[Illustration: "QUICK, NOW--BEFORE THE KING COMES"]
POLLIE. Oh dear! Oh dear! I'll lose my nose!
HODGE. Now get you back to Gotham, children! You will not lose your noses.
PODGE. Quick, now--before the king comes!
[_The children go, holding their noses._]
NODGE. Now, Gotham men, do you all know what to do?
FIRST SOLDIER. We took them all away, Sire.
KING (to _a soldier._) Then go and get our horses. We will ride into this Gotham town. (_The soldier salutes and goes._)
KING. Don't you know that the sun will rise without help?
OLD MAN. Will it? Well, well! Who would have thought of that!
KING. You foolish fellows! Well, go on and roll your stones. Now tell me why you grunt, young men?
A YOUNG MAN. Oh, we do the grunting while our fathers do the work.
KING. Ha, ha! Well, go on and grunt. Now what are you men doing?
HODGE. There is a cuckoo here, your Majesty.
PODGE. We are building a wall around it, Sire?
KING. Ha, ha! Don't you know that the bird can fly over the wall?
HODGE. Well, well! Who would have thought of that!
KING. You foolish fellows! Well, go on and build your wall.
(_Enter_ SCRODGE, _carrying a door on his back._)
KING. Why didn't you leave the door at home?
KING. Afraid of thieves! And you have taken down your door!
SCRODGE. If I have the door with me, they can't break it open to get in.
KING. You foolish fellow! Why didn't you leave your door at home and carry your money?
SCRODGE. Well, well! Who would have thought of that! How very wise you are, Sire!
KING. Ha, ha, ha! Well, go on and carry your door.
These Gotham men are foolish. Does it not seem so to you?
KING. I'll let them keep their noses. They knew no better than to cut down the trees. Come, we will go away and leave them.
TIME: _when John was King of England._ PLACE: _King John's palace._
KING JOHN. ABBOT. KNIGHT. JESTER. LORDS AND LADIES.
[KING JOHN _sits on his throne. A_ KNIGHT _stands before him. Back of him are the_ LORDS, _the_ LADIES, _and the_ JESTER.]
KING. You say one hundred men sit down to dine with him?
KING. And fifty knights in velvet coats do wait on him?
KNIGHT. They bring him food on golden plates.
JESTER. Your Majesty does not eat on golden plates!
JESTER. Ha, ha! The king's Abbot lives better than the king!