The king looked pleased with this encouragement, coming as it did from so

excellent authority, and continued with good heart:

'Now mark ye all: we will try him further.'

He put a question to Tom in French. Tom stood silent a moment, embarrassed

by having so many eyes centered upon him, then said diffidently:

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'I have no knowledge of this tongue, so please your majesty.'

The king fell back upon his couch. The attendants flew to his assistance; but

he put them aside, and said:

'Trouble me not — it is nothing but a scurvy faintness. Raise me! there, 'tis

Sufficient. Come hither, child; there, rest thy poor troubled head upon thy

father's heart, and be at peace. Thou'lt soon be well; 'tis but a passing fantasy.

Fear thou not; thou'lt soon be well.' Then he turned toward the company; his

Gentle manner changed, and baleful lightnings began to play from his eyes. He

said:

'List ye all! This my son is mad; but it is not permanent. Overstudy hath done

This, and somewhat too much of confinement. Away with his books and

teachers! see ye to it. Pleasure him with sports, beguile him in wholesome

ways, so that his health come again.' He raised himself higher still and went

on with energy. 'He is mad; but he is my son, and England's heir; and, mad or

sane, still shall he reign! And hear ye further, and proclaim it; whoso