Act 2
Scene 1
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				(Enter Marcis and Helva)

Marcis		We are a prince, and you are but a servant,		1
		So therefore leave us hence, that we may sit
		And mayhap look at words, without the gaze
		Of meddling mother hens always upon us.

Helva		What be ye reading, Lord Marcis?  Is it a tale		5
		of Knights, perhaps, a-going on fair marvelous
		journeys to serve as banes?  Or be it mayhap a little
		tale of romance, Marcis my dear?  Wilt ye continue
		to turn ye from me, ears closed always?  Tell ye
		what ye read?						10

Marcis		We told you, 'tis but words.  No 'ventures here,
		Nor boldly valiant runes of ladies fair.
		'Tis not but words, marching 'cross dirtied paper
		And giving nary sense.  Like us, we wot.

Helva		Marcis, most verily do ye give me worry;		15
		please ye, cease to speak in this oddly, and
		mayhap tell me a story, as ye were wont to 
		do ere your kingly father died, and be not
		so solemn?

Marcis		Our father?  Nay, our father is not dead		20
		But on a journey, seeking far-off lands.
		We'll join him ere too long, we do believe.

Helva		(aside) Oh poor madling, that look so haply
		on his own death!

				(Enter Lilia)

Helva		Oh Lilia, most gladly do I greet your presence,		25
		and beg that ye speak with Marcis; for he do
		speak nonsense, aye, more than he dist upon the
		yestereve, and I doth be worried greatly.

Lilia		Then you may leave, good mother; and be sure
		That Marcis shall be good in hands with me.		30

				(Exit Helva)

Marcis		Oh well, I most am glad that bird be gone,
		For ill I was of sitting e'er so still,
		Pretending to be mad.

Lilia				     You are mad.

Marcis						True,			35
		And so do mad I act; for being thus,
		'Tis surely sign of madness that one would
		Affect to lose his wits.  The seeming doth
		Give yet more proof to the reality.

Lilia		I know not why I worry over you; 			40
		In antic dreams dost thou seem quite content.

Marcis		And so I am.

				(Enter Alexia)

Alexia				Now get you from this place.
		--I need to audience you, Lilia.

Lilia		Nay, Marcis, stay, for in your company			45
		I do delight, and would fain see you here.

Marcis		Apologies, dear mother; Lilia
		By right of birth is now my queen, and so
		It is to her decrees I must obey.

Queen Alexia	Nay, go thee now, as I do order you,			50
		Your mother, and indeed your truthful queen!

Marcis		I fear I must refuse.

Queen Alexia				Thee maddened boy!
		Begone or, aye, my wrath thee now shall feel!

Lilia		Nay, never!  Never hurt him!  Ever touch		55
		Him with your palsied hands, or ever harm
		The smallest wire 'pon his skull, and I
		Swear I shall throw God's laws unto the wind
		And kill you where you stand.

Queen Alexia					There be no need.	60
		I find I was mistaken, and do not
		Require your attendance after all.
		I now shall go.  (Aside) And now my daughter bold,
		Ye've shown me how to chain thee to my rule,
		Betrayed thy weakness, showed thyself a fool.		65
		--Good day.

				(Exits)

Marcis				I know not why thee do insist
		On so protecting me; for what do I,
		A madman, matter to this world?  'Twould be
		A better fate an I would die and join			70
		Our father now, for I've no purpose here.

Lilia		It be not yours that you've bewildered powers,
		And so you should not take the punishment.
		And we both know that you are not as mad
		As you dispose; for, as you ere have said,		75
		There be some times when you have reason in you,
		And this is one of them.

Marcis					Aye, but it be
		The eas'er course to let you sway the land,
		And thus stay in your nighttime as the touched		80
		And useless brother.  You have more the skills
		To rule than I, and so I'll stand me back
		And let you be my queen and ruler dear.

Lilia		You are too kind, sweet Marcis.

Marcis						That I am.		85

Lilia		Now give me back mine own, ye naughty boy!
		--Come, let's go down.  Methinks I heard the bell.

				(They exit)