The fool, my king, can never understand such a thing; on the whole I am surprised that your majesty is still amused by his insipid ideas. Even in Germany they tired of him, and here in Utopia you have taken him up where thousands of the most wonderful and clever amusements are at our service. He should be thrown out at once, for he only brings your taste into bad repute. KING (_throws the sceptre at his head_). Sir Brazenbold of a scholar! What do you dare to say? The fool pleases _me, me_, his king, and if I like him, how dare you say that the man is ridiculous? You are the court scholar and he the court fool; you both have equal positions; the only difference is that he is dining at the little table with the strange hunter. The fool displays his nonsense at the table, and you carry on an intelligent conversation at the table; both are only to while away the time for me and make my meal taste good: where, then, lies the great difference? Furthermore, it does us good to see a fool who is more stupid than we, who has not the same gifts; why, then, one feels greater oneself and is grateful to heaven; even on that account I like to have a blockhead around. [THE COOK _serves the rabbit and goes_.] KING. The rabbit! I do not know--I suppose the other gentlemen do not care for it? ALL (_bow_). KING. Well, then, with your permission, I will keep it for myself. (_He eats._) PRINCESS. It seems to me the king is making faces as though he were getting an attack again. KING (_rising in rage_). The rabbit is burned! Oh, earth! Oh, pain! What keeps me from sending the cook right down to Orcus as fast as possible? PRINCESS. My father! KING. How did this stranger lose his way among the people? His eyes are dry-- ALL (_arise very sadly_, JACKPUDDING _runs back and forth busily_, HINZE _remains seated and eats steadily_). KING. A long, long, good night; no morning will ever brighten it. PRINCESS. Do have some one fetch the peacemaker. KING. May the Cook Philip be Hell's cry of jubilee when an ungrateful wretch is burned to ashes! PRINCESS. Where can the musician be! KING. To be or not to be-- [_The peacemaker enters with a set of musical bells and begins to play them at once._] KING. What is the matter with me? (_Weeping._) Alas! I have already had my attack again. Have the rabbit taken out of my sight. (_He lays his head on the table, full of grief, and sobs._) COURTIER. His majesty suffers much. [_Violent stamping and whistling in the pit; they cough, they hiss; those in the gallery laugh; the king gets up, arranges his cloak and sits down majestically with his sceptre. It is all in vain; the noise continues to increase, all the actors forget their parts, a terrible pause on the stage. HINZE has climbed up a pillar. The author appears on the stage, overcome._] AUTHOR. Gentlemen--most honorable public--just a few words! IN THE PIT. Quiet! Quiet! The fool wishes to speak! AUTHOR.