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CORNWALL

So long as you would have me here I’ll stay.

ARTHUR

What lady waits upon thee with such care?

GUENHERA

A lady once you termed a warty toad,

A spaniel, and your most unwelcome shadow.

ARTHUR

A warty toad? I unbelieve this lie,

Nor credit you are Guenhera who cast

Enchantments o’er us all in Gloucestershire.

GUENHERA

Enchantments? Ha! O, King, are you not shamed?

For long years have I feared an apple’s fall,

Which does remember me at once the pain

Of being struck by them upon my head

When you would throw them at me in your mirth.

ARTHUR

I am ashamed if ere that cockerel18

I was did aught that lacked in courtesy.

GUENHERA

’Tis possible that I did bear myself

Without most ceaseless perfect comeliness.

I’truth, I fear th’most perfect gentle knight

As soon had hurled a pippin19 at my head.

ARTHUR

I am astound that this is truly you

In form made real from out my mem’ry’s mist,

And you are changed and unchanged both at once.

The workings and the crafts of wizard time!

You are become most perfect dame while still—

Within you, as behind a mask you wear—

I see today that girl, and yet more odd,

Do feel myself become again a boy

Now stood beside you feigning I am king.

GUENHERA

I’ll flee an you become again that boy

Ere crabs and costards20 take again to wing.

CORNWALL

But still art thou a barnacle, my Guen:

The king hath matters pressing for his time.

GUENHERA

I hear no plaint from him and sure I would

For that boy said my ears were long as hounds’.

ARTHUR

Indictment without end! Where’s mercy flown?

You’ll mark each scruple21 of my youthful crimes?

GUENHERA

The bill of charge22 is ’graved upon my heart.

ARTHUR

Then care of state must stand aside whilst I

Prepare defense or plead for clemency.

GUENHERA

’Tis bootless, still may hope eternal spring.23

CORNWALL

An if my sister irks you not, my king,

Excuse me now to counsel with your stabler:

I fear my horse has taken bots.24

ARTHUR

Your leave

I freely grant to nurse your steed, on term

You swear, good earl, to feast with me this night.

CORNWALL

I take it ’pon my death, your majesty.

Exit Cornwall

GUENHERA

You find me altered much from what I was?

ARTHUR

I cannot stick in speech my brawling thoughts.

GUENHERA

Then you are not so changed from woodland boy

That I unchangingly did love.

ARTHUR

Not changed?

But now I wear the costume of a king.

GUENHERA

So did you in those best of all my days.

ARTHUR

’Tis true, I clad myself as ancient kings,

As Caesar, Solon, Hebrew David, Saul.

Do I seem no more suited to this garb?

GUENHERA

No more, no less. I thought you perfect king

In Gloucester’s oaks, when reigning from a branch

You daily sent me to my death.

ARTHUR

Say no.

GUENHERA

But yes.

ARTHUR

A tyrant and a fool was I.

I would have piping now, not drums and fife.25

But soft, did you not say you loved that boy?

GUENHERA

I did.

ARTHUR

But love no more? What love is this

That sang to you when I was crowned with twigs

But chokes now when my crown’s all wrapped in gold?

GUENHERA

That sylvan king did not requite my love,

Remember this, but banished me from him,

Bid leave him with my brother, much preferred,

As Constantine was precious to that court.

ARTHUR

A dreary26 king he was, that despot child.

I would that I could reach across time’s moat

To lay my hand upon this purblind27 boy

And tell him love that wondrous nymph he sees.

Nay, I’ll not ever say that he was me,

For were it I who sat a day with you,

And love the issue of our argument,

’Tis sure that I would answer you in kind28

And offer tenderest affections, Guen.

If, as you say, this forest boy did not,

Then how dare he lay claim to being me?

And yet, if he was never me, how can

I hope that you will offer still your heart?

GUENHERA

What, what? Will you mock love to me now, King?

Make light of common hearts, kings’ privilege?

ARTHUR

No mockery but of my wordless self:

No poet, Guen, no orator at all,

I am untongued when most I want new words

To lock your beauty in my longest