THE BEGGAR.  I ask thee, wilt thou throw thy crown from yonder window?

THE SERVANT (aside to THE KING).  Perhaps it were wise to humor him, O king.  After thou hast thrown thy crown away I can go outside and bring it to thee again.

THE BEGGAR.  Well?  Well? (He points to the window.) Well?

THE KING.  No!  I will not throw my crown from that window—­no, nor from any other window.  What!  Shall I obey the orders of a beggar?  Never!

THE BEGGAR (preparing to leave).  Truly, that is spoken like a king.  Thou art a king, so thou wouldst prefer to lose thy head than that silly circle of gold that so foolishly sits upon it.  But it is well.  Thou art a king.  Thou couldst not prefer otherwise. (He walks calmly toward the door.)

THE KING (to THE SERVANT).  Stop him!  Seize him!  Does he think to get off so easily with his impudence!

THE BEGGAR (coolly).  One of thy servants cannot stop me.  Neither can ten thousand of them do me any harm.  I am stronger than a mountain.  I am stronger than the sea!

THE KING.  Ha!  We will see about that, we will see about that. (To THE SERVANT) Hold him, I say.  Call the guards.  He shall be put in chains.

THE BEGGAR.  My strength is greater than a mountain and my words are more fearful than a hurricane.  This servant of thine cannot even touch me.  With one breath of my mouth I can blow over this whole palace.

THE KING.  Dost thou hear the impudence he is offering me?  Why dost thou not seize him?  What is the matter with thee?  Why dost thou not call the guards?

THE BEGGAR.  I will not harm thee now.  I will only cry aloud in the streets for bread wherewith to fill my belly.  But one day I will not be so kind to thee.  On that day my mouth will be filled with a rushing wind and my arms will become as strong as steel rods, and I will blow over this palace, and all the bones in thy foolish body I will snap between my fingers.  I will beat upon a large drum and thy head will be my drumstick.  I will not do these things now.  But one day I will do them.  Therefore, when my voice sounds again in thine ears, begging for bread, remember what I have told thee.  Remember, O king, and be afraid!

(He walks out.  THE SERVANT, struck dumb, stares after him.  THE KING sits in his chair, dazed.)

THE KING (suddenly collecting his wits).  After him!  After him!  He must not be allowed to escape!  After him!

THE SERVANT (faltering).  O king—­I cannot seem to move.

THE KING.  Quick, then.  Call the guards.  He must be caught and put in chains.  Quick, I say.  Call the guards!

THE SERVANT.  O king—­I cannot seem to call them.

THE KING.  How!  Art thou dumb?  Ah!

(THE BEGGAR’S voice is heard outside.)

THE BEGGAR.  Bread.  Bread.  Give me some bread.