The tragedy of William
Written by Patricio Muñoz Martínez
CHARACTERS:
WILLIAM, soldier of Wessex
VICTORIA, queen of Wessex
DEAD MAN
CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN
SOLDIER OF WESSEX
AETHELFLAED, William's wife
MUTED CHARACTERS:
DUNCAN, king of Wessex
WILLIAM'S CHILDREN
Act I
Scene I
(Thunder and lightning)
(In a graveyard)
(Dead man and Victoria enter)
DEAD MAN
Come, come to me, my dearest child. I greet thee as the missive that I am, whiles feed I thy knowledge with this
compunctious intelligence: thy gashes will cry for help; and tertian wilt thou breed, for ghastly counsel would be heard as a devil's hoarse when thy zealous becomes poor and pale as broil. Whether thy swarth substance dares to be curst from the crown to the toe top-full, or to be who unseams the devil's throat at fresh sight o' noble eye. 'Tis alway upon our will to retain welfare in our thought, for might should we smack without advancement; and thus, awry pang would not reach own quietus.
Withal, wilt thyself dare to do as thou wouldst think fair with this spann'd knowledge, for it seemeth to hover through thy smoked face.
Thus, must thou do what fate is promised thee; therefore, I vouchsafe thee a bodkin, which will be of use hereafter.
[Gives her the bodkin.]
(Exeunt)
Act I
Scene II
(Gloomy forest)
(William and queen Victoria enter)
WILLIAM
Weary toil this enterprise will be; and fair quiet in our deed we must achieve. Thus, I, but thy humble servant, shall vouchsafe thee all my fairest desserts; thus, thou were better hear ere speak: thy dearest husband, with the carving Duncan, murder'd my wife and children upon the reign of jealousy, for he, who do I abhor, prais'd my wife and thus condemn'd her soul.
My words speak not by themselves; thence, prithee: follow my counsel, and wilt thou end his reign which is full of worn command; and thus, this business will start sans other's fardels to bear, for this affair brandish shall within thee.
VICTORIA
If it be so, when?, my belov'd.
WILLIAM
When the shadows o' the trees in fitter of wind be.
VICTORIA
Affability rules no more within me; yet, will I hold a scepter with eel hands betwixt a fruitless throne and a wailful crown upon my head.
WILLIAM
Doubtful is thy tongue that dares to speak, for purgation thou think there is within Duncan's blood, should vanish. When he is dead, thy mightst should brandish in the
grass-green o' the kingdom. Therewith, thou...
VICTORIA
...No more o' that! Would I dare to munch his flesh as steak, for I myself am
half-supped withal; and doubt hath not cling to my wretched desire o' being sovereign of this kingdom. The words that have been spok'n are writt'n in stones, yet they will speak not.
WILLIAM
And the sweet singing o' the birds sound 'gainst the sky. Didst perceive?
VICTORIA
Very well! But now our feet are gilded in noble blood.
William.- For we are oppos'd to his witless might that hover through the fog o' his breath.
Victoria.- Indeed. And that his seeds, which he planted, ne'er give hawthorns, for we perchance plunge them anon into the river.
William.- Mine eyes cannot reach the sight of our seeds.
Victoria.- O well-beloved, search what your eyes see best not; and haste thee thither; then, wilt thou gaze but sooth.
William.- I want what I can't posses, as the highest ornament of life itself.
Victoria.- And what, my love, is that thou wishest? Is lust thy curse? Is motion thy potion? Is power thy ambition? Yes! Yes! More o' that: turn thee to me!
William.- Well seemeth thou dost smack madness, for thou'ldst not hover in sooth withal.
Victoria.- 'Sblood! So tongued art thou!
William.- Cling to devotion must I. Forgive me, my mistress. My words rather trivial were.
Victoria.- Lewd-tongued speech of yours! Forgiveness I vouchsafe thee only if my question brights thy forfeit and, thus, becomes an answer.
William.- O wish I to be loved...
Victoria.- Then my heart is yours, but my hand belongs to other man, though you make mine moist. Yet do I fear thy humours in the living day: who would not so.
William.- That foul thought that dresses your mind is true; and yet, thy hand mine shall be. Thus, Duncan, cousin o' mine, crawling beneath the earth will be.
Victoria.- But the lights upon us shall we wait as a hot-blooded man for her well-beloved on the bed saying: 'I do beseech you, come.'
William.- Though they witnesses be, thou shouldst make thyself air and, thus, vanish into the wind; therefore, thou shouldst amble thither.
Victoria.- My bodkin will top-full his reason of thick blood until his breath not be more shall part of him. 'Hold, hold', would he say, for I shall unseam his head; therewith, he, with neglect'd gaze and who claims to be my husband, will know that Victoria, for that is my name, rules upon this earthly kingdom.
Withal, In good sooth, I should rise a moan of oath to thee, dear William.
