Enter AERUH and MALUS SYL-VESTRIS, a pair of JESTERS.
AERUH
I tell thee, rosemary is like a pine
but with a spicy taste.
MALUS
Art thou to claim
that needles base of pine have not a spice?
AERUH
A needle base of pine is merely base.
MALUS
‘Tis not when held, comparing, to anthos.
AERUH
My dearest Malus, needles thou'st eaten?
MALUS
How many moons have we as friends seen rise?
How many suns have we as friends seen set?
Thou sixteen seasons in my heart I’ve held,
and hope that I in thine hast been the same.
With brotherhood as rich and old as this,
thou needst not ask me such frivolities.
AERUH
I know thou likely has, to tell the truth,
but I would not assume.
MALUS
Well, yes, I have.
A multitude of types I’ve eaten too.
I’ll tell thee now: the best (though it is strange)
is single-leaf pinyon.
MALUS
I truly wish that I could tell thee this,
but now, i'faith, I cannot fully tell,
the difference in classifying thus:
to say “has spice” or merely “herbal strength”.
AERUH
To tell this tale most clearly it would seem
that eating needles from a pine’s required.
MALUS
Aye, it would seem that that’s the task at hand,
but caution tells that this is what’s to do:
eat only needles of the honest pine,
and none of lying leaf with pinelike shape.
MALUS
I prithee, stay thyself.
AERUH
Roulette with leaves.
MALUS
At least restrain from yew.
MALUS
That is all can we do.
The scholars tell that needles true of pine
can be distinguished from the lying yew
by sheathlike clothing all along the base;
the yew has no such guard.
AERUH
With this new truth
I now will venture out into the wood
and seek the pines and pinelike fakes alike
to stare them down and learn their secret truths.
MALUS
With this thou canst at long and weary last
Discover for thyself my life’s own path.
MACDUFF.
Yo dudes that king there’s dead. Like dead as FUCK.
