The Fall of the Gilded King A Shakespearean Tragedy


Dramatis Personae 
- Donaldus Magnus: The Gilded King, whose hubris leads to his fall. 
- Lady Justice: A personification of truth and law, Donaldus’s nemesis. 
- Counselor: A loyal advisor who warns Donaldus but is ignored. 
- Chorus: Narrators who comment on the unfolding events. 
- Judge: The arbiter of Donaldus’s fate. 
- The People:, A collective voice of the disillusioned masses. 

---

Act I, Scene I 

Enter CHORUS.

Chorus:
Attend, ye lords and ladies, mark this tale: 
A gilded king doth rise on hollow ground. 
With honey’d tongue and promises of gold, 
He woos the hearts of those who seek their gain. 
Yet truth lies slain beneath his silken words, 
And justice weeps in shadows cast by pride.

Enter DONALDUS MAGNUS with banners and followers.

Donaldus:
Hark! Citizens of this divided land, 
I come to heal thy wounds with mine own hand. 
No man but I can mend thy broken state; 
No law but mine shall guide thee to thy fate. 
Look on my works—behold their gilded sheen! 
For none before hath ruled as I shall reign.

Counselor
My lord, beware the path thou dost pursue; 
Ambition oft doth blind the wisest kings. 
The people’s trust is like a fleeting mist— 
Once lost, it ne’er returns to grace thy brow.

Donaldus:
Peace, knave! Thy counsel reeks of coward’s fear. 
The people love me; they shall raise me high. 

---

Act III, Scene II 

Enter LADY JUSTICE in ghostly form.

Lady Justice:
O Donaldus, thou art blind to thy descent! 
Thy lies have built a tower frail as sand. 
The truth shall pierce thee like a sharpen’d spear; 
Thy gilded throne shall crumble ‘neath its weight.

Donaldus:
What specter dares to haunt my golden halls? 
Begone! Thy warnings fall on deafened ears. 

Lady Justice:
Beware, proud king, for justice bides her time. 
The wheel doth turn; thy fate is writ in stone.

Exit LADY JUSTICE.

---

Enter JUDGE and THE PEOPLE.

Judge:
Donaldus Magnus, stand before this court! 
Thy deeds are writ in ink both black and foul: 
Thou hast betrayed the trust of those who served; 
Thy lies have sown confusion ‘mongst the land. 

Donaldus: \(aside)
What fools are these who dare to judge their king? 

(to JUDGE)  
I am above thy laws! My will is truth;  
No mortal hand may strike me from my throne.

The People (shouting): 
No more! No more! Thy reign is at an end!

---

\\

Donaldus stands alone in his ruined palace.

Donaldus (soliloquy):
O cruel Fortune! Why dost thou forsake me?  
Did I not charm the masses with my words?  
Did I not build great walls to guard their fears?  
Yet now they turn against their rightful king—  
A lion caged by jackals’ spiteful claws.  
O gilded crown, how heavy dost thou weigh!  

Enter LADY JUSTICE.

Lady Justice:
Thy time hath come; thou canst no longer flee.  
The truth hath triumphed o’er thy web of lies.  

---

Act VIII 

Enter CHORUS.

Chorus:
Thus ends the tale of he who sought to rule  
By bending truth unto his selfish will.  
His gilded throne lies shattered on the ground;  
And justice reigns where once deceit was crowned.

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