12. Good Doctor
PORKEO.
Good doctor, I will make you laugh,
I will sing you pretty songs
And I will make you laugh,
I will dance you silly dances,
And if you will give me glances,
We could take our happy chances,
Good doctor, you and me.
And if you . . . if you are feeling sadly,
I would meet your frowning gladly,
And repeat the promise that I made to you before:
That I will dance you silly dances,
And if you will give me glances,
We could take our happy chances,
Good doctor, you and me.
[PORKEO gathers LEOPOLD up out of chair, a little reluctantly—but only a little. They dance together, in moonlight.
Then, a shadow passes briefly over the sky, blotting out the stars. LEOPOLD wrenches himself away from PORKEO, and turns back to his telecope.]
LEOPOLD.
I am unstarred by this—into his last house
My sun has sunk and light is gone,
And not content to dim such orbs as make my fortune,
This conjurer throws up new worlds
To blight me, disasters in the sky
To lay the blow on double-thick! I think the stars
Have changed! I recognize no patch of sky.
[PORKEO puts a hand on LEOPOLD’s shoulder.]
I bring them secret truths delivered out of
Hidden wombs—I bring them stars; I call up worlds!
I bring a sun and make it stand before
An earthly king and wait upon his wishes!
What are pretty tricks and spells in counterfeit
Compared with this?
[PORKEO takes hold of LEOPOLD’s hand.]
He did not speak to me. Why? Sure, he is
Tongued as well as I. Yet, I must be content.
Not speak? To me? Sure, I will be content.
I’ll make him speak! I’ll catch his tongue within
A trap and make it sing!
[PORKEO lays a hand on LEOPOLD’s face.]
Touch me, clown?
PORKEO.
I fear for you.
LEOPOLD.
Touch what you fear?
PORKEO.
Fear what you love.
Greet, regreet, and pass away,
Long sorrow in too long delay . . .
A clown could love you for a day
And Time will treat you badly.
Remember there is someone here
That loves you more than stars or spheres,
Too far away to be so dear,
And I could make you happy.
And if you, if you are feeling sadly,
I would meet your frowning gladly,
And repeat the promise that I made to you before:
That I will dance you silly dances,
And if you will give me glances,
We could take our happy chances,
Good doctor, you and me.
[Pause.]
LEOPOLD.
I’ll go to him tomorrow.
[LEOPOLD returns to the telescope; PORKEO sits at his feet. Starlight fades to darkness.]