Queen A: And I stood sideway thou'd see no shadow at all, good Gnu. And welcome here. It is well known you are good, and well 'tis so, though we do on occasion grow weary with it.

Gnu: Weary, my thinnest of Queens? Pray, stand broader to the light, and you'll be a lighter broad. And tell me, thou royal rail, railing not but speaking without splinter, why you weary grow?

Queen: Why, thou jackanapes, there is no interest in it, as it lends not itself! Neither to humor, nor to alarum, nor yet to tales of wonder, and me thinks to wonder why we entertain at all that which entertaineth not. For well 'tis said, no gnus is good gnus, and th'art good.

Gnu: Nay, good Queen, though I lend not myself, being good, let me go better. I shall give myself to thee the long night through, and thou shalt see new wonders in the name of goodness as will entertain thee right well, I vow.

Queen: And what trade would there be in that, good Gnu? How woulds't thou be repaid for such giving? In kind?

Gnu: As kind as ever a Queen might be, when her crown is taken off and love enters in. Do thee but give yourself in like kind and in liking kindness too, and all will be well, and right.

Queen: Your well may be right, but 'tis too deep for me this evening. But thou cans't easily plumb the depth of it, and thou has the line and the rod.

Gnu: I do madam; the rod waits for use, and the line, why I am trying it now as we speak.

Queen: Thy line is soft -- is't so then with thy rod as well? I fear me an unkindness of the bitterest sort.

Gnu: Nay, nay madame, the kind is like in kindness but unlike in temper -- where the line approacheth most softly, the rod is well traveled as a harder road. An' thee hold only thine own temper thou might well hold the temper of the rod, as well, as any blacksmith can tell you. For there's a kind of kindness will blow the fires hot in any smithy, fixing to put right a pot, a well, or a rod.

Queen: Th'art well spoke, no Gnus and good! Come, let us to my chambers to discover more; but and thou art good, make no news of this night abroad, or I unkindly soon would grow, and seek thy diminishment.

Gnu: Madame, never fear. My diminishment I entrust unto thy hands and my news unto they tongue that it shall come forth only right.

"Queen: Go to, th'art saucy, and I grow saucy in postponement. Come away, come.

(They exit toward the bed chamber stage right).