In which we see The Prince and The Maid (in disguise as a German Baroness) enter the court and begin their charade.

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Let me introduce the cast, The King,
Our prince’s father, bearing royal ring,
And taking kisses thereupon its gem,
Was, though born worthy of his diadem,
A brute whose love of wine was but the taste
Of habits meant to better talents waste.
Beside him stood The Steward, tall and wise
Who with no japes would ever sympathise;
A perfect foil for his wayward master
Lest by neglect the kingdom edge disaster.
The Fool sat at their feet in bold attire,
Whose endless jests his king had yet to tire,
Puffing his chest to higher births usurp
Then simulating bursting with a burp.
Behind them, in a place the light forsook
Stood one, neglected, scribbl’ng in his book.
This one was I, The Poet, pleased at last
To meet the reader here among this cast.
The last of note was one we’ve met already,
The Cup-Bearer who served the liquor heady.
‘Twas he who brought the knowledge of the theft
Of wine unto his sire, with words spun deft.
The stage is set for our young lovers, thus,
Without another moment’s worthless fuss,
They walk toward the throne to meet The King.
The Fool at sight of them began to sing,
“Like portraits of the sun and moon in flight
Soaring e’er higher than each celestial kite
These children nonetheless fall back to Earth
Unable to escape his orbit’s girth.”
Th’ last line was mimed with reference to his sire,
‘Fore flourishing a chord upon his lyre.
The Steward took no notice and addressed
The Prince, “Who comes with thee so finely...