AsbyyourdealingGoddecideitmay，Tomyconfusion！——letmeansweritUntoyourselfalone，whoshallatonceApproveyourselftobeyourfather\'sjudge，AndsovereignofPolandinhisstead，Byjustice，mercy，self—sobriety，AndallthereasonableattributesWithoutwhich，impotenttorulehimself，Othersonecannot，andonemustnotrule;
Butwhichifyoubutshowtheblossomof——
AllthatispastweshallbutlookuponAsthefirstout—flingofagenerousnatureRiotinginfirstliberty;andifThisblossomdobutpromisesuchaflowerAspromisesinturnitskindlyfruit:
Forthwithuponyourbrowstheroyalcrown，Thatnowweighsheavyonmyagedbrows，Iwilldevolve;andwhileIpassawayIntosomecloister，withmyMakerthereTomakemypeaceinpenitenceandprayer，Happilysettlethedisorder\'drealmThatnowcriesloudlyforalinealheir。
SEG。
Andso——
Whenthecrownfaltersonyourshakinghead，Andslipsthesceptrefromyourpalsiedhand，AndPolandforherrightfulheircriesout;
Whennotonlyyourstol\'nmonopolyFailsyouofearthlypower，but\'crossthegraveThejudgment—trumpetofanotherworldCallsyoutocountforyourabuseofthis;
Then，ohthen，terrifiedbythedoubledanger，Youdragmefrommyden——
BoastnotofgivingupatlastthepowerYoucannolongerhold，andneverrightlyHeld，butinfeeforhimyourobb\'ditfrom;
AndbeassuredyourSavage，onceletloose，Willnotbecagedagainsoquickly;notBythreatoradulationtobetamed，TillhehavehadhisquarreloutwiththoseWhomadehimwhatheis。
KING。
Beware！Beware！
SubduethekindledTigerinyoureye，NordreamthatitwassheernecessityMademethusfarrelaxthebondoffate，And，withfarmoreofterrorthanofhopeThreatenmyself，mypeople，andtheState。
Knowthat，ifold，IyethavevigourleftTowieldtheswordaswellaswearthecrown;
Andifmymoreimmediateissuefail，Notwantingscionsofcollateralblood，WhosewholesomegrowthshallmorethancompensateForallthelossofadistortedstem。
SEG。
ThatwillIstraightwaybringtotrial——Oh，Afterarevelationsuchasthis，TheLastDayshallhavelittlelefttoshowOfrightedwrongandvillainyrequited！
Nay，Judgmentnowbeginninguponearth，Myself，methinks，insightofallmywrongs，Appointedheaven\'savengingminister，Accuser，judge，andexecutionerSwordinhand，citetheguilty——First，asworst，Theusurperofhisson\'sinheritance;
Himandhisoldaccomplice，timeandcrimeInveterate，andunabletorepayThegoldenyearsoflifetheystoleaway。
What，doesheyetmaintainhisstate，andkeepThethroneheshouldbejudgedfrom？Downwithhim，ThatImaytrampleonthefalsewhiteheadSolonghaswornmycrown！Wherearemysoldiers？
OfallmysubjectsandmyvassalshereNotonetodomybidding？Hark！Atrumpet！
Thetrumpet——
（HepausesasthetrumpetsoundsasinActI。，andmaskedSoldiersgraduallyfillinbehindtheThrone。）
KING（risingbeforehisthrone）。
Ay，indeed，thetrumpetblowsAmemorablenote，tosummonthoseWho，ifforthwithyoufallnotatthefeetOfhimwhoseheadyouthreatenwiththedust，ForthwithshalldrawthecurtainofthePastAboutyou;andthismomentarygleamOfglorythatyouthinktoholdlife—fast，Socoming，soshallvanish，asadream。
SEG。
Heprophesies;theoldmanprophesies;
And，athistrumpet\'ssummons，fromthetowerTheleash—boundshadowsloosen\'daftermeMyrisinggloryreachandover—lour——
But，reachnotImyheight，heshallnothold，Butwithmebacktohisowndarkness！
（Hedashestowardthethroneandisenclosedbythesoldiers。）
Traitors！
Holdoff！Unhandme！——AmnotIyourking？
Andyouwouldstranglehim！——
ButIambreakingwithaninwardFireShallscorchyouoff，andwrapmeonthewingsOfconflagrationfromakindledpyreOflyingpropheciesandprophet—kingsAbovetheextinguish\'dstars——ReachmetheswordHeflungme——FillmesuchabowlofwineAsthatyouwokethedaywith——
KING。
Andshallclose，——
ButofthevintagethatClotaldoknows。
（Exeunt。）
ACTIII。
SCENEI。——TheTower，etc。，asinActI。SceneI。
Segismund，asatfirst，andClotaldoCLOTALDO。
Princesandprincesses，andcounsellorsFluster\'dtorightandleft——mylifemadeat——
ButthatwasnothingEventhewhite—hair\'d，venerableKingSeizedon——Indeed，youmadewildworkofit;
Andsodiscover\'dinyouroutwardaction，Flingingyourarmsaboutyouinyoursleep，Grindingyourteeth——and，asInowremember，Wokemouthingoutjudgmentandexecution，Onthoseaboutyou。
SEG。
Ay，Ididindeed。
CLO。
Ev\'nnowyoureyesstarewild;yourhairstandsup——
Yourpulsesthrobandflutter，reelingstillUnderthestormofsuchadream——
SEG。
Adream！
Thatseem\'dasswearablerealityAswhatIwakeinnow。
CLO。
Ay——wondroushowImaginationinasleepingbrainOutoftheuncontingentsensesdrawsSensationsstrongasfromtherealtouch;
Thatwenotonlylaughaloud，anddrenchWithtearsourpillow;butintheagonyOfsomeimaginaryconflict，fightAndstruggle——ev\'nasyoudid;some，\'tisthought，Underthedreamt—ofstrokeofdeathhavedied。
SEG。
Andwhatsoverystrangetoo——InthatworldWhereplaceaswellaspeopleallwasstrange，Ev\'nIalmostasstrangeuntomyself，Youonly，you，Clotaldo——you，asmuchAndpalpablyyourselfasnowyouare，Cameinthisverygarbyoueverwore，Bysuchatokenofthepast，yousaid，Toassuremeofthatseemingpresent。
CLO。
Ay？
SEG。
Ay;andeventoldmeoftheverystarsYoutellmehereof——howinspiteofthem，Iwasenlargedtoallthatglory。
CLO。
Ay，Bythefalsespirits\'nicecontrivancethusAlittletruthoftleavensallthefalse，Thebettertodeludeus。
SEG。
Foryouknow\'Tisnothingbutadream？
CLO。
Nay，youyourselfKnowbesthowlatelyyouawokefromthatYouknowyouwenttosleepon？——
Why，haveyouneverdreamtthelikebefore？
SEG。
Never，tosuchreality。
CLO。
SuchdreamsAreoftentimesthesleepingexhalationsOfthatambitionthatliessmoulderingUndertheashesofthelowestfortune;
Bywhich，whenreasonslumbers，orhaslostThereinsofsensiblecomparison，Weflyatsomethinghigherthanweare——
Scarceeverdivetolower——tobekings，Orconquerors，crown\'dwithlaurelorwithgold，Nay，mountingheavenitselfoneaglewings。
Which，bytheway，nowthatIthinkofit，MayfurnishusthekeytothishighflightThatroyalEaglewewerewatching，andTalkingofasyouwenttosleeplastnight。
SEG。
Lastnight？Lastnight？
CLO。
Ay，doyounotrememberEnvyinghisimmunityofflight，As，risingfromhisthroneofrock，hesail\'dAbovethemountainsfarintotheWest，Thatburn\'dabouthim，whilewithpoisingwingsHedarkledinitasaburningbrandIsseentosmoulderinthefireitfeeds？
SEG。
Lastnight——lastnight——Oh，whatadaywasthatBetweenthatlastnightandthissadTo—day！
CLO。
Andyet，perhaps，Onlysomefewdarkmoments，intowhichImagination，oncelitupwithinAndunconditionaloftimeandspace，Canpourinfinities。