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KING （rising before his throne）。
Ay； indeed； the trumpet blows
A memorable note； to summon those
Who； if forthwith you fall not at the feet
Of him whose head you threaten with the dust；
Forthwith shall draw the curtain of the Past
About you； and this momentary gleam
Of glory that you think to hold life…fast；
So coming； so shall vanish； as a dream。
SEG。
He prophesies； the old man prophesies；
And； at his trumpet's summons； from the tower
The leash…bound shadows loosen'd after me
My rising glory reach and over…lour
But； reach not I my height； he shall not hold；
But with me back to his own darkness！
（He dashes toward the throne and is enclosed by the soldiers。）
Traitors！
Hold off！ Unhand me！Am not I your king？
And you would strangle him！
But I am breaking with an inward Fire
Shall scorch you off； and wrap me on the wings
Of conflagration from a kindled pyre
Of lying prophecies and prophet…kings
Above the extinguish'd starsReach me the sword
He flung meFill me such a bowl of wine
As that you woke the day with
KING。
And shall close；
But of the vintage that Clotaldo knows。
（Exeunt。）
ACT III。
SCENE I。The Tower； etc。； as in Act I。 Scene I。
Segismund； as at first； and Clotaldo
CLOTALDO。
Princes and princesses； and counsellors
Fluster'd to right and leftmy life made at
But that was nothing
Even the white…hair'd； venerable King
Seized onIndeed； you made wild work of it；
And so discover'd in your outward action；
Flinging your arms about you in your sleep；
Grinding your teethand； as I now remember；
Woke mouthing out judgment and execution；
On those about you。
SEG。
Ay； I did indeed。
CLO。
Ev'n now your eyes stare wild； your hair stands up
Your pulses throb and flutter； reeling still
Under the storm of such a dream
SEG。
A dream！
That seem'd as swearable reality
As what I wake in now。
CLO。
Aywondrous how
Imagination in a sleeping brain
Out of the uncontingent senses draws
Sensations strong as from the real touch；
That we not only laugh aloud； and drench
With tears our pillow； but in the agony
Of some imaginary conflict； fight
And struggleev'n as you did； some； 'tis thought；
Under the dreamt…of stroke of death have died。
SEG。
And what so very strange tooIn that world
Where place as well as people all was strange；
Ev'n I almost as strange unto myself；
You only； you； Clotaldoyou； as much
And palpably yourself as now you are；
Came in this very garb you ever wore；
By such a token of the past； you said；
To assure me of that seeming present。
CLO。
Ay？
SEG。
Ay； and even told me of the very stars
You tell me here ofhow in spite of them；
I was enlarged to all that glory。
CLO。
Ay； By the false spirits' nice contrivance thus
A little truth oft leavens all the false；
The better to delude us。
SEG。
For you know
'Tis nothing but a dream？
CLO。
Nay； you yourself
Know best how lately you awoke from that
You know you went to sleep on？
Why； have you never dreamt the like before？
SEG。
Never； to such reality。
CLO。
Such dreams
Are oftentimes the sleeping exhalations
Of that ambition that lies smouldering
Under the ashes of the lowest fortune；
By which； when reason slumbers； or has lost
The reins of sensible comparison；
We fly at something higher than we are
Scarce ever dive to lowerto be kings；
Or conquerors； crown'd with laurel or with gold；
Nay； mounting heaven itself on eagle wings。
Which； by the way； now that I think of it；
May furnish us the key to this high flight
That royal Eagle we were watching； and
Talking of as you went to sleep last night。
SEG。
Last night？ Last night？
CLO。
Ay； do you not remember
Envying his immunity of flight；
As； rising from his throne of rock； he sail'd
Above the mountains far into the West；
That burn'd about him； while with poising wings
He darkled in it as a burning brand
Is seen to smoulder in the fire it feeds？
SEG。
Last nightlast nightOh； what a day was that
Between that last night and this sad To…day！
CLO。
And yet； perhaps；
Only some few dark moments； into which
Imagination； once lit up within
And unconditional of time and space；
Can pour infinities。
SEG。
And I remember
How the old man they call'd the King； who wore
The crown of gold about his silver hair；
And a mysterious girdle round his waist；
Just when my rage was roaring at its height；
And after which it all was dark again；
Bid me beware lest all should be a dream。
CLO。
Aythere another specialty of dreams；
That once the dreamer 'gins to dream he dreams；
His foot is on the very verge of waking。
SEG。
Would it had been upon the verge of death
That knows no waking
Lifting me up to glory； to fall back；
Stunn'd； crippledwretcheder than ev'n before。
CLO。
Yet not so glorious； Segismund； if you
Your visionary honour wore so ill
As to work murder and revenge on those
Who meant you well。
SEG。
Who meant me！me！ their Prince
Chain'd like a felon
CLO。
Stay； stayNot so fast；
You dream'd the Prince； remember。
SEG。
Then in dream
Revenged it only。
CLO。
True。 But as they say
Dreams are rough copies of the waking soul
Yet uncorrected of the higher Will；
So that men sometimes in their dreams confess
An unsuspected； or forgotten； self；
One must beware to checkay； if one may；
Stifle ere born； such passion in ourselves
As makes； we see； such havoc with our sleep；
And ill reacts upon the waking day。
And； by the bye； for one test； Segismund；
Between such swearable realities
Since Dreaming； Madness； Passion； are akin
In missing each that salutary rein
Of reason； and the guiding will of man：
One test； I think； of waking sanity
Shall be that conscious power of self…control；
To curb all passion； but much most of all
That evil and vindictive； that ill squares
With human； and with holy canon less；
Which bids us pardon ev'n our enemies；
And much more those who； out of no ill will；
Mistakenly have taken up the rod
Which heaven； they think； has put into their hands。
SEG。
I think I soon shall have to try again
Sleep has not yet done with me。
CLO。
Such a sleep。
Take my advice'tis early yetthe sun
Scarce up above the mountain； go within；
And if the night deceived you； try anew
With morning； morning dreams they say come true。
SEG。
Oh； rather pray for me a sleep so fast
As shall obliterate dream and waking too。
（Exit into the tower。）
CLO。
So sleep； sleep fast： and sleep away those two
Night…potions； and the waking dream between
Which dream thou must believe； and； if to see
Again； poor Segismund！ that dream must be。
And yet； and yet； in these our ghostly lives；
Half night； half day； half sleeping； half awake；
How if our waking life； like that of sleep；
Be all