THE MOUSE
ACT THREE
SCENE TWO
SUB ACT ONE
The feast that evening went well; the knives were
aplenty, slashing at the chunk of meat, the goblets filled to the brim, with
the better men sloshing themselves with whiskey.
“Aye, the drink of the highlands is truly one.” The
men celebrated their drink. At any feast among men, there were bound to be
brawls, but the action of the guards and nobles clamped the cursing and
exchange of fists. The King sat there by the long table laden with food and
drinks; next to him was his queen, and then the adviser and the other nobles.
He looked at the others seated on the long tables in front of him. They were
all facing the roasting pit, where the prime cuts were hung over the fire. One
noble stood on the long table and raised his goblet.
How high would I climb mountains?
If the mountains were where you hide
How far would I scale the valleys?
If you graced the other side
Another noble, not undone, took to the other end of
the table and sang the following verse.
How long have I chased rivers?
From low seas to where they rise
Against the rush of grace descending
From the source of its supply
The others then called on the chorus.
In the Highlands and the Heartache
You’re neither more nor less inclined.
I would search and stop at nothing.
You’re just not that hard to find.
(https://hillsong.com/lyrics/highlands-song-of-ascent/).
“Aye, Mary Stewart. Wed thee to me.” A drunken Thane
took to the tabletop and was booed off.
“Narry will she, Jonas MacCall? Let your breeches be
soiled, but she would not let you soil her.” Another of the Thanes was heard
calling.
It was taken in with Jest, and so was Banquo during it
all. He was at the long table with the King, but when the evening moved on, he
had done so with the other nobles at the rear.
“My King, Banquo, is with the others.” Lady Elleanor
whispered to the King.
“I can see that too, my queen. He enjoys himself with
the Thanes and nobles, and every name I have kept to heart. He will soon know
the night was to be his... "Shall I say, final supper?”
“Drink, my King.” MacDuff, who was seated near the King,
had appeared before him. He held a glass of whiskey to toast the King. The King
obliged and then watched the feast with a steady focus on his friends and
possible foes.
“Tell me a tale, Lennox. Tell me of the mouse.”
Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie,
O', what a panic’s in your breast!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I would be laith to rin and’ chase thee,
Wi’ murdering pattle.
I’m truly sorry for man’s dominion.
Has broken nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion
An’ fellow mortal!
I doubt na’ whyles, but thou may thieve.
What then? Poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thr
‘S a sma’ request:
I’ll get a blessing with’ the lave,
And never miss’t!
https://sdhighlandgames.org/5-famous-poems-by-robert-burns/
In Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse,” the speaker
addresses a mouse that he has disturbed while plowing a field. The speaker
expresses sympathy for the mouse, acknowledging that both he and the mouse are
subject to the whims of fate. The speaker also reflects on the human tendency
to worry about the future, while the mouse lives in the present moment. The
poem is written in Scots dialect, which adds to its charm and authenticity.
The people gathered there and roared out in laughter.
Lennox stopped then while he thought of the words to continue.
“Aye, I seek your pardon, my King. I lost the words
with the drinks.” Lennox bowed to the King.
“You are pardoned, my adviser." The King laughed.
“The Mouse? Surely, there are better words to talk of
you. Lady Elleanor whispered to the King.
“I am perhaps like a mouse. I lived for the moment
now.” The King smiled. “We do not know the future.”
“You did, my King.” Lady Elleanor reminded the King.
“Your ….”
“Indeed, I have, but for now I will enjoy my present
company. Including you.” The King smiled. It left Lady Elleanor to ask more,
but the time and place were not right.
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