The King.  Why did Gow buffet the clown?  What said he?  I’ll go look.

Ferdinand (above).  Save yourself!  It is the King!

Enter the King and Ferdinand to Gow

Gow.  God save you!  This was the Prince!

The King.  The Prince!  Not a dead branch? (Uncovers the face.) My flesh and blood!  My son! my son! my son!

Ferdinand (to Gow).  I had feared something of this.  And that fool yonder?

Gow.  Dead, or as good.  He cannot speak.

Ferdinand.  Better so.

The King.  ‘Loosed to adventure early!’ Tell the tale.

Gow.  Saddest truth alack!  I came upon him not a half hour since, fallen from the North park wall over against the Deerpark side—­dead—­dead!—­a nectarine in his hand that the dear lad must have climbed for, and plucked the very instant, look you, that a brick slipped on the coping.  ’Tis there now.  So I lifted him, but his neck was as you see—­and already cold.

The King.  Oh, very cold.  But why should he have troubled to climb?  He was free of all the fruit in my garden, God knows!...  What, Gow?

Gow.  Surely, God knows!

The King.  A lad’s trick.  But I love him the better for it....  True, he’s past loving....  And now we must tell our Queen.  What a coil at the day’s end!  She’ll grieve for him.  Not as I shall; Ferdinand, but as youth for youth.  They were much of the same age.  Playmate for playmate.  See, he wears her colours.  That is the knot she gave him last—­last....  Oh God!  When was yesterday?

Ferdinand.  Come in!  Come in, my Lord.  There’s a dew falling.

The King.  He’ll take no harm of it.  I’ll follow presently..... 
He’s all his mother’s now and none of mine—­
Her very face on the bride-pillow.  Yet I tricked her. 
But that was later—­and she never guessed. 
I do not think he sinned much—­he’s too young—­
Much the same age as my Queen.  God must not judge him
Too hardly for such slips as youth may fall in. 
But I’ll entreat that Throne.

(Prays by the body.)

Gow.  The Heavens hold up still.  Earth opens not and this dew’s mere water.  What shall a man think of it all? (To Gardener.) Not dead yet, sirrah?  I bade you follow the Prince.  Despatch!

Gardener.  Some kind soul pluck out the dagger.  Why did you slay me?  I’d done no wrong.  I’d ha’ kept it secret till my dying day.  But not now—­not now!  I’m dying.  The Prince fell from the Queen’s chamber window.  I saw it in the nut alley.  He was——­

Ferdinand.  But what made you in the nut alley at that hour?

Gardener.  No wrong.  No more than another man’s wife.  Jocasta of the still-room.  She’d kissed me good-night too; but that’s over with the rest....  I’ve stumbled on the Prince’s beastly loves, and I pay for all.  Let me pass!