Capt. 
     Soft music, sir, to what indeed were shadows,
     That, following the sunshine of a Court,
     Shall back be brought with it—­if shadows still,
     Yet to substantial reckoning.

     Seg. 
     They shall? 
     The white-hair’d and white-wanded chamberlain,
     So busy with his wand too—­the old King
     That I was somewhat hard on—­he had been
     Hard upon me—­and the fine feather’d Prince
     Who crow’d so loud—­my cousin,—­and another,
     Another cousin, we will not bear hard on—­
     And—­But Clotaldo?

     Capt. 
     Fled, my lord, but close
     Pursued; and then—­

     Seg. 
     Then, as he fled before,
     And after he had sworn it on his knees,
     Came back to take me—­where I am!—­No more,
     No more of this!  Away with you!  Begone! 
     Whether but visions of ambitious night
     That morning ought to scatter, or grown out
     Of night’s proportions you invade the day
     To scare me from my little wits yet left,
     Begone!  I know I must be near awake,
     Knowing I dream; or, if not at my voice,
     Then vanish at the clapping of my hands,
     Or take this foolish fellow for your sport: 
     Dressing me up in visionary glories,
     Which the first air of waking consciousness
     Scatters as fast as from the almander—­
     That, waking one fine morning in full flower,
     One rougher insurrection of the breeze
     Of all her sudden honour disadorns
     To the last blossom, and she stands again
     The winter-naked scare-crow that she was!

     Capt. 
     I know not what to do, nor what to say,
     With all this dreaming; I begin to doubt
     They have driv’n him mad indeed, and he and we
     Are lost together.

     A soldier (to Captain). 
     Stay, stay; I remember—­
     Hark in your ear a moment. 
     (Whispers.)

     Capt. 
     So—­so—­so?—­
     Oh, now indeed I do not wonder, sir,
     Your senses dazzle under practices
     Which treason, shrinking from its own device,
     Would now persuade you only was a dream;
     But waking was as absolute as this
     You wake in now, as some who saw you then,
     Prince as you were and are, can testify: 
     Not only saw, but under false allegiance
     Laid hands upon—­

     Soldier 1. 
     I, to my shame!

     Soldier 2. 
     And I!

     Capt. 
     Who, to wipe out that shame, have been the first
     To stir and lead us—­Hark! 
     (Shouts, trumpets, etc.)

     A soldier. 
     Our forces, sir,
     Challenging King Basilio’s, now in sight,
     And bearing down upon us.