Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/44

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10
THE PRINCE WHO LEARNED
ACT I

Tony. Oho! And you?

Tutor. I distrust everything. One road appears to me quite as bad as the other. I shall await you here, studying. Whichever of you arrives first at some habitation may send me back word how he got there.

Tony. But you are here to keep us out of trouble.

Tutor. This road appears to me very bad, and this woman inspires me with no confidence whatsoever. Her invitations, her insistence upon taking us to her house, when she does not know us…

Tony. Hm! We are in a nice fix! One with his maps and his books of science, the other with his fairy-tales—and I, dead with hunger!

Beauty. Come! It will soon be dark, and I must return home. My husband, you know, is the largest landholder in the vicinity for twenty leagues about—he is the richest, the most powerful, although you see me very simply dressed…

Prince. Ah! There is the good old woman, the kind and beneficent fairy! There can be no doubt of it; it must be she. I shall rim to meet her. Don't follow me… I am going alone.

The Prince rushes out.

Tony. Ah… and he is gone! Gross negligence upon your part!

Tutor. Upon yours.

Tony. What account of the Prince shall we give now to their Majesties?

Tutor. What account shall you give? I was merely intrusted with his education.

Tony. Do you consider it education to allow him to do whatever he pleases?

Tutor. He will desist when the way grows long and hard.