By candlelight, the end of an evening
A humble tradesman sweeping his floor
Hears a ruckus outside his chambers
Moments later burst through the door
A squadron of the guard of the palace
Armoured, armed, and seven feet tall
"The king himself demands the attendance
Of the glassmaker people call..."
Jorge! The king is in a temper
Jorge! Trembles before the throne
"Jorge! My advisors have informed me that
Jorge makes the finest glassware known"
The lavishly appointed palace
Lets the king display his grandeur
One noble guest was most impressed
Admiring his prized mirror
"Oh, this is quite a striking article
The ornate frame, the azure trim
And the glass itself, well, almost matches
One owned by the marquess of Turin"
"Jorge! I cannot tolerate this"
"Jorge! Your skill must be put to the test"
"Jorge! Make me a greater mirror"
"Jorge! That no-one else can best"
Terrified of displeasing his ruler
The glassmaker works every hour the day brings
For month after month duly crafting a mirror
Fit to be brought forth before the king
The mirror is a breathtaking masterpiece
The king is stunned but then lets out a moan
"Why does my visage appear not so handsome
As the portraits by all my court painters have shown?"
"Jorge! Your mirror doth insult me"
"Jorge! Remove it from my sight"
"Jorge! Make another yet more faithful"
"Jorge! Or pay forfeit with your life"
The craftsman redoubles his efforts
Working feverishly, he blows glass, pours metal
And polishes the vitreous plane
Pushing his art further than anyone has ever done
Than anyone could comprehend
To create the most profoundly
Dangerously
Perfect mirror
He presents it to the court
And watches nervously as the king reacts
At first in surprise and then in horror
As he sees in his face
His heart
His soul
His cruel and jealous nature
Even the future downfall of his kingdom
Through his avarice and pride
He staggers backwards
But is unable to tear his eyes
From the image of their own terrified stare
The court gasps
As the king draws his sword
And lunges towards the mirror
Does he mean to destroy it
Or is he driven with some madness
To strike at his own reflection?
We can never know
Because at that very moment
Jorge! Leaps before the mirror
Jorge! Quails from the blade as it sweeps near
Jorge! The king recoils his sword in panic, shrieking
"Jorge!" And rends himself from ear to ear
Jorge! When you gaze into your mirror
Jorge! Tell us what do you see within?
Jorge! A humble tradesman who delivered or
Jorge! The cold-blooded killer of a king
Tradesman who delivered or
Killer of a king?