Racine: Phaedra

234
CALDERON
Chamberlain.—Oh, my good Lord, you laugh at me— ^and I
Right glad to make you laugh at such a price
You know me no enchanter : if I were,
I and my wand as much as your Highness',
As now your chamberlain
Segismund.— My chamberlain?
And these that follow you ?
Chamberlain.— On you, my Lord
Your Highness' lords in waiting.
Segismund.— Lords in waiting.
Well, I have now learn'd to repeat, I think,
If only but by rote—This is my palace.
And this my throne—which unadvised—And that
Out of the window there my Capital
And all the people moving up and down
My subjects and my vassals like yourselves.
My chamberlain—and lords in waiting—and
Clotaldo—and Clotaldo?
You are an aged, and seem a reverend man
You do not—though his fellow-ofificer
You do not mean to mock me ?
Chamberlain.— Oh, my Lord
Segismund.—Well then—If no magician, as you say,
Yet setting me a riddle, that my brain.
With all its senses whirling, cannot solve.
Yourself or one of these with you must answer
How I—that only last night fell asleep
Not knowing that the very soil of earth
I lay down—chain'd—to sleep upon was Poland—
Awake to find myself the Lord of it.
With Lords, and Generals, and Chamberlains,
And ev'n my very Gaoler, for my vassals 1
Enter Clotaldo suddenly.
Clotaldo.—Stand all aside
That I may put into his hand the clew
To lead him out of this amazement. Sir,
Vouchsafe your Highness from my bended knee
Receive my homage first.