Life Is A Dream

Basilio King of Poland.

Segismund his Son.

Astolfo his Nephew.

Estrella his Niece.

Clotaldo a General in Basilio's Service.

Rosaura a Muscovite Lady.

Fife her Attendant.

Chamberlain, Lords in Waiting, Officers,

Soldiers, etc., in Basilio's Service.

The Scene of the first and third Acts lies on the Polish frontier: of the second Act, in Warsaw.

As this version of Calderon's drama is not for acting, a higher and wider mountain-scene than practicable may be imagined for Rosaura's descent in the first Act and the soldiers' ascent in the last. The bad watch kept by the sentinels who guarded their state-prisoner, together with much else (not all!) that defies sober sense in this wild drama, I must leave Calderon to answer for; whose audience were not critical of detail and probability, so long as a good story, with b, rapid, and picturesque action and situation, was set before them.

ROSAURA.

There, four-footed Fury, blast

Engender'd brute, without the wit

Of brute, or mouth to match the bit

Of man — art satisfied at last?

Who, when thunder roll'd aloof,

Tow'rd the spheres of fire your ears

Pricking, and the granite kicking

Into lightning with your hoof,

Among the tempest-shatter'd crags

Shattering your luckless rider

Back into the tempest pass'd?

There then lie to starve and die,

Or find another Phaeton

Mad-mettled as yourself; for I,

Wearied, worried, and for-done,

Alone will down the mountain try,

That knits his brows against the sun.

FIFE (as to his mule).

There, thou mis-begotten thing,

Long-ear'd lightning, tail'd tornado,

Griffin-hoof-in hurricano,

(I might swear till I were almost

Hoarse with roaring Asonante)

Who forsooth because our betters

Would begin to kick and fling

You forthwith your noble mind

Must prove, and kick me off behind,

Tow'rd the very centre whither

Gravity was most inclined.

There where you have made your bed

In it lie; for, wet or dry,

Let what will for me betide you,

Burning, blowing, freezing, hailing;