Racine: Phaedra

LIFE A DREAM 253
Clotaldo.—A theme indeed for wiser heads than yours
To moralize upon—How came you here?
Fife.—Not of my own will, I assure you, sir.
No matter for myself : but I would know
About my mistress—I mean, master
Clotalix).— Oh,
Now I remember—Well, your master-mistress
Is well, and deftly on its errand speeds,
As you shall— if you can but hold your tongue.
Can you?
Fife.— I'd rather be at home again.
Clotaldo.—Where you shall be the quicker if while here
You can keep silence.
Fife.— I may whistle, then?
Which by the virtue of my name I do,
And also as a reasonable test
Of waking sanity
Clotaldo.— Well, whistle then
And for another reason you forgot,
That while you whistle, you can chatter not.
Only remember—if you quit this pass
Fife.— (His rhymes are out, or he had call'd it spot)
Clotaldo.—A bullet brings you to.
I must forthwith to court to tell the King
The issue of this lamentable day,
That buries all his hope in night. [To Fife] Farewell.
Remember.
Fife.— But a moment—but a word
When shall I see my mis—mas
Clotaldo.— Be content
All in good time ; and then, and not before,
Never to miss your master any more. [Exit.
Fife.—Such calk of dreaming—dreaming— I begin
To doubt if I be dreaming I am Fife,
Who with a lad who call'd herself a boy
Because— I doubt there's some confusion here
He wore no petticoat, came on a time
Riding from Muscovy on half a horse.
Who must have dreamt she was a horse entire.
To cant me off upon the ground my hinder face