You must be with us, my lords
Izdubhar and Saballidin, and let the stars of your wisdom
roar loudly for peace.
IZDUBHAR:
He talks like a tablet read upside down,--a wild ass braying
in the wilderness. Yet there is policy in his words.
SABALLIDIN:
I know not. Can a kingdom live without a people or an army?
If we let the Bull in to sup on the lentils, will he not
make his breakfast in our vineyards?
[Enter other courtiers following SHUMAKIM, a hump-backed
jester, in blue, green and red, a wreath of poppies
around his neck and a flagon in his hand. He walks
unsteadily, and stutters in his speech.]
HAZAEL:
Here is Shumakim, the King's fool, with his legs full of
last night's wine.
SHUMAKIM: [Balancing himself in front of them and chuckling.]
Wrong, my lords, very wrong! This is not last night's wine,
but a draught the King's physician gave me this morning
for a cure. It sobers me amazingly! I know you all,
my lords: any fool would know you. You, master, are a
statesman; and you are a politician; and you are a patriot.
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