[There is a pause.]

KING.  Go on!

(The Story-Teller hangs his head.)

Go on, I say!

STORY-TELLER.  That is all, your Majesty.

KING.  All!

STORY-TELLER.  The prince married the princess.  There is nothing more to tell.

KING.  I cannot bear so short a story!

PRINCESS.  Why, father; for three months we have listened to it!

KING.  ’Tis short, I say!  I bid you make it longer, sir!

STORY-TELLER.  I cannot, Sire.  The prince married the princess.  There is nothing—­

KING.  Throw him out of the palace, guards!  Cut off his head!

[Guards seize the Story-Teller.]

PRINCESS.  Father!

LORDS.  Your Majesty!

LADIES.  Sire!

PRINCESS.  Spare his life!

STORY-TELLER.  Let me keep my head, Sire!

KING.  Why should you keep it?  You do not use it.

STORY-TELLER.  For three months I have used it, Sire!

KING.  Your story is too short, I say!  Away with him, guards!  Away!

(Guards take out the First Story-Teller.)

Bid another Story-Teller come!

(A guard admits the SECOND STORY-TELLER, who bows before the King and Princess.)

Sir, hear me.  You must tell a story that will last forever.

SECOND STORY-TELLER.  I hear, O King!

KING.  If you can do this, you shall marry my daughter and be king after me.

SECOND STORY-TELLER.  I hear, O King!

KING.  If you fail, you shall lose your head.  Begin!  And remember, the story must go on forever.  Now again I say, begin!

SECOND STORY-TELLER.  “Once upon a time a certain king seized upon all the corn in his country.  He had it stored in a strong granary.  Then came a swarm of locusts over the land.  Soon they found a crack in the south side of the granary.  Now the crack was just large enough for one locust to pass through at a time.  So one locust went in and carried away a grain of corn.  Then another locust went in and carried away a grain of corn.  Then another locust went in and carried away a grain of corn.  Then—­”

KING (interrupting). Yes, yes!  Now go on with the story.

SECOND STORY-TELLER.  The story shall go on, O King!  “Then another locust went in and carried away another grain of corn.  Then another locust—­”

KING (interrupting).  I tell you to go on with the story!

SECOND STORY-TELLER.  I obey, great King.  “Then another locust went in and carried away another grain of corn.  Then another—­”

KING.  The story!  The story, I tell you!

SECOND STORY-TELLER.  This is the story, O King!  “Then another locust went in and carried away another grain of corn.  Then—­”

KING.  I cannot stand it!  How long will it take the locusts to carry away all the grain?