Life Is a Dream

The second act’s first scene begins with a conversation between King Vasily and Clothold, during which Clothold explains how the king’s order was “carried out” (109). From “a poison that kills” (109), Clothold has obtained a drug that “robs one in his sleep of his sense and faculties” (109), and after speaking with Sigismund about his nature lessons, he “invited him to drink from the potion” (110). Sigismund “surrendered himself to the arms of sleep” (110) just as the king’s attendants arrived to transport the prince to the king’s quarters at the palace, “which have been prepared with the majesty and grandeur worthy of his person” (110). In response to Clothold’s question regarding his intention “in bringing Sigismund to the palace in this way” (110), King Vasily explains that if Sigismund discovers“that he’s my son and find himself tomorrow reduced a second time to his prison and misery” (111), the king plans to tell him “that everything he saw was a dream” (111).

Clothold obtains permission from the king to “tell [Sigismund] everything” (111) just as Bugle arrives to announce that “[Clothold’s] willingness to help Rossaura avenge her dishonor has encouraged her to resume dressing in women’s clothes” (112), and that “she is being pampered and attended to like a queen, thanks to calling herself your niece” (112).