SIGISMUND. Thou the traitor's part has played 'Gainst the law; the King betrayed, And done cruel wrong to me; Thus for each distinct offence Have the law, the King, and I Thee condemned this day to die By my hands. SECOND SERVANT. Prince . . . . SIGISMUND No pretence Shall undo the debt I owe you. Catiff, hence! By Heaven! I say, If you dare to stop my way From the window I will throw you. SECOND SERVANT. Fly, Clotaldo! CLOTALDO. Woe to thee, In thy pride so powerful seeming, Without knowing thou art dreaming! [Exit. SECOND SERVANT. Think . . . . SIGISMUND. Away! don't trouble me. SECOND SERVANT. He could not the King deny. SIGISMUND. Bade to do a wrongful thing He should have refused the King; And, besides, his prince was I. SECOND SERVANT. 'Twas not his affair to try If the act was wrong or right. SIGISMUND. You're indifferent, black or white, Since so pertly you reply. CLARIN. What the Prince says is quite true, What you do is wrong, I say. SECOND SERVANT. Who gave you this licence, pray? CLARIN. No one gave; I took it. SIGISMUND. Who Art thou, speak? CLARIN. A meddling fellow, Prating, prying, fond of scrapes, General of all jackanapes, And most merry when most mellow. SIGISMUND. You alone in this new sphere Have amused me. CLARIN. That's quite true, sir, For I am the great amuser Of all Sigismunds who are here. * * * * * SCENE IV. ASTOLFO, SIGISMUND, CLARIN, Servants, and Musicians. ASTOLFO. Thousand tunes be blest the day, Prince, that gives thee to our sight, Sun of Poland, whose glad light Makes this whole horizon gay, As when from the rosy fountains Of the dawn the stream-rays run, Since thou issuest like the sun From the bosom of the mountains! And though late do not defer With thy sovran light to shine; Round thy brow the laurel twine -- Deathless crown. SIGISMUND. God guard thee, sir. ASTOLFO. In not knowing me I o'erlook, But alone for this defect, This response that lacks respect, And due honour. Muscovy's Duke Am I, and your cousin born, Thus my equal I regard thee. SIGISMUND. Did there, when I said "God guard thee," Lie concealed some latent scorn? -- Then if so, now having got Thy big name, and seeing thee vexed, When thou com'st to see me next I will say God guard thee not. SECOND SERVANT [to ASTOLFO]. Think, your Highness, if he errs Thus, his mountain birth's at fault, Every word is an assault. [To SIGISMUND.] Duke Astolfo, sir, prefers . . . . SIGISMUND. Tut! his talk became a bore, Nay his act was worse than that, He presumed to wear his hat. SECOND SERVANT. As grandee. SIGISMUND. But I am more. SECOND SERVANT. Nevertheless respect should be Much more marked betwixt ye two Than 'twixt others. SIGISMUND. And pray who Asked your meddling thus with me? * * * * * SCENE V. ESTRELLA. -- THE SAME.