human
Please your Majesty, I'm your butler,
gpt
My butler! you lying rascal! What do you mean?
human
I mean, I will cork your big bottle.
gpt
Is the fellow mad?
human
I will put a stopper--plug--what you call it, in your leaky lake, grand monarch,
gpt
Oh! said he at last, putting up his sword with difficulty, it was so long;
human
I am obliged to you, you young fool! Take a glass of wine?
gpt
No, thank you,
human
Very well, said the king.
gpt
Would you like to run and see your parents before you make your experiment?
human
No, thank you,
gpt
Then we will go and look for the hole at once,
human
Stop, please your Majesty; I have a condition to make,
gpt
What! exclaimed the king,
human
As you please, returned the prince, coolly.
gpt
I wish your Majesty a good morning.
human
You wretch! I will have you put in a sack, and stuck in the hole.
gpt
Very well, your Majesty, replied the prince, becoming a little more respectful, lest the wrath of the king should deprive him of the pleasure of dying for the princess.
human
But what good will that do your Majesty? Please to remember that the oracle says the victim must offer himself.
gpt
Well, you have offered yourself,
human
Yes, upon one condition.
gpt
Condition again! roared the king, once more drawing his sword.
human
Begone! Somebody else will be glad enough to take the honour off your shoulders.
gpt
Your Majesty knows it will not be easy to get another to take my place.
human
Well, what is your condition?
gpt
Only this, replied the prince:
human
Why didn't you tell me before what your condition was? Such a fuss about nothing!
gpt
Do you grant it? persisted the prince.
human
Of course I do,
gpt
Very well. I am ready.
human
Go and have some dinner, then, while I set my people to find the place.