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Fool, do you believe in magic?

THE FOOL.
I have heard that the old wizard who lives in a cave down
by the shore is able to rouse storms and keep vessels from sailing…..

THE QUEEN.
( looking at him, for a moment fixedly )

I have a great mind to have you poisoned.
Here, take this, and remember that I said to be drunken.

She gives him another piece of money, and goes off by way of the rose-trellised passage-way. A sailor comes up the steps.

THE SAILOR.
Fool, where is the Prince?

THE FOOL.
I do not know, sailor, but I can tell you what I think.

THE SAILOR.
What difference does it make what you think?
I have a message to deliver to him.

THE FOOL.
I think that the Queen has sung him to sleep,
and that he has not yet awakened.

THE SAILOR.
It is likely enough.
But I have been sent by the captain, and I must see him.

THE FOOL.
You look hot.

THE SAILOR.
I am so hot and thirsty that I could drink a barrelful of wine. It is well enough for the Prince to lie about and eat and drink and be sung to by pretty women, but we sailors have work to do. This business of staying only three days in each port disgusts me. No sooner do we get ashore than we have to go back on board again. I saw a girl yesterday, a beauty, and not afraid of a man. There must be many like that here, but what good does it do me? I spent all my money on her, and now I can’t even get a drink. It’s a shame.

THE FOOL.
Would you like a drink?

THE SAILOR.
Fool, don’t make a mock of my thirst, or I’ll twist your neck.

THE FOOL.
Look at this.

( Shows him a coin.)

THE SAILOR.
What a piece of luck! Is it real money? Where did you get it?

THE FOOL.
Your prince gave it to me, and said I was to treat
any of his sailors that I came across.

THE SAILOR.
Then it’s all right. Why didn’t you say so before?
Come along. If you were as thirsty as I am–!

They go down the steps. The door opens,

and the Prince comes out. He looks up and down.

THE PRINCE.
And now begins again my long journey from the east to the west. . . .

The old woman appears.

THE OLD WOMAN.
Well, have you waked at last?

THE PRINCE.
You are a bitter-tongued old woman. But for all that,
I think you are my friend. Perhaps the only friend I have here.

THE OLD WOMAN.
You are right. For all that you sleep your holiday away, you are a brave man. And I am the only one in this kingdom that thinks well of bravery. The rest want to smother it with kisses.

THE PRINCE.
True enough. I feel that already I am becoming soft.
Never before have I been unwilling to leave a city–

THE OLD WOMAN.
Or a Queen. . . .

THE PRINCE.
I must go on board ship. Is it ready, I wonder?
The captain promised to send word to me. . . .