THE SERVANT. If thou wilt not let me fling, him a piece of bread thine ears must pay the debts of thy hand. THE KING. A king can have no debts. THE SERVANT. That is true, O king. Even so, the noise of this fellow's begging must annoy thee greatly. THE KING. It does. THE SERVANT. Doubtless he craves only a small crust from thy table and he would be content. THE KING. Yea, doubtless he craves only to be a king and he would be very happy indeed. THE SERVANT. Do not be hard, O king. Thou art ever wise and just. This fellow is exceedingly hungry. Dost thou not command me to fling him just one small crust from the window? THE KING. My commands I have already given thee. See that the beggar is driven away. THE SERVANT. But alas! O king, if he is driven away he will return again even as he did before. THE KING. Then see to it that he is slain. I cannot be annoyed with the sound of his voice. THE SERVANT. But alas! O great and illustrious king, if he is slain he will come to life again even as he did before. THE KING. Ah! that is true. But his voice troubles me. I do not like to hear it. THE SERVANT. His lungs are fattened with hunger. Of a truth they are quite strong. THE KING. Well, propose a remedy to weaken them. THE SERVANT. A remedy, O king? (_He stops fanning._) THE KING. That is what I said. A remedy--and do not stop fanning me. I am exceedingly warm. THE SERVANT (_fanning vigorously_). A crust of bread, O king, dropped from yonder window--forsooth that might prove a remedy. THE KING (_angrily_). I have said I will not give him a crust of bread. If I gave him a crust to-day he would be just as hungry again to-morrow, and my troubles would be as great as before. THE SERVANT. That is true, O king. Thy mind is surely filled with great learning. THE KING. Therefore, some other remedy must be found. THE SERVANT. O king, the words of thy illustrious mouth are as very meat-balls of wisdom. THE KING (_musing_). Now let me consider. Thou sayest he does not suffer pain-- THE SERVANT. Therefore he cannot be tortured. THE KING. And he will not die-- THE SERVANT. Therefore it is useless to kill him. THE KING. Now let me consider. I must think of some other way. THE SERVANT. Perhaps a small crust of bread, O king-- THE KING. Ha! I have it. I have it. I myself will order him to stop. THE SERVANT (_horrified_). O king! THE KING. Send the beggar here. THE SERVANT. O king! THE KING. Ha! I rather fancy the fellow will stop his noise when the king commands him to. Ha, ha, ha! THE SERVANT. O king, thou wilt not have a beggar brought into thy royal chamber! THE KING (_pleased with his idea_). Yea. Go outside and tell this fellow that the king desires his presence.