The Prince has no need to go
upon a horse, where he has always a coach at his
command.

_King_: It is fowling that suits you so?

_Prince_: I would be well pleased ...

_First Aunt_: There is great danger going out
fowling with a gun that might turn on you after
and take your life.

_Second Aunt_: Why would the Prince go into
danger, having servants that will go following
after birds?

_Queen_: He is likely waiting till his enemies will
make an attack upon the country to defend it.

_First Aunt_: There is a good dyke around about
the marshes, and a sort of quaking bog. It is not
likely war will come till such time as it will be made
by the birds of the air.

_King_: Well, we must strive to knock out some
sport or some pleasure.

_Prince_: It was not on pleasure I was sent.

_First Aunt_: That's so, but on business.

_Second Aunt_: Very weighty business.

_King_: Let the lad tell it out himself.

_Prince_: I hope there is no harm in me coming
hither. I would be loth to push on you ...

_First Aunt_: We thought it was right, as he
was come to sensible years ...

_King_: Stop a minute, ma'am, give him his
time.

_Prince_: My father ... and his counsellors ...
and my seven aunts ...that said it would be
right for me to join with a wife.

_Queen_: They showed good sense in that.

_Prince: (Rapidly.)_ They bade me come and
take a look at your young lady of a Princess to see
would she be likely to be pleasing to them.

_First Aunt_: That's it, and that is what brought
ourselves along with him--to see would we be
satisfied.

_King_: I don't know. The girl is young--she's
young.

_First Aunt_: It is what we were saying, that
might be no drawback. It might be easier train
her in our own ways, and to do everything that
is right.

_King_: Sure we are all wishful to do the thing
that is right, but it's sometimes hard to know.

_Second Aunt_: Not in our place. What the
King of the Marshes would not know, his counsellors
and ourselves would know.

_Queen_: It will be very answerable to the Princess
to be under such good guidance.

_First Aunt_: For low people and for middling
people it is well enough to follow their own opinion
and their will. But for the Prince's wife to have
any choice or any will of her own, the people would
not believe her to be a _real_ princess.

_(Princess comes to door, listening unseen.)_

_King_: Ah, you must not be too strict with a
girl that has life in her.