| |
|
You are here: > Princess Ida >> Act I
Dialogue following No. 3
Enter Hilarion.
| Hilarion. |
Well, father, is there news for me at last? |
|
| Hildebrand. |
King Gama is in sight, but much I fear
With no Princess! |
| Hilarion. |
|
Alas, my liege, I've heard, |
| |
That Princess Ida has forsworn the world,
And, with a band of women, shut herself
Within a lonely country house, and there
Devotes herself to stern philosophies! |
| Hildebrand. |
Then I should say the loss of such a wife
Is one to which a reasonable man
Would easily be reconciled. |
| Hilarion. |
|
Oh, no! |
| |
Or I am not a reasonable man.
She is my wife — has been for twenty years! |
| |
(Holding glass) I think I see her now. |
| Hildebrand. |
|
Ha! Let me look! |
| Hilarion. |
In my mind's eye, I mean — a blushing bride
All bib and tucker, frill and furbelow!
How exquisite she looked as she was borne,
Recumbent, in her foster-mother's arms!
How the bride wept — nor would be comforted
Until the hireling mother-for-the-nonce
Administered refreshment in the vestry.
And I remember feeling much annoyed
That she should weep at marrying with me.
But then I thought, "These brides are all alike.
You cry at marrying me? How much more cause
You'd have to cry if it were broken off!"
These were my thoughts; I kept them to myself,
For at that age I had not learnt to speak. |
Exeunt Hildebrand and Hilarion.
|
Page Created
28 February, 2006
|
|
|
)
