I would not sleep! I love to be Rest! rest! O, give me rest and peace! A flash of lightning, out of which LUCIFER appears in the garb of a travelling Physician Lucifer. All hail, Prince Henry! Prince Henry (starting). Who is it speaks? Lucifer. One who seeks A moment's audience with the Prince. Prince Henry. When came you in? A moment since. I found your study door unlocked, Lucifer. You heard the thunder; It was loud enough to waken the dead. Your Highness. You behold in me Only a travelling Physician; One of the few who have a mission To cure incurable diseases, Or those that are called so. Prince Henry. The dead to life? Lucifer. Can you bring Yes; very nearly. And, what is a wiser, and better thing, The storm, that against your casement drives, Of your maladies physical and mental, And I hastened hither, though late in the night, Prince Henry (ironically). For this you came! Ah, how can I ever hope to requite This honour from one so erudite? Lucifer. The honour is mine, or will be when I have cured your disease. Prince Henry. But not till then. 1 Lucifer. What is your illness? Prince Henry. It has no name. A smouldering, dull, perpetual flame, Lucifer. The dead are dead, And their oracles dumb, when questioned Of the new diseases that human life Prince Henry. Ay, whole schools Of doctors, with their learned rules; But the case is quite beyond their science. Even the doctors of Salern Send me back word they can discern No cure for a malady like this, Save one which in its nature is Lucifer. That sounds oracular! Lucifer. What is their remedy? Unendurable! |