NIX (_fishing_). If colts belong to oxen, then I will always fish in dust.
KING. Well, well, I think you may be right, sir!
Yes, I am now sure that you are right, sir. Go get your colt from Farmer Knave. Go with him, Prince, and see to it. Now come, dear Queen, we'll walk about together, for 'tis a very pleasant day, 'tis very, very pleasant.
TIME: _one morning._ PLACE: _the highroad to Gotham._
HODGE. PODGE. NODGE. SCRODGE. KING. SOLDIERS.
[_Enter_ HODGE, PODGE, NODGE, _and_ SCRODGE; _each carries an ax and each chuckles to himself._]
SCRODGE. How angry it will make the king! Ha, ha!
HODGE. He sent us word he would visit Gotham! Ha, ha!
SCRODGE. He would hang us if he knew we cut the trees!
HODGE. And let them fall across the road.
PODGE. He will not know. Not a Gotham man would tell him!
HODGE. They have not forgotten what his last visit brought upon them.
PODGE. Everything he saw and liked, he took.
SCRODGE. His servants and his soldiers ate the town up.
PODGE (_looking off_). He is coming now! He is on the hill!
[_They run off. Enter the_ KING _and_ SOLDIERS.]
KING. To think that I--a king--should have to walk!
FIRST SOLDIER. Shall I bring the horses up, your Majesty?
KING. Of what use? Look how the road from here is filled with trees!
SECOND SOLDIER. Just as it was back there!
KING. I know! It was done to keep me out of Gotham! I know!
THIRD SOLDIER (_saluting_). Yes, your Majesty.
KING. Get to Gotham, if you have to crawl.
KING. Tell these men of Gotham I shall come again.
KING. And when I do--and when I do--[_He stops._]
KING. And when I do, I'll have their noses!
KING. I'll have the Gotham nose of every Gotham man cut off his Gotham face!
THIRD SOLDIER (_saluting)._ Yes, your Majesty.
KING. We will now return the way we came. (_He shakes his finger toward Gotham_,)
TIME: _one month later._ PLACE: _a field near Gotham._
HODGE. PODGE. NODGE. SCRODGE. KING. SOLDIERS. OLD MEN OF GOTHAM. YOUNG MEN OF GOTHAM. PETER AND OTHER GOTHAM BOYS. POLLIE AND OTHER GOTHAM GIRLS.
[_The_ OLD MEN, _the_ YOUNG MEN, _and the_ CHILDREN _are in the field._]
AN OLD MAN. Well, the king's men have taken all the trees away.
A YOUNG MAN. A good month's work it made them, too!
ANOTHER OLD MAN. And now the king will come again!
