lant, as if you were to let me put rouge on my nose instead of
on my cheeks without stopping me.

PRINCE

[_Rather uneasily returning to a favourite subject._]

Well, your Majesty, now I have accustomed myself so long to the idea
of my marriage that it gives me pleasure and calm to dwell on it,
especially when I gaze upon Josephine's tapering regality--then I am
most inclined to think your esteemed father, our former King, was wise
in recommending it, and that Fate was not too unkind in disposing of
my half-brother in her own mysterious way.

[_He smiles rather unpleasantly._]

QUEEN

[_Who has not attended the last part of his speech._]

Yes. To provide at one clip for her--the child of his love, and for
me, the result of his duty, proved him a parent, a statesman, and,
tonight, I am a little inclined to think, a blackguard. However, you
know this marriage has none of my command in it and there are many
ways out.

[_PHEDRO invisible to the QUEEN and the PRINCE slides into the
shadow of a giant oak tree._]

PRINCE

You mean if either of us----

QUEEN

That if any charge of unworthiness could be brought by either of you
against the other, then it would be my duty even at the last hour----

PRINCE [_suddenly_]

Well, unfortunately, my various dissipations have only rendered me
romantic in the eyes of your court, and as for Josephine----

QUEEN

Ah, her appearance gives no clue to her mind [_with an attempted
lightness_], save occasionally there is too much scent on her cambric.

PRINCE

Why do you dislike Josephine?

QUEEN

I do not dislike her, but she behaves unbecomingly. She is very
arrogant. Arrogance does not become a bastard.

PRINCE [_in a teasing vein_]

You do dislike her. You hate her, even though she is your half-sister,
but I find her enchanting. I adore her cold, slender finger tips and
the perfection of her contemptuous profile. She moves exactly like a
swan.

QUEEN [_trying to control her emotion_]

At last you are giving yourself entirely away. I am hearing what I
know. Ugh! how doubly unpleasant!

PRINCE

Why should I not give myself away to you, Cousin?

QUEEN

You mean I am powerless to harm either of you.

PRINCE

Why should you wish to harm us?

QUEEN

There are many things you might not understand; for instance, there is
a love that is half hatred. It is sprinkled into life in a rather
strange manner--by wounds. However, I am b