A Comedy of Errors' in Seven Acts :: ACT IV Dramatis Personae

ACT IV Dramatis Personae

Francos . . . . . . Governor General of a Province.
Quezox . . . . . . Resident Delegate from the Province.
Seldonskip:. . . Secretary to the Governor General.
Commissioners
Halstrom:. . . . Aide to the Governor General.

Scene I. Garden of the Palace.

Francos (Soliloquizes): Methinks the poet of the past who scrolled

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"

Indeed were wise and kenned whereof he wrote.

His keen imagination doth amaze

And fill my mind with wonder at his full

Discernment of the most unhappy lot

Which great responsibility doth load

Upon the shoulders of betroubled men

Whom fate relentless hath before ordained

To, like the pack-horse, patiently, each day,

Upbear most galling burden, born of cares

Which do encompass the affairs of state.

When in the Nation's forum I did sit,

Like to a minnow in a mighty pool,

I did disport, and, nourishing no care,

Found naught to mar the pleasures born each day.

But now there looms before me mountain high

Questions of mighty import to the state

Which I must quickly and with wisdom solve

Without the bell mare's chime to charm mine ear.

On whose sound judgment dare I now rely?

Whose honor, on grave issues, can I trust?

Shall I use Quezox blindly as a staff

On which to lean, as on my path I grope?

Or shall I ope' mine ear to those entrenched

Behind official desks, with knowledge armed

And primed for combat, when I shall disclose

The policy profound, by wisdom sired?

Alas, I find that I must war with friends,

Who seem enamored with the tricky foe,

And by long contact they infected be

By doctrines both heretical and vile.

Of those who legal robbery do make

A vehicle to stuff their bellies full

I must beware; for it doth to me seem

That long and double squinting at the law

Impairs their moral sight for all but fees;

Hence deep entanglements might be the goal

To which their slimy tongues would shrewdly guide

That from disturbance, they might profit reap.

Alas, what to me seemed but pigmy state

Now looms up mightily before mine eye,

And like the feathered mother with her brood

Must I my many cares each day enwing

And from the circling hawk with hungry eye

Protect and shelter, till mature, they grow.

But this commission! We must shrewd select

Such pliant men as will our pleasure work;

For we ken not what yeast in working deep

Within the inexperienced minds of those

Foregath'ring soon to fashion laws to meet

The pressing needs of our embarrassed state.

I feel mayhap, that seeds of self were sown

Within the willing hearts of those who long

Have profit made at this poor State's expense;

Which seeds have grown into a mighty tree

That hides behind its fol'age justice sweet

So deep within those shades that e'en the sun

Of righteousness reveals its presence not.

For such compassion's bowels ne'er should yearn,

And yet mine eyes behold a handiwork

Which were the offspring but of earnest zeal;

Yet since example's perfect work is done,

The pattern to oblivion's shades we'll cast.

But I to mine uneasy couch will hie.

The morrow's cares may feed upon their day!

(Slowly retires)

Scene. Governor's office.

Francos: Good Halstrom, to my mind uncertainty

Is but a mental sore, which cancer like,

Doth spread its roots until the surgeon's knife

With sharp incision shall the curse remove.

So must I cross the Rubicon and strike

The foe in parts most vulnerable.

Caesar, from the deep cavern of his mind,

Hath fashioned, with a statesman's ready hand,

A plan which we must now inaugurate,

Amid the cruel jeers of all who long

Have watched the workings of the dark hued mind

Excepting only such as office seek.

Halstrom: My Liege, thy look doth seem to answer woo

And my stern schooling bids me to obey,

But it were act from gross presumption born

To, from my lowly post, advice bestow.

Enters

Seldonskip: Well Gov'nor, standing just outside the door

There are two chaps who loudly make the claim

That they are sure expected at this hour

To hobnob with you on some public stunt.

Francos: Hold, Seldonskip! Thy tongue unruly wags

Like to the shuttle on its weaving way

To fashion fabric of but little worth

'Twere well to throttle it or else belike

A pebble small, in gear of great machine

Disaster grave may work to wheels of state.

(Seldonskip retires.)

Turns to

Halstrom: Good Halstrom, quick I prithee do repair

To outer chamber and with pleasant mien

Escort these high officials with all state

Unto our presence, when I will undo

The mischief, by soft words clothed with a smile.

(Enters Quezox: Speaks):

Most honored Francos, I had closed mine ear

But Seldonskip like to a jackass brayed

And I perforce did catch his words distraught,

Which seemed to fling an insult in thy face.

And cast contempt upon our worthy sons.

If concord sweet shall lend us helping hand

I fear me much this yokel must go hence

For he doth gag us with his silly tongue!

Francos: Patience, good Quezox. Heed no idle word;

(Warningly)

It falls upon thine ear, and then 'tis gone;

'Tis but a breath of air which into naught

Doth vanish. Can'st thou, thy finger on it

Put and say 'tis here? Alas, it like a

Heavenly orb doth shoot its comet way

An then twere gone. It was, but now 'tis not!

Hence it were folly, "Nothing," to pursue.

Quezox: They keen philosophy falls on mine ear

Like music, as it trickles from thy brain;

But still the wound remains which venomed tongue

Hath deeply stung upon my memory.

But thou hast said: an uttered thought is dead.

Perhaps 'tis so, but in the human heart,

There lingers long a mem'ry, blessed indeed,

Of those preceding us to that long home

Where, be it utter darkness which prevails,

Or light supernal with celestial ray,

Yet death hath not erased from mental scroll

The image which th' Eternal painted there.

(Enters Halstrom): The twain are gone, my Liege, but to the page

They for maÑana did bespeak return.

Francos: Tis well!

Good gentlemen, my mind doth backward flit

On wings of happy mem'ry to that hour

When we, amid the plaudits of the hosts,

Did well proclaim to all the happy words

Which Caesar to expectant ears did send.

My heart doth overflow, when I recall

The ecstasy that spoke in thunder tones

And like to period rhetorical

Did ever punctuate each proper pause.

Quick did I note in what well ordered ranks

Our party friends did form before the stand.

Quezox: But, noble Sire, methought I in each eye

Discovered greedy looks which portend ill.

(Enters Seldonskip)

Unless their hungry hopes are satisfied

By wellfilled bellies of official food.

If this discernment doth not truth belie

It points prophetic to a scramble sharp

To wear the cast off shoes of those who now

Do suck the life blood from our downtrod race.

Seldonskip: You bet they'll scramble and they'll scramble hard,

An why not tell me? 'Tis all in the game!

(Francos to Seldonskip): Again that tongue, in thoughtless prattle wags.

It seems that every opening of thy mouth,

Doth point to utterance in words uncouth

Which clothe some folly in a tattered garb.

(Quezox to Francos): And yet most noble sire, my bowels of

Discernment do fierce gripe me with the fear

That in the rambling words this youth hath tongued

Much bitter truth may deeply hidden be.

Francos: Fear not! Caesar hath wise discerned that all

Who long have on these Islands made their home

Are blinded by self-interest, which doth,

As colored glass speaks lies unto the eye,

Befool their judgment; which may honest be.

And hence 'twere better from abroad to bring