Page:CromwellHugo.djvu/369

Trick.He robs him.
Giraff. He robs him. He does more: he murders him.
Trick.And so his thirst for blood and gold alike
Is slaked on Noll; he seeks to take from him
His purse and life together.
Elespuru. His purse and life together. What care we?
Giraff.Where shall we stand?

Trick [pointing to a narrow box behind the throne, in the space between two beams.

Where shall we stand? In yonder gallery.
Elespuru.Yes, it will hold us all.

[They pass under the hangings and reappear a moment later in the gallery.

Trick. Yes, it will hold us all. We are well placed
To see and hear.
Giraff. To see and hear. We shall see wondrous well.
Elespuru [stretching himself out on a cushion, and yawning.
A goodly place to sleep on either ear!
I need it sorely.—Trick, we were great fools
Vigil to keep last night beneath damp branches
And follow that rare drama, scene by scene,
In the open air, at risk of taking cold
And the gutta serena, too—who knows?
Trick.Cromwell will recompense us, never fear,
When he is crowned; for Gramadoch, you know,
Doth promise us a strange and rare conclusion.
Giraff.Eh! Gramadoch! Him we shall see ere long
In all his glory as the train-bearer,
Armed with the ivory wand!
Elespuru. Armed with the ivory wand! Glory, my friends!
For my part, humble jester as I am,
I would not bear the train of Cromwell king!
What shame! by the whole city to be seen
Pulling the devil by the tail!