FullReads

THE MAID.
I do not know.

THE GYPSY.
It is strange for a child of the gypsies not to know that.
But I can guess. You were born under the sign of Libra.

THE MAID.
How can you tell that?

THE GYPSY.
You counselled me to caution. Only one born under the sign of
the scales could have made that speech. You have the balanced temperament.

THE MAID.
Which is my star?

THE GYPSY.
You are sixteen years old. When you were born, the planet housed in the sign of Libra was Venus. And so you will love not too much, nor too little, but well. A fortunate planet! There it is, high in the heavens. And see, it is in conjunction with Jupiter. Do you know what that means?

THE MAID.
No! Tell me!

THE GYPSY.
It means that love and authority will presently
come together in your life…. Oh, happy, happy child!

THE MAID.
But I do not understand.

THE GYPSY.
There are some things past understanding.
Even I do not quite understand it yet. I must think it out.

THE MAID.
Then think quickly–and advise me. For I read my fortune otherwise. I see myself growing hollow-eyed with looking in eternal silence at the man I love–and worse than that, at the woman I hate– for I do hate her. I shall go mad with wanting to speak out my love and hate. Tell me what to do!

THE GYPSY.
I cannot advise to rashness. I can only say–speak out your love and hate.

THE MAID.
Do you mean–tell him?

THE GYPSY.
Yes. Tell him. And do not be afraid. There is no man so proud but he is moved to tenderness when a woman says she loves him. You go to an easy task, my dear, as I go to a hard one. For there is no woman so kind but her heart is stirred with a base triumph and an easy scorn when a man speaks out his love….

They go out. From the other side the King and the Princess come in.

THE KING.
I have shown you your apartment.
If there is anything wanting to your comfort,
name it and it shall be provided.

THE PRINCESS.
Nothing is wanting, not even a lock on the door.
I shall be happy in my dreams at least.

THE KING.
Your delicacy of mind does you credit.
I am glad to find that you are not lacking in that
supreme attribute of young womanhood– modesty.

THE PRINCESS.
You mistake me. There shall be no lock on the door of my dreams.
And I shall meet again in dreams the lover whom I know so well.

THE KING.
( scandalized )

Princess!

THE PRINCESS.
Do you put a ban on my dreams, too?

THE KING.
I forbid you to discuss such subjects.

THE PRINCESS.
Very well. I shall keep my thoughts to myself.

THE KING.
Princess, I understand that it is your avocation to be a horse-breaker.

THE PRINCESS.
It is one of them.

THE KING.
It shall be one of mine to be a woman-breaker.

THE PRINCESS.
It is well to know where we stand.

THE KING.
You promised this morning to submit yourself to me, and learn to be a good wife.