قراءة كتاب The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
اللغة: English
The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand
الصفحة رقم: 6
it because of all these reasons,
And for this further reason that I love you.
[Seanchan pushes bread away with Fedelm’s hand.
You have refused it, Seanchan.
Seanchan.
We have refused it.
King.
I have been patient though I am a king,
And have the means to force you—but that’s ended,
And I am but a king and you a subject.
[He goes up steps.
Nobles and courtiers, bring the poets hither
For you can have your way: I that was man
With a man’s heart am now all king again,
Remembering that the seed I come of, although
A hundred kings have sown it and re-sown it,
Has neither trembled nor shrunk backward yet
Because of the hard business of a king.
[Princesses, Ladies, and Courtiers have come in with Pupils, who have halters round their necks.
Speak to your master, beg your life of him,
Show him the halters that are round your necks;
If his heart’s set upon it he may die,
But you shall all die with him; beg your lives;
Begin, for you have little time to lose;
Begin it you that are the oldest pupil.
Senias.
[Going up to Seanchan.]
Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets.
King.
Silence, you are as crazy as your master.
But that young boy that seems the youngest of you,
I’d have him speak. Kneel down before him, boy,
Hold up your hands to him that he may pluck
That milky coloured neck out of the noose.
Arias.
Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets.
[All the Pupils turn towards the King, holding out the ends of their halters.
Senias.
Gather the halters up into your hands
And lead us where you will, for in all things
But in our art we are obedient.
[The King comes slowly down the steps.
King.
[Kneeling down before Seanchan.]
Kneel down, kneel down, he has the greater power.
I give my crown to you.
[All kneel except Seanchan, Fedelm and Pupils. Seanchan rises slowly, supported by one of the Pupils and by Fedelm.
Seanchan.
O crown, O crown,
It is but right if hands that made the crown
In the old time should give it when they will.
O silver trumpets be you lifted up
[He lays the crown on the King’s head.
And cry to the great race that is to come.
Long-throated swans among the waves of time
Sing loudly, for beyond the wall of the world
It waits and it may hear and come to us.
[Some of the Pupils blow a blast upon their horns.