time. What way is he? He was farther out in age
than myself.
_Prince_: He is ...
_First Aunt: (Interrupting_.) He is only middling these last years. The
doctors have taken him in hand.
_King_: He was more for fowling, and I was more for horses--before I
increased so much in girth. Is it for horses you are, Prince?
_Prince_: I didn't go up on one up to this.
_First Aunt_: Kings and princes are getting scarce. They are the most
class is wearing away, and it is right for them keep in mind their safety.
_Second Aunt_: The Prince has no need to go upon a horse, where he
has always a coach at his command.
_King_: It is fowling that suits you so?
_Prince_: I would be well pleased ...
_First Aunt_: There is great danger going out fowling with a gun that
might turn on you after and take your life.
_Second Aunt_: Why would the Prince go into danger, having servants
that will go following after birds?
_Queen_: He is likely waiting till his enemies will make an attack upon
the country to defend it.
_First Aunt_: There is a good dyke around about the marshes, and a
sort of quaking bog. It is not likely war will come till such time as it
will be made by the birds of the air.
_King_: Well, we must strive to knock out some sport or some
pleasure.
_Prince_: It was not on pleasure I was sent.
_First Aunt_: That's so, but on business.
_Second Aunt_: Very weighty business.
_King_: Let the lad tell it out himself.
_Prince_: I hope there is no harm in me coming hither. I would be loth
to push on you ...
_First Aunt_: We thought it was right, as he was come to sensible
years ...
_King_: Stop a minute, ma'am, give him his time.

_Prince_: My father ... and his counsellors ... and my seven aunts ...that
said it would be right for me to join with a wife.
_Queen_: They showed good sense in that.
_Prince: (Rapidly.)_ They bade me come and take a look at your young