_2nd Wrenboy_: I have no grace or lovely face!

_Jester: (To Princes.)_ Too late, too late! Go out the gate!

(_The Princes have taken up fife and drum.

They march out playing_.)

CURTAIN

ACT II

ACT II

SCENE I

(_A front scene. A poor hut or tent, the Princes are coming in slowly, some limping.

They are in Wrenboys' clothes and the masks are in their hands_.)

_1st Prince_: This should be the hut where the Wrenboys told us to come.

_2nd Prince_: It is a poor looking place.

_3d Prince_: It is good to have any place to sit down in for a while. My back is aching.

_4th Prince_: My feet are all scratched and torn.

There are blisters rising.

_5th Prince:_ I thought we would never come to the end of the road. The stones by the lake were so hard and so sharp.

_1st Prince_: It was a root of a tree I fell over that made these bruises on my knees. I was watching a hawk that was still and quiet up in the air, and when it made a swoop all of a sudden I stumbled and fell.

_2nd Prince_: It was in slipping where the rocks are high I gave this twist to my arm. I can hardly move it.

_3rd Prince_: But wasn't the sight of the sunset splendid over the lake? And the hills so blue!

_4th Prince_: I like the tall trees best. I tried to climb up one of them, but it was so smooth I did but slip and fall.

_1st Prince_: I would wish to walk as far as the hills, and to have a view of the ocean that is beyond.

_5th Prince_: I am hungry. I wonder where we will get our supper.

_4th Prince_: Not in this place, anyway, it must be making ready in some big guesthouse.

_3rd, Prince_: What will they give us, I wonder?

_2nd Prince_: I wish we had in our hand what they have ready for us at home.

_1st Prince_: What use would it be to us? Do you remember what we asked to be given, some jellies and a few grapes? It is not that much would satisfy me now.

_2nd Prince_: Indeed it would not. I never felt so sharp a hunger in my longest memory.

_3rd Prince_: It is roasted meat I would wish for.

_4th Prince_: There were pigeons in the tall trees. They will maybe give us a pigeon pie.

_5th Prince_: I would be content with a plate of minced turkey with poached eggs.

_1st Prince_: I would sooner have a roasted chicken, with bread sauce.

_2nd Prince_: Be quiet.... I think I hear someone coming! _(Looks out.)_

_3rd Prince: (Looking out.)_ I see him. He is not a right man ...he is very strange looking....

_4th Prince: (Looking out.)_ Oh! It is an Ogre!

A Grugach!

_(All shrink back and hurriedly put on masks.)_

_Ogre: (Coming in: he wears a frightful mask, has red hair and a cloak of rough skins and carries a whip with many lashes_.) What makes ye late to-night, ye young schemers? What was it delayed ye? Lagging along the road.

_1st Prince_: We came as fast as we could. It was getting dusk in the wood.

_Ogre_: Dusk, good morrow to you! I'll dusk ye! I had a mind to go after ye and to change myself into the form of a wolf, and catch a hold of ye with my long sharp teeth!

_2nd Prince_: We did not know there was any great hurry.

_Ogre_: There is always hurry when you are on my messages. What did I bring you away from your own house for and put ye on the shaughraun for and keep ye wandering, if it was not to be serviceable and helpful to myself. Show me now what ye have in your pocket or your bag.

_3rd Prince_: This is all we got in the bag. (_Holds it out_.) It is but very little.

_Ogre_: (_Turning it out and counting it_.) Coppers!

Silver! What is this? A piece of gold! Is that what ye call little? What notions ye have! Take care did ye keep any of it back! If ye did I'll skin ye with the lash of my cat-o'-nine-tails.

(_Shakes it_.)

_4th Prince_: That is all we got. It should maybe pay for our supper in some place.

_Ogre_: What supper? To go buy supper with my money! It will go to add to my store of treasure in the cave that is under ground.

_5th Prince_: We are hungry, very hungry. When will the supper be ready?

_Ogre_: It will be ready whenever ye will ready it for yourselves. Ye should know that by this time.