The Tragedy of King Francisco
ACT I.
SCENE I. The King’s chambers.
Enter KING FRANCISCO followed by QUEEN ANTIONETTA, PRINCE SIGGURD, BARTHOLOMEW, OLRIC, HANS, POSTHUMUS, AEMELIA, THE FOOL, Lords, Knights, Attendants and others.
KING FRANCISCO
Woulds’t ye follow me unto the grave? Be gone!
[Enter Bear]
KING FRANCISCO
Alack!
BEAR
O bother!
THE FOOL
(To BEAR)
Prithee sirrah, these chambers cannot bear another!
[Enter Duckling]
BEAR
Norm!
DUCKLING
Kvack!
THE FOOL
Aye, it has a Norman bearing when remarked upon.
KING FRANCISCO
Guards! To arms! This menagerie tests me sorely.
THE FOOL
Forsooth! A sore ménager to allow such folly, but yet a pair o’ mallards short of a sore.
BEAR
Excuse me…
DUCKLING
Kvack!
[BEAR attacks & kills POSTHUMUS]
POSTHUMUS
I say!
KING FRANCISCO
Guards!
THE FOOL
Methinks they hast an ornamental edge indeed.
HANS
(To FOOL)
You impertinent knave!
THE FOOL
And you sirrah, this duck would name thee ginger!
[Enter Guards]
HANS
(To Guards)
Arrest the Fool!
KING FRANCISCO
Escort this rabble from my chambers at once!
THE FOOL
A rest would be a sweet repose from this clamour.
DUCKLING
Kvack!
[BEAR attacks & kills KING FRANCISCO]
QUEEN ANTIONETTA
Alas! My lord!
BEAR
If I could just…
DUCKLING
Kvack!
[Diuerse alarums and excursions]
[Exeunt]