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Title: Five Plays
Author: Dunsany, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Baron, 1878-1957
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Five Plays" ***
THE MODERN DRAMA SERIES
EDITED BY EDWIN BJÖRKMAN
THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN : THE GOLDEN DOOM : KING ARGIMENES AND
THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR : THE GLITTERING GATE : THE LOST SILK HAT : BY LORD
DUNSANY
FIVE PLAYS
THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN
THE GOLDEN DOOM
KING ARGIMENES AND THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR
THE GLITTERING GATE
THE LOST SILK HAT
BY
LORD DUNSANY
BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
1922
_Copyright_, 1914,
BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
_All Dramatic rights reserved by the Author_
These plays are fully protected by the copyright law, all requirements
of which have been complied with. In their present printed form they
are dedicated to the reading public only, and no performance of them,
either professional or amateur, may be given without the written
permission of the owner of the acting rights, who may be addressed in
care of the publishers, Little, Brown, and Company.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION vii
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF PLAYS xiii
THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN 1
THE GOLDEN DOOM 39
KING ARGIMNS AND THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR 61
THE GLITTERING GATE 87
THE LOST SILK HAT 101
INTRODUCTION
Observation and imagination are the basic principles of all poetry. It
is impossible to conceive a poetical work from which one of them is
wholly absent. Observation without imagination makes for obviousness;
imagination without observation turns into nonsense. What marks the
world's greatest poetry is perhaps the presence in almost equal
proportion of both these principles. But as a rule we find one of them
predominating, and from this one-sided emphasis the poetry of the
period derives its character as realistic or idealistic.
The poetry of the middle nineteenth century made a fetish of
observation. It came as near excluding imagination as it could without
ceasing entirely to be poetry. That such exaggeration should sooner or
later result in a sharp reaction was natural. The change began during
the eighties and gathered full headway in the early nineties.
Imagination, so long scorned, came into its rights once more, and it is
rapidly becoming the dominant note in the literary production of our
own day.
The new movement has been called "neo-romantic" and "symbolistic." Both
these names apply, but neither of them exhausts the contents or meaning
of the movement which received its first impetus from Ibsen and which
later found its typical embodiment in Maeterlinck. From this movement
came much of the inspiration that produced the poetical re-birth of
Ireland out of which has sprung the man whom I have now the pleasure of
introducing to American readers: a man with imagination as elfish as
moonlight mist.
Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Lord Dunsany, is the eighteenth
member of his family to bear the title which gives him a place in the
Irish peerage. He was born in 1878 and received his education at Eton
and Sandhurst. In 1899 he succeeded his father to the title and the
family estate in Meath, Ireland. During the South African war he served
at the front with the Coldstream Guards. He is passionately fond of
outdoor life and often spends the whole day in the saddle before
sitting down at his desk to write late at night.
His work proves, however, that he is as fond of spiritual as of
physical exercise, and that he is an inveterate traveller in those
mysterious regions of the partly known or wholly unknown where the
imagination alone can guide us. His first literary heroes were the
brothers Grimm and Andersen. Then the Greek world of Olympians was
revealed to him, making a lasting impression on his mind. But it was
the Bible that gave him the limpid style which makes his most fantastic
tales as real as government reports--or rather much more so. "For years
no style seemed to me natural but that of the Bible," he said not long
ago, "and I feared that I would never become a writer when I saw that
other people did not use it."
For something like ten years he has been a pretty frequent and
increasingly valued contributor to English and Anglo-Irish periodicals.
He has previously published five volumes: "The Gods of Pegana," 1905;
"Time and the Gods," 1906; "The Sword of Welleran," 1908; "A Dreamer's
Tales," 1910; and "The Book of Wonder," 1912. All are collections of
prose pieces that defy accepted classifications. They are fairy tales
and short stories and essays and prose poems at the same time.
The reader has only to take a brief glance at one of those works to
make the astounding discovery that he is being introduced to worlds of
which he has never heard before. Even the "Arabian Nights" have a
clearly identifiable background of popular legend and myth. Nothing of
the kind is to be found in the writings of Lord Dunsany. He may be said
to have created a new mythology wholly his own. He is not only the
master but the maker of the countries to which he takes us on such
fascinating jaunts. His commonest name for them is the Edge of the
World, but sometimes he speaks of them as the Lands of Wonder. This
latter name is doubly significant, for the whole movement of which he
forms such a striking manifestation has been defined as a "renascence
of wonder."
The names of places and persons appearing in the stories of Lord
Dunsany are worth a study in themselves. There are hundreds of them,
giving evidence of an inexhaustible imagination; and each one of them
is as aptly suggestive as if generations of men had been at work
shaping them. To hear of Sardathion, the city built by the Gods of Old,
is to see its domes of marble rising sky-high in the sunset-lighted
air. To hear of Slith and Sippy and Slorg, the three thieves who went
to the Edge of the World in quest of the Golden Box, is to feel as if
one were dealing with historical characters like Aaron Burr or Chinese
Gordon. And as we learn more about them, these fanciful creatures of
Lord Dunsany's brain assume still more familiar characteristics, as if
they had been studied in some Irish village or English street. It is
this fact that reveals one of the main secrets of Lord Dunsany's
appeal: that behind all his exuberant imagination lies a solid basis of
observation, enabling him to endow the most impossible adventures with
a homely and convincing air.
The five plays contained in the present volume have all been produced
on the stage. "The Golden Doom" and "The Gods of the Mountain" have
been staged most successfully at the Haymarket Theatre, London. "King
Argimenes" and "The Glittering Gate" have been given by the Irish
Players, and "The Lost Silk Hat" has been put on by Iden Payne at
Manchester. In America, the first three have been in the repertoire of
Stuart Walker's Portmanteau Theatre, and "The Glittering Gate" has been
given by the Neighborhood Players.
After seeing "The Gods of the Mountain," Frank Harris wrote: "It was
one of the nights of my life; the only play, I said to myself, which
meant anything to me in twenty years or more." Without sharing the
opinion of Mr. Harris about the dramatic output of the last twenty
years, I share fully his enthusiasm in regard to the play that caused
his remark. The note struck in it is so distinctly new as to make one
gasp as under a sharp shock. But the surprise turns quickly into
pleasure such as only the originality of genius can confer.
It is hard to define just what makes these plays what they are. But
certain qualities are tangible. Their deep and rich symbolism is one.
It is the kind of symbolism for which the advances of modern psychology
had prepared us--the kind that is inseparable from life itself as we
are only just beginning to understand it. Another quality is their
capacity for suggesting at once the intimate unity and appalling
vastness of life. In "The Golden Doom" the fate of an empire and a
little boy's desire for a new plaything become linked as facts of equal
importance in the web of fate. In "The Gods of the Mountain" we meet
with an atmosphere of fatality comparable only to that found in the
Greek dramas. The crime of _hybris_, which to the Greeks was the
"unforgivable sin," is here made as real to us as it was to them.
But these remarks of mine about the inner significance of the plays
should not tempt anybody into thinking them deficient in that element
of formal perfection without which they could not be classed as works
of art. They are, indeed, "things of beauty," and their beauty inheres
in their design as well as in their style. Through all of them the
greatest possible economy of means has been observed, so that not a
word, not a tone, not a gesture is wasted in obtaining the effect aimed
at. The dialogue of Maeterlinck is suggested, but not more than
suggested. The words spoken by the characters of Maeterlinck are often
so vague as to be practically meaningless. The characters of Lord
Dunsany speak as simply as those of Maeterlinck, but always sharply to
the point; there can be no mistaking of what they mean, and that
meaning serves always to carry the action of the play forward. And each
play of Lord Dunsany's is an exciting adventure, conveying to the
reader an exhilarating sense of motion without ever descending to
old-fashioned stage tricks for the production of that sense. This means
that they combine to an extraordinary degree the qualities which make
separately for theatrical or literary success.
EDWIN BJÖRKMAN.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF PLAYS BY LORD DUNSANY
THE GLITTERING GATE, 1909
KING ARGIMENES AND THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR, 1911
THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN, 1911
THE GOLDEN DOOM, 1912
THE LOST SILK HAT, 1913
THE TENTS OF THE ARABS, 1915
A NIGHT AT AN INN, 1916
THE QUEEN'S ENEMIES, 1916
THE LAUGHTER OF THE GODS, 1917
THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN
PERSONS
AGMAR }
SLAG }
ULF }
OOGNO } _Beggars_
THAHN }
MLAN }
A THIEF }
OORANDER }
ILLANAUN } _Citizens_
AKMOS }
THE DROMEDARY MEN
CITIZENS, ETC.
THE OTHERS
SCENE: THE EAST
THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN
THE FIRST ACT
_Outside a city wall. Three beggars are seated upon the ground._
OOGNO
These days are bad for beggary.
THAHN
They are bad.
ULF (_an older beggar but not gray_)
Some evil has befallen the rich ones of this city. They take no joy any
longer in benevolence, but are become sour and miserly at heart. Alas
for them! I sometimes sigh for them when I think of this.
OOGNO
Alas for them! A miserly heart must be a sore affliction.
THAHN
A sore affliction indeed, and bad for our calling.
OOGNO (_reflectively_)
They have been thus for many months. What thing has befallen them?
THAHN
Some evil thing.
ULF
There has been a comet come near to the earth of late and the earth has
been parched and sultry so that the gods are drowsy and all those
things that are divine in man, such as benevolence, drunkenness,
extravagance, and song, have faded and died and have not been
replenished by the gods.
OOGNO
It has indeed been sultry.
THAHN
I have seen the comet o' nights.
ULF
The gods are drowsy.
OOGNO
If they awake not soon and make this city worthy again of our order I
for one shall forsake the calling and buy a shop and sit at ease in the
shade and barter for gain.
THAHN
You will keep a shop?
[_Enter Agmar and Slag. Agmar, though poorly dressed, is tall,
imperious, and older than Ulf. Slag follows behind him._
AGMAR
Is this a beggar who speaks?
OOGNO
Yes, master, a poor beggar.
AGMAR
How long has the calling of beggary existed?
OOGNO
Since the building of the first city, master.
AGMAR
And when has a beggar ever followed a trade? When has he ever haggled
and bartered and sat in a shop?
OOGNO
Why, he has never done so.
AGMAR
Are you he that shall be first to forsake the calling?
OOGNO
Times are bad for the calling here.
THAHN
They are bad.
AGMAR
So you would forsake the calling?
OOGNO
The city is unworthy of our calling. The gods are drowsy and all that
is divine in man is dead. (_To third beggar_) Are not the gods drowsy?
ULF
They are drowsy in their mountains away at Marma. The seven green idols
are drowsy. Who is this that rebukes us?
THAHN
Are you some great merchant, master? Perhaps you will help a poor man
that is starving.
SLAG
My master a merchant! No, no. He is no merchant. My master is no
merchant.
OOGNO
I perceive that he is some lord in disguise. The gods have woken and
have sent him to save us.
SLAG
No, no. You do not know my master. You do not know him.
THAHN
Is he the Soldan's self that has come to rebuke us?
AGMAR
I am a beggar, and an old beggar.
SLAG (_with great pride_)
There is none like my master. No traveller has met with cunning like to
his, not even those that come from Æthiopia.
ULF
We make you welcome to our town, upon which an evil has fallen, the
days being bad for beggary.
AGMAR
Let none who has known the mystery of roads or has felt the wind
arising new in the morning, or who has called forth out of the souls of
men divine benevolence, ever speak any more of any trade or of the
miserable gains of shops and the trading men.
OOGNO
I but spoke hastily, the times being bad.
AGMAR
I will put right the times.
SLAG
There is nothing that my master cannot do.
AGMAR (_to Slag_)
Be silent and attend to me. I do not know this city. I have travelled
from far, having somewhat exhausted the city of Ackara.
SLAG
My master was three times knocked down and injured by carriages there,
once he was killed and seven times beaten and robbed, and every time he
was generously compensated. He had nine diseases, many of them mortal--
AGMAR
Be silent, Slag.--Have you any thieves among the calling here?
ULF
We have a few that we call thieves here, master, but they would
scarcely seem thieves to you. They are not good thieves.
AGMAR
I shall need the best thief you have.
[_Enter two citizens richly clad, Illanaun and Oorander._
ILLANAUN
Therefore we will send galleons to Ardaspes.
OORANDER
Right to Ardaspes through the silver gates.
[_Agmar transfers the thick handle of his long staff to his left
armpit, he droops on to it and it supports his weight; he is upright no
longer. His right arm hangs limp and useless. He hobbles up to the
citizens imploring alms._
ILLANAUN
I am sorry. I cannot help you. There have been too many beggars here
and we must decline alms for the good of the town.
AGMAR (_sitting down and weeping_)
I have come from far.
[_Illanaun presently returns and gives Agmar a coin. Exit Illanaun.
Agmar, erect again, walks back to the others._
AGMAR
We shall need fine raiment; let the thief start at once. Let it rather
be green raiment.
BEGGAR
I will go and fetch the thief. (_Exit_)
ULF
We will dress ourselves as lords and impose upon the city.
OOGNO
Yes, yes; we will say we are ambassadors from a far land.
ULF
And there will be good eating.
SLAG (_in an undertone to Ulf_)
But you do not know my master. Now that you have suggested that we
shall go as lords, he will make a better suggestion. He will suggest
that we should go as kings.
ULF
Beggars as kings!
SLAG
Ay. You do not know my master.
ULF (_to Agmar_)
What do you bid us do?
AGMAR
You shall first come by the fine raiment in the manner I have
mentioned.
ULF
And what then, master?
AGMAR
Why, then we shall go as gods.
BEGGARS
As gods!
AGMAR
As gods. Know you the land through which I have lately come in my
wanderings? Marma, where the gods are carved from green stone in the
mountains. They sit all seven of them against the hills. They sit there
motionless and travellers worship them.
ULF
Yes, yes, we know those gods. They are much reverenced here, but they
are drowsy and send us nothing beautiful.
AGMAR
They are of green jade. They sit cross-legged with their right elbows
resting on their left hands, the right forefinger pointing upward. We
will come into the city disguised, from the direction of Marma, and
will claim to be these gods. We must be seven as they are. And when we
sit we must sit cross-legged as they do, with the right hand uplifted.
ULF
This is a bad city in which to fall into the hands of oppressors, for
the judges lack amiability here as the merchants lack benevolence, ever
since the gods forgot them.
AGMAR
In our ancient calling a man may sit at one street corner for fifty
years doing the one thing, and yet a day may come when it is well for
him to rise up and do another thing while the timorous man starves.
ULF
Also it were well not to anger the gods.
AGMAR
Is not all life a beggary to the gods? Do they not see all men always
begging of them and asking alms with incense, and bells, and subtle
devices?
OOGNO
Yes, all men indeed are beggars before the gods.
AGMAR
Does not the mighty Soldan often sit by the agate altar in his royal
temple as we sit at a street corner or by a palace gate?
ULF
It is even so.
AGMAR
Then will the gods be glad when we follow the holy calling with new
devices and with subtlety, as they are glad when the priests sing a new
song.
ULF
Yet I have a fear.
[_Enter two men talking._
AGMAR (_to Slag_)
Go you into the city before us and let there be a prophecy there which
saith that the gods who are carven from green rock in the mountain
shall one day arise in Marma and come here in the guise of men.
SLAG
Yes, master. Shall I make the prophecy myself? Or shall it be found in
some old document?
AGMAR
Let someone have seen it once in some rare document. Let it be spoken
of in the market place.
SLAG
It shall be spoken of, master.
[_Slag lingers. Enter Thief and Thahn._
OOGNO
This is our thief.
AGMAR (_encouragingly_)
Ah, he is a quick thief.
THIEF
I could only procure you three green raiments, master. The city is not
now well supplied with them; moreover, it is a very suspicious city and
without shame for the baseness of its suspicions.
SLAG (_to a beggar_)
This is not thieving.
THIEF
I could do no more, master. I have not practised thieving all my life.
AGMAR
You have got something: it may serve our purpose. How long have you
been thieving?
THIEF
I stole first when I was ten.
SLAG (_in horror_)
When he was ten!
AGMAR
We must tear them up and divide them amongst the seven. (_To Thahn_)
Bring me another beggar.
SLAG
When my master was ten he had already to slip by night out of two
cities.
OOGNO (_admiringly_)
Out of two cities?
SLAG (_nodding his head_)
In his native city they do not now know what became of the golden cup
that stood in the Lunar Temple.
AGMAR
Yes, into seven pieces.
ULF
We will each wear a piece of it over our rags.
OOGNO
Yes, yes, we shall look fine.
AGMAR
That is not the way that we shall disguise ourselves.
OOGNO
Not cover our rags?
AGMAR
No, no. The first who looked closely would say, "These are only
beggars. They have disguised themselves."
ULF
What shall we do?
AGMAR
Each of the seven shall wear a piece of the green raiment underneath
his rags. And peradventure here and there a little shall show through;
and men shall say, "These seven have disguised themselves as beggars.
But we know not what they be."
SLAG
Hear my wise master.
OOGNO (_in admiration_)
_He_ is a beggar.
ULF
He is an _old_ beggar.
CURTAIN
THE SECOND ACT
_The Metropolitan Hall of the city of Kongros. Citizens, etc._
_Enter the seven beggars with green silk under their rags._
OORANDER
Who are you and whence come you?
AGMAR
Who may say what we are or whence we come?
OORANDER
What are these beggars and why do they come here?
AGMAR
Who said to you that we were beggars?
OORANDER
Why do these men come here?
AGMAR
Who said to you that we were men?
ILLANAUN
Now, by the moon!
AGMAR
My sister.
ILLANAUN
What?
AGMAR
My little sister.
SLAG
Our little sister the moon. She comes to us at evenings away in the
mountains of Marma. She trips over the mountains when she is young.
When she is young and slender she comes and dances before us, and when
she is old and unshapely she hobbles away from the hills.
AGMAR
Yet is she young again and forever nimble with youth; yet she comes
dancing back. The years are not able to curb her nor to bring gray
hairs to her brethren.
OORANDER
This is not wonted.
ILLANAUN
It is not in accordance with custom.
AKMOS
Prophecy hath not thought it.
SLAG
She comes to us new and nimble, remembering olden loves.
OORANDER
It were well that prophets should come and speak to us.
ILLANAUN
This hath not been in the past. Let prophets come. Let prophets speak
to us of future things.
[_The beggars seat themselves upon the floor in the attitude of the
seven gods of Marma._
CITIZEN
I heard men speak to-day in the market place. They speak of a prophecy
read somewhere of old. It says the seven gods shall come from Marma in
the guise of men.
ILLANAUN
Is this a true prophecy?
OORANDER
It is all the prophecy we have. Man without prophecy is like a sailor
going by night over uncharted seas. He knows not where are the rocks
nor where the havens. To the man on watch all things ahead are black
and the stars guide him not, for he knows not what they are.
ILLANAUN
Should we not investigate this prophecy?
OORANDER
Let us accept it. It is as the small, uncertain light of a lantern,
carried it may be by a drunkard, but along the shore of some haven. Let
us be guided.
AKMOS
It may be that they are but benevolent gods.
AGMAR
There is no benevolence greater than our benevolence.
ILLANAUN
Then we need do little: they portend no danger to us.
AGMAR
There is no anger greater than our anger.
OORANDER
Let us make sacrifice to them if they be gods.
AKMOS
We humbly worship you, if ye be gods.
ILLANAUN (_kneeling too_)
You are mightier than all men and hold high rank among other gods and
are lords of this our city, and have the thunder as your plaything and
the whirlwind and the eclipse and all the destinies of human tribes--if
ye be gods.
AGMAR
Let the pestilence not fall at once upon this city, as it had indeed
designed to; let not the earthquake swallow it all immediately up amid
the howls of the thunder; let not infuriated armies overwhelm those
that escape--if we be gods--
POPULACE (_in horror_)
If we be gods!
OORANDER
Come, let us sacrifice.
ILLANAUN
Bring lambs.
AKMOS
Quick! Quick! (_Exeunt some_)
SLAG (_with solemn air_)
This god is a very divine god.
THAHN
He is no common god.
MLAN
Indeed he has made us.
CITIZEN (_to Slag_)
He will not punish us, master? None of the gods will punish us? We will
make a sacrifice, a good sacrifice.
ANOTHER
We will sacrifice a lamb that the priests have blessed.
FIRST CITIZEN
Master, you are not wroth with us?
SLAG
Who may say what cloudy dooms are rolling up in the mind of the eldest
of the gods? He is no common god like us. Once a shepherd went by him
in the mountains and doubted as he went. He sent a doom after that
shepherd.
CITIZEN
Master, we have not doubted.
SLAG
And the doom found him on the hills at evening.
SECOND CITIZEN
It shall be a good sacrifice, master.
[_Reënter with a dead lamb and fruits. They offer the lamb on an
altar where there is fire, and fruits before the altar._
THAHN (_stretching out a hand to a lamb upon an altar_)
That leg is not being cooked at all.
ILLANAUN
It is strange that gods should be thus anxious about the cooking of a
leg of lamb.
OORANDER
It is strange certainly.
ILLANAUN
Almost I had said that it was a man spoke then.
OORANDER (_stroking his beard and regarding the second beggar_)
Strange. Strange, certainly.
AGMAR
Is it then strange that the gods love roasted flesh? For this purpose
they keep the lightning. When the lightning flickers about the limbs of
men there comes to the gods in Marma a pleasant smell, even a smell of
roasting. Sometimes the gods, being pacific, are pleased to have
roasted instead the flesh of lamb. It is all one to the gods; let the
roasting stop.
OORANDER
No, no, gods of the mountains!
OTHERS
No, no.
OORANDER
Quick, let us offer the flesh to them. If they eat, all is well.
[_They offer it; the beggars eat, all but Agmar, who watches._
ILLANAUN
One who was ignorant, one who did not know, had almost said that they
ate like hungry men.
OTHERS
Hush!
AKMOS
Yet they look as though they had not had a meal like this for a long
time.
OORANDER
They have a hungry look.
AGMAR (_who has not eaten_)
I have not eaten since the world was very new and the flesh of men was
tenderer than now. These younger gods have learned the habit of eating
from the lions.
OORANDER
O oldest of divinities, partake, partake.
AGMAR
It is not fitting that such as I should eat. None eat but beasts and
men and the younger gods. The sun and the moon and the nimble lightning
and I--we may kill and we may madden, but we do not eat.
AKMOS
If he but eat of our offering he cannot overwhelm us.
ALL
Oh, ancient deity, partake, partake.
AGMAR
Enough. Let it be enough that these have condescended to this bestial
and human habit.
ILLANAUN (_to Akmos_)
And yet he is not unlike a beggar whom I saw no so long since.
OORANDER
But beggars eat.
ILLANAUN
Now I never knew a beggar yet who would refuse a bowl of Woldery wine.
AKMOS
This is no beggar.
ILLANAUN
Nevertheless let us offer him a bowl of Woldery wine.
AKMOS
You do wrong to doubt him.
ILLANAUN
I do but wish to prove his divinity. I will fetch the Woldery wine.
(_Exit_)
AKMOS
He will not drink. Yet if he does, then he will not overwhelm us. Let
us offer him the wine.
[_Reënter Illanaun with a goblet._
FIRST BEGGAR
It is Woldery wine!
SECOND BEGGAR
It is Woldery!
THIRD BEGGAR
A goblet of Woldery wine!
FOURTH BEGGAR
O blessed day!
MLAN
O happy times!
SLAG
O my wise master!
[_Illanaun takes the goblet. All the beggars stretch out their hands
including Agmar. Illanaun gives it to Agmar. Agmar takes it solemnly,
and very carefully pours it upon the ground._
FIRST BEGGAR
He has spilt it.
SECOND BEGGAR
He has spilt it. (_Agmar sniffs the fumes, loquitur_)
AGMAR
It is a fitting libation. Our anger is somewhat appeased.
ANOTHER BEGGAR
But it was Woldery!
AKMOS (_kneeling to Agmar_)
Master, I am childless, and I--
AGMAR
Trouble us not now. It is the hour at which the gods are accustomed to
speak to the gods in the language of the gods, and if Man heard us he
would guess the futility of his destiny, which were not well for Man.
Begone! Begone!
ONE LINGERS (_loquitur_)
Master--
AGMAR
Begone!
[_Exeunt. Agmar takes up a piece of meat and begins to eat it; the
beggars rise and stretch themselves: they laugh, but Agmar eats
hungrily._
OOGNO
Ah! Now we have come into our own.
THAHN
Now we have alms.
SLAG
Master! My wise master!
ULF
These are the good days, the good days; and yet I have a fear.
SLAG
What do you fear? There is nothing to fear. No man is as wise as my
master.
ULF
I fear the gods whom we pretend to be.
SLAG
The gods?
AGMAR (_taking a chunk of meat from his lips_)
Come hither, Slag.
SLAG (_going up to him_)
Yes, master.
AGMAR
Watch in the doorway while I eat. (_Slag goes to the doorway_) Sit
in the attitude of a god. Warn me if any of the citizens approach.
[_Slag sits in the doorway in the attitude of a god, back to the
audience._
OOGNO (_to Agmar_)
But, master, shall we not have Woldery wine?
AGMAR
We shall have all things if only we are wise at first for a little.
THAHN
Master, do any suspect us?
AGMAR
We must be _very_ wise.
THAHN
But if we are not wise, master?
AGMAR
Why, then death may come to us--
THAHN
O master!
AGMAR
--slowly.
[_All stir uneasily except Slag, who sits motionless in the doorway._
OOGNO
Do they believe us, master?
SLAG (_half turning his head_)
Someone comes.
[_Slag resumes his position._
AGMAR (_putting away his meat_)
We shall soon know now.
[_All take up the attitude. Enter One, loquitur._
ONE
Master, I want the god that does not eat.
AGMAR
I am he.
ONE
Master, my child was bitten in the throat by a death-adder at noon.
Spare him, master; he still breathes, but slowly.
AGMAR
Is he indeed your child?
ONE
He is surely my child, master.
AGMAR
Was it your wont to thwart him in his play, while he was strong and
well?
ONE
I never thwarted him, master.
AGMAR
Whose child is Death?
ONE
Death is the child of the gods.
AGMAR
Do you that never thwarted your child in his play ask this of the gods?
ONE (_with some horror, perceiving Agmar's meaning_)
Master!
AGMAR
Weep not. For all the houses that men have builded are the play-fields
of this child of the gods.
[_The Man goes away in silence, not weeping._
OOGNO (_taking Thahn by the wrist_)
Is this indeed a man?
AGMAR
A man, a man, and until just now a hungry one.
CURTAIN
THE THIRD ACT
_Same room._
_A few days have elapsed._
_Seven thrones shaped like mountain-crags stand along the back of the
stage. On these the beggars are lounging. The Thief is absent._
MLAN
Never had beggars such a time.
OOGNO
Ah, the fruits and tender lamb!
THAHN
The Woldery wine!
SLAG
It was better to see my master's wise devices than to have fruit and
lamb and Woldery wine.
MLAN
Ah! When they spied on him to see if he would eat when they went away!
OOGNO
When they questioned him concerning the gods and Man!
THAHN
When they asked him why the gods permitted cancer!
SLAG
Ah, my wise master!
MLAN
How well his scheme has succeeded!
OOGNO
How far away is hunger!
THAHN
It is even like to one of last year's dreams, the trouble of a brief
night long ago.
OOGNO (_laughing_)
Ho, ho, ho! To see them pray to us.
AGMAR
When we were beggars did we not speak as beggars? Did we not whine as
they? Was not our mien beggarly?
OOGNO
We were the pride of our calling.
AGMAR
Then now that we are gods, let us be as gods, and not mock our
worshippers.
ULF
I think that the gods _do_ mock their worshippers.
AGMAR
The gods have never mocked us. We are above all pinnacles that we have
ever gazed at in dreams.
ULF
I think that when man is high then most of all are the gods wont to
mock him.
THIEF (_entering_)
Master! I have been with those that know all and see all. I have been
with the thieves, master. They know me for one of the craft, but they
do not know me as being one of us.
AGMAR
Well, well!
THIEF
There is danger, master, there is great danger.
AGMAR
You mean that they suspect that we are men.
THIEF
That they have long done, master. I mean that they will know it. Then
we are lost.
AGMAR
Then they do not know it.
THIEF
They do not know it yet, but they will know it, and we are lost.
AGMAR
When will they know it?
THIEF
Three days ago they suspected us.
AGMAR
More than you think suspected us, but have any dared to say so?
THIEF
No, master.
AGMAR
Then forget your fears, my thief.
THIEF
Two men went on dromedaries three days ago to see if the gods were
still at Marma.
AGMAR
They went to Marma!
THIEF
Yes, three days ago.
OOGNO
We are lost!
AGMAR
They went three days ago?
THIEF
Yes, on dromedaries.
AGMAR
They should be back to-day.
OOGNO
We are lost!
THAHN
We are lost!
THIEF
They must have seen the green jade idols sitting against the mountains.
They will say, "The gods are still at Marma." And we shall be burnt.
SLAG
My master will yet devise a plan.
AGMAR (_to the Thief_)
Slip away to some high place and look toward the desert and see how
long we have to devise a plan.
SLAG
My master will find a plan.
OOGNO
He has taken us into a trap.
THAHN
His wisdom is our doom.
SLAG
He will find a wise plan yet.
THIEF (_reëntering_)
It is too late!
AGMAR
It is too late!
THIEF
The dromedary men are here.
OOGNO
We are lost!
AGMAR
Be silent! I must think.
[_They all sit still. Citizens enter and prostrate themselves. Agmar
sits deep in thought._
ILLANAUN (_to Agmar_)
Two holy pilgrims have gone to your sacred shrines, wherein you were
wont to sit before you left the mountains. (_Agmar says nothing_)
They return even now.
AGMAR
They left us here and went to find the gods? A fish once took a journey
into a far country to find the sea.
ILLANAUN
Most reverend deity, their piety is so great that they have gone to
worship even your shrines.
AGMAR
I know these men that have great piety. Such men have often prayed to
me before, but their prayers are not acceptable. They little love the
gods; their only care is their piety. I know these pious ones. They
will say that the seven gods were still at Marma. They will lie and say
that we were still at Marma. So shall they seem more pious to you all,
pretending that they alone have seen the gods. Fools shall believe them
and share in their damnation.
OORANDER (_to Illanaun_)
Hush! You anger the gods.
ILLANAUN
I am not sure whom I anger.
OORANDER
It may be they are the gods.
ILLANAUN
Where are these men from Marma?
CITIZEN
Here are the dromedary men; they are coming now.
ILLANAUN (_to Agmar_)
The holy pilgrims from your shrine are come to worship you.
AGMAR
The men are doubters. How the gods hate the word! Doubt ever
contaminated virtue. Let them be cast into prison and not besmirch your
purity. (_Rising_) Let them not enter here.
ILLANAUN
But oh, most reverend deity from the Mountain, we also doubt, most
reverend deity.
AGMAR
You have chosen. You have chosen. And yet it is not too late. Repent
and cast these men in prison and it may not be too late. _The gods
have never wept._ And yet when they think upon damnation and the
dooms that are withering a myriad bones, then almost, were they not
divine, they could weep. Be quick! Repent of your doubt.
[_Enter the Dromedary Men._
ILLANAUN
Most reverend deity, it is a mighty doubt.
CITIZENS
_Nothing has killed him! They are not the gods!_
SLAG (_to Agmar_)
You have a plan, my master. You have a plan.
AGMAR
Not yet, Slag.
ILLANAUN (_to Oorander_)
These are the men that went to the shrines at Marma.
OORANDER (_in a loud, clear voice_)
Were the Gods of the Mountain seated still at Marma, or were they not
there?
[_The beggars get up hurriedly from their thrones._
DROMEDARY MAN
They were not there.
ILLANAUN
They were not there?
DROMEDARY MAN
Their shrines were empty.
OORANDER
Behold the Gods of the Mountain!
AKMOS
They have indeed come from Marma.
OORANDER
Come. Let us go away to prepare a sacrifice. A mighty sacrifice to
atone for our doubting. (_Exeunt_)
SLAG
My most wise master!
AGMAR
No, no, Slag. I do not know what has befallen. When I went by Marma
only two weeks ago the idols of green jade were still seated there.
OOGNO
We are saved now.
THAHN
Ay, we are saved.
AGMAR
We are saved, but I know not how.
OOGNO
Never had beggars such a time.
THIEF
I will go out and watch. (_He creeps out_)
ULF
Yet I have a fear.
OOGNO
A fear? Why, we are saved.
ULF
Last night I dreamed.
OOGNO
What was your dream?
ULF
It was nothing. I dreamed that I was thirsty and one gave me Woldery
wine; yet there was a fear in my dream.
THAHN
When I drink Woldery wine I am afraid of nothing.
THIEF (_reëntering_)
They are making a pleasant banquet ready for us; they are killing
lambs, and girls are there with fruits, and there is to be much Woldery
wine.
MLAN
Never had beggars such a time.
AGMAR
Do any doubt us now?
THIEF
I do not know.
MLAN
When will the banquet be?
THIEF
When the stars come out.
OOGNO
Ah! It is sunset already. There will be good eating.
THAHN
We shall see the girls come in with baskets upon their heads.
OOGNO
There will be fruits in the baskets.
THAHN
All the fruits of the valley.
MLAN
Oh, how long we have wandered along the ways of the world!
SLAG
Oh, how hard they were!
THAHN
And how dusty!
OOGNO
And how little wine!
MLAN
How long we have asked and asked, and for how much!
AGMAR
We to whom all things are coming now at last!
THIEF
I fear lest my art forsake me now that good things come without
stealing.
AGMAR
You will need your art no longer.
SLAG
The wisdom of my master shall suffice us all our days.
[_Enter a frightened Man. He kneels before Agmar and abates his
forehead._
MAN
Master, we implore you, the people beseech you.
[_Agmar and the beggars in the attitude of the gods sit silent._
MAN
Master, it is terrible. (_The beggars maintain silence_) It is
terrible when you wander in the evening. It is terrible on the edge of
the desert in the evening. Children die when they see you.
AGMAR
In the desert? When did you see us?
MAN
Last night, master. You were terrible last night. You were terrible in
the gloaming. When your hands were stretched out and groping. You were
feeling for the city.
AGMAR
Last night do you say?
MAN
You were terrible in the gloaming!
AGMAR
You yourself saw us?
MAN
Yes, master, you were terrible. Children too saw you and they died.
AGMAR
You say you saw us?
MAN
Yes, master. Not as you are now, but otherwise. We implore you, master,
not to wander at evening. You are terrible in the gloaming. You are--
AGMAR
You say we appeared not as we are now. How did we appear to you?
MAN
Otherwise, master, otherwise.
AGMAR
But how did we appear to you?
MAN
You were all green, master, all green in the gloaming, all of rock
again as you used to be in the mountains. Master, we can bear to see
you in flesh like men, but when we see rock walking it is terrible, it
is terrible.
AGMAR
That is how we appeared to you?
MAN
Yes, master. Rock should not walk. When children see it they do not
understand. Rock should not walk in the evening.
AGMAR
There have been doubters of late. Are they satisfied?
MAN
Master, they are terrified. Spare us, master.
AGMAR
It is wrong to doubt. Go and be faithful.
[_Exit Man._
SLAG
What have they seen, master?
AGMAR
They have seen their own fears dancing in the desert. They have seen
something green after the light was gone, and some child has told them
a tale that it was us. I do not know what they have seen. What should
they have seen?
ULF
Something was coming this way from the desert, he said.
SLAG
What should come from the desert?
AGMAR
They are a foolish people.
ULF
That man's white face has seen some frightful thing.
SLAG
A frightful thing?
ULF
That man's face has been near to some frightful thing.
AGMAR
It is only we that have frightened them and their fears have made them
foolish.
[_Enter an Attendant with a torch or lantern which he places in a
receptacle. Exit._
THAHN
Now we shall see the faces of the girls when they come to the banquet.
MLAN
Never had beggars such a time.
AGMAR
Hark! They are coming. I hear footsteps.
THAHN
The dancing girls! They are coming!
THIEF
There is no sound of flutes, they said they would come with music.
OOGNO
What heavy boots they have; they sound like feet of stone.
THAHN
I do not like to hear their heavy tread. Those that would dance to
_us_ must be light of foot.
AGMAR
I shall not smile at them if they are not airy.
MLAN
They are coming very slowly. They should come nimbly to us.
THAHN
They should dance as they come. But the footfall is like the footfall
of heavy crabs.
ULF (_in a loud voice, almost chanting_)
I have a fear, an old fear and a boding. We have done ill in the sight
of the seven gods. Beggars we were and beggars we should have remained.
We have given up our calling and come in sight of our doom. I will no
longer let my fear be silent; it shall run about and cry; it shall go
from me crying, like a dog from out of a doomed city; for my fear has
seen calamity and has known an evil thing.
SLAG (_hoarsely_)
Master!
AGMAR (_rising_)
Come, come!
[_They listen. No one speaks. The stony boots come on. Enter in
single file through door in right of back, a procession of seven green
men, even hands and faces are green; they wear greenstone sandals; they
walk with knees extremely wide apart, as having sat cross-legged for
centuries; their right arms and right forefingers point upward, right
elbows resting on left hands; they stoop grotesquely. Halfway to the
footlights they left wheel. They pass in front of the seven beggars,
now in terrified attitudes, and six of them sit down in the attitude
described, with their backs to the audience. The leader stands, still
stooping._
OOGNO (_cries out just as they wheel left_)
The Gods of the Mountain!
AGMAR (_hoarsely_)
Be still! They are dazzled by the light. They may not see us.
[_The leading Green Thing points his forefinger at the lantern--the
flame turns green. When the six are seated the leader points one by one
at each of the seven beggars, shooting out his forefinger at them. As
he does this each beggar in his turn gathers himself back on to his
throne and crosses his legs, his right arm goes stiffly upward with
forefinger erect, and a staring look of horror comes into his eyes. In
this attitude the beggars sit motionless while a green light falls upon
their faces. The gods go out._
_Presently enter the Citizens, some with victuals and fruit. One
touches a beggar's arm and then another's._
CITIZEN
They are cold; they have turned to stone.
[_All abase themselves, foreheads to the floor._
ONE
We have doubted them. We have doubted them. They have turned to stone
because we have doubted them.
ANOTHER
They were the true gods.
ALL
They were the true gods.
CURTAIN
THE GOLDEN DOOM
PERSONS
THE KING
CHAMBERLAIN
CHIEF PROPHET
GIRL
BOY
SPIES
FIRST PROPHET
SECOND PROPHET
FIRST SENTRY
SECOND SENTRY
STRANGER
ATTENDANTS
_Scene: Outside the King's great door in Zericon._
_Time: Some while before the fall of Babylon._
THE GOLDEN DOOM
_Two Sentries pace to and fro, then halt, one on each side of the
great door._
FIRST SENTRY
The day is deadly sultry.
SECOND SENTRY
I would that I were swimming down the Gyshon, on the cool side, under
the fruit trees.
FIRST SENTRY
It is like to thunder or the fall of a dynasty.
SECOND SENTRY
It will grow cool by night-fall. Where is the King?
FIRST SENTRY
He rows in his golden barge with ambassadors or whispers with captains
concerning future wars. The stars spare him!
SECOND SENTRY
Why do you say "the stars spare him"?
FIRST SENTRY
Because if a doom from the stars fall suddenly on a king it swallows up
his people and all things round about him, and his palace falls and the
walls of his city and citadel, and the apes come in from the woods and
the large beasts from the desert, so that you would not say that a king
had been there at all.
SECOND SENTRY
But why should a doom from the stars fall on the King?
FIRST SENTRY
Because he seldom placates them.
SECOND SENTRY
Ah! I have heard that said of him.
FIRST SENTRY
Who are the stars that a man should scorn them? Should they that rule
the thunder, the plague and the earthquake withhold these things save
for much prayer? Always ambassadors are with the King, and his
commanders, come in from distant lands, prefects of cities and makers
of the laws, but never the priests of the stars.
SECOND SENTRY
Hark! Was that thunder?
FIRST SENTRY
Believe me, the stars are angry.
[_Enter a Stranger. He wanders toward the King's door, gazing about
him._
SENTRIES (_lifting their spears at him_)
Go back! Go back!
STRANGER
Why?
FIRST SENTRY
It is death to touch the King's door.
STRANGER
I am a stranger from Thessaly.
FIRST SENTRY
It is death even for a stranger.
STRANGER
Your door is strangely sacred.
FIRST SENTRY
It is death to touch it.
[_The Stranger wanders off._
[_Enter two children hand in hand._
BOY (_to the Sentry_)
I want to see the King to pray for a hoop.
[_The Sentry smiles._
BOY (_pushes the door; to girl_)
I cannot open it. (_To the Sentry_) Will it do as well if I pray
to the King's door?
SENTRY
Yes, quite as well. (_Turns to talk to the other Sentry_) Is there
anyone in sight?
SECOND SENTRY (_shading his eyes_)
Nothing but a dog, and he far out on the plain.
FIRST SENTRY
Then we can talk awhile and eat bash.
BOY
King's door, I want a little hoop.
[_The Sentries take a little bash between finger and thumb from
pouches and put that wholly forgotten drug to their lips._
GIRL (_pointing_)
My father is a taller soldier than that.
BOY
My father can write. He taught me.
GIRL
Ho! Writing frightens nobody. My father is a soldier.
BOY
I have a lump of gold. I found it in the stream that runs down to
Gyshon.
GIRL
I have a poem. I found it in my own head.
BOY
Is it a long poem?
GIRL
No. But it would have been only there were no more rhymes for sky.
BOY
What is your poem?
GIRL
I saw a purple bird
Go up against the sky
And it went up and up
And round about did fly.
BOY
I saw it die.
GIRL
That doesn't scan.
BOY
Oh, that doesn't matter.
GIRL
Do you like my poem?
BOY
Birds aren't purple.
GIRL
My bird was.
BOY
Oh!
GIRL
Oh, you don't like my poem!
BOY
Yes, I do.
GIRL
No, you don't; you think it horrid.
BOY
No. I don't.
GIRL
Yes, you do. Why didn't you say you liked it? It is the only poem I
ever made.
BOY
I do like it. I do like it.
GIRL
You don't, you don't!
BOY
Don't be angry. I'll write it on the door for you.
GIRL
You'll write it?
BOY
Yes, I can write it. My father taught me. I'll write it with my lump of
gold. It makes a yellow mark on the iron door.
GIRL
Oh, do write it! I would like to see it written like real poetry.
[_The Boy begins to write. The Girl watches._
FIRST SENTRY
You see, we'll be fighting again soon.
SECOND SENTRY
Only a little war. We never have more than a little war with the
hill-folk.
FIRST SENTRY
When a man goes to fight, the curtains of the gods wax thicker than
ever before between his eyes and the future; he may go to a great or to
a little war.
SECOND SENTRY
There can only be a little war with the hill-folk.
FIRST SENTRY
Yet sometimes the gods laugh.
SECOND SENTRY
At whom?
FIRST SENTRY
At kings.
SECOND SENTRY
Why have you grown uneasy about this war in the hills?
FIRST SENTRY
Because the King is powerful beyond any of his fathers, and has more
fighting men, more horses, and wealth that could have ransomed his
father and his grandfather and dowered their queens and daughters; and
every year his miners bring him more from the opal-mines and from the
turquoise-quarries. He has grown very mighty.
SECOND SENTRY
Then he will the more easily crush the hill-folk in a little war.
FIRST SENTRY
When kings grow very mighty the stars grow very jealous.
BOY
I've written your poem.
GIRL
Oh, have you really?
BOY
Yes, I'll read it to you. (_He reads_)
I saw a purple bird
Go up against the sky
And it went up and up
And round about did fly.
I saw it die.
GIRL
It doesn't scan.
BOY
That doesn't matter.
[_Enter furtively a Spy, who crosses stage and goes out. The Sentries
cease to talk._
GIRL
That man frightens me.
BOY
He is only one of the King's spies.
GIRL
But I don't like the King's spies. They frighten me.
BOY
Come on, then, we'll run away.
SENTRY (_noticing the children again_)
Go away, go away! The King is coming, he will eat you.
[_The Boy throws a stone at the Sentry and runs out. Enter another
Spy, who crosses the stage. Enter third Spy, who notices the door. He
examines it and utters an owl-like whistle. No. 2 comes back. They do
not speak. Both whistle. No. 3 comes. All examine the door. Enter the
King and his Chamberlain. The King wears a purple robe. The Sentries
smartly transfer their spears to their left hands and return their
right arms to their right sides. They then lower their spears until
their points are within an inch of the ground, at the same time raising
their right hands above their heads. They stand for some moments thus.
Then they lower their right arms to their right sides, at the same time
raising their spears. In the next motion they take their spears into
their right hands and lower the butts to the floor, where they were
before, the spears slanting forward a little. Both Sentries must move
together precisely._
FIRST SPY (_runs forward to the King and kneels, abasing his
forehead to the floor_)
Something has written on the iron door.
CHAMBERLAIN
On the iron door!
KING
Some fool has done it. Who has been here since yesterday?
FIRST SENTRY (_shifts his hand a little higher on his spear,
brings the spear to his side and closes his heels all in one motion; he
then takes one pace backward with his right foot; then he kneels on his
right knee; when he has done this he speaks, but not before_)
Nobody, Majesty, but a stranger from Thessaly.
KING
Did he touch the iron door?
FIRST SENTRY
No, Majesty; he tried to, but we drove him away.
KING
How near did he come?
FIRST SENTRY
Nearly to our spears, Majesty.
KING
What was his motive in seeking to touch the iron door?
FIRST SENTRY
I do not know, Majesty.
KING
Which way did he go?
FIRST SENTRY (_pointing left_)
That way, Majesty, an hour ago.
[_The King whispers with one of his Spies, who stoops and examines
the ground and steals away. The Sentry rises._
KING (_to his two remaining Spies_)
What does this writing say?
A SPY
We cannot read, Majesty.
KING
A good spy should know everything.
SECOND SPY
We watch, Majesty, and we search out, Majesty. We read shadows, and we
read footprints, and whispers in secret places. But we do not read
writing.
KING (_to the Chamberlain_)
See what it is.
CHAMBERLAIN (_goes up and reads_)
It is treason, Majesty.
KING
Read it.
CHAMBERLAIN
I saw a purple bird
Go up against the sky,
And it went up and up
And round about did fly.
I saw it die.
FIRST SENTRY (_aside_)
The stars have spoken.
KING (_to the Sentry_)
Has anyone been here but the stranger from Thessaly?
SENTRY (_kneeling as before_)
Nobody, Majesty.
KING
You saw nothing?
FIRST SENTRY
Nothing but a dog far out upon the plain and the children of the guard
at play.
KING (_to the Second Sentry_)
And you?
SECOND SENTRY (_kneeling_)
Nothing, Majesty.
CHAMBERLAIN
That is strange.
KING
It is some secret warning.
CHAMBERLAIN
It is treason.
KING
It is from the stars.
CHAMBERLAIN
No, no, Majesty. Not from the stars, not from the stars. Some man has
done it. Yet the thing should be interpreted. Shall I send for the
prophets of the stars?
[_The King beckons to his Spies. They run up to him._
KING
Find me some prophet of the stars. (_Exeunt Spies_) I fear that we
may go no more, my chamberlain, along the winding ways of unequalled
Zericon, nor play dahoori with the golden balls. I have thought more of
my people than of the stars and more of Zericon than of windy Heaven.
CHAMBERLAIN
Believe me, Majesty, some idle man has written it and passed by. Your
spies shall find him, and then his name will be soon forgotten.
KING
Yes, yes. Perhaps you are right, though the sentries saw no one. No
doubt some beggar did it.
CHAMBERLAIN
Yes, Majesty, some beggar has surely done it. But look, here come two
prophets of the stars. They shall tell us that this is idle.
[_Enter two Prophets and a Boy attending them. All bow deeply to the
King. The two Spies steal in again and stand at back._
KING
Some beggar has written a rhyme on the iron gate, and as the ways of
rhyme are known to you I desired you, rather as poets than as prophets,
to say whether there was any meaning in it.
CHAMBERLAIN
'Tis but an idle rhyme.
FIRST PROPHET (_bows again and goes up to door. He glances at the
writing_)
Come hither, servant of those that serve the stars.
[_Attendant approaches._
FIRST PROPHET
Bring hither our golden cloaks, for this may be a matter for rejoicing;
and bring our green cloaks also, for this may tell of young new
beautiful things with which the stars will one day gladden the King;
and bring our black cloaks also, for it may be a doom. (_Exit the
Boy; the Prophet goes up to the door and reads solemnly_) The stars
have spoken.
[_Reënter Attendant with cloaks._
KING
I tell you that some beggar has written this.
FIRST PROPHET
It is written in pure gold. (_He dons the black cloak over body and
head_)
KING
What do the stars mean? What warning is it?
FIRST PROPHET
I cannot say.
KING (_to Second Prophet_)
Come you then and tell us what the warning is.
SECOND PROPHET (_goes up to the door and reads_)
The stars have spoken. (_He cloaks himself in black_)
KING
What is it? What does it mean?
SECOND PROPHET
We do not know, but it is from the stars.
CHAMBERLAIN
It is a harmless thing; there is no harm in it, Majesty. Why should not
birds die?
KING
Why have the prophets covered themselves in black?
CHAMBERLAIN
They are a secret people and look for inner meanings. There is no harm
in it.
KING
They have covered themselves in black.
CHAMBERLAIN
They have not spoken of any evil thing. They have not spoken of it.
KING
If the people see the prophets covered in black they will say that the
stars are against me and believe that my luck has turned.
CHAMBERLAIN
The people must not know.
KING
Some prophet must interpret to us the doom. Let the chief prophet of
the stars be sent for.
CHAMBERLAIN (_going toward left exit_)
Summon the chief prophet of the stars that look on Zericon.
VOICES OFF
The chief prophet of the stars. The chief prophet of the stars.
CHAMBERLAIN
I have summoned the chief prophet, Majesty.
KING
If he interpret this aright I will put a necklace of turquoises round
his neck with opals from the mines.
CHAMBERLAIN
He will not fail. He is a very cunning interpreter.
KING
What if he covers himself with a huge black cloak and does not speak
and goes muttering away, slowly with bended head, till our fear spreads
to the sentries and they cry aloud?
CHAMBERLAIN
This is no doom from the stars, but some idle scribe hath written it in
his insolence upon the iron door, wasting his hoard of gold.
KING
Not for myself I have a fear of doom, not for myself; but I inherited a
rocky land, windy and ill-nurtured, and nursed it to prosperity by
years of peace and spread its boundaries by years of war. I have
brought up harvests out of barren acres and given good laws unto
naughty towns, and my people are happy, and lo, the stars are angry!
CHAMBERLAIN
It is not the stars, it is not the stars, Majesty, for the prophets of
the stars have not interpreted it. Indeed, it was only some reveller
wasting his gold.
[_Meanwhile enter Chief Prophet of the stars that look on Zericon._
KING
Chief Prophet of the Stars that look on Zericon, I would have you
interpret the rhyme upon yonder door.
CHIEF PROPHET (_goes up to the door and reads_)
It is from the stars.
KING
Interpret it and you shall have great turquoises round your neck, with
opals from the mines in the frozen mountains.
CHIEF PROPHET (_cloaks himself like the others in a great black cloak_)
Who should wear purple in the land but a King, or who go up against
the sky but he who has troubled the stars by neglecting their ancient
worship? Such a one has gone up and up increasing power and wealth,
such a one has soared above the crowns of those that went before him,
such a one the stars have doomed, the undying ones, the illustrious.
[_A pause._
KING
Who wrote it?
CHIEF PROPHET
It is pure gold. Some god has written it.
CHAMBERLAIN
Some god?
CHIEF PROPHET
Some god whose home is among the undying stars.
FIRST SENTRY (_aside to the Second Sentry_)
Last night I saw a star go flaming earthward.
KING
Is this a warning or is it a doom?
CHIEF PROPHET
The stars have spoken.
KING
It is, then, a doom?
CHIEF PROPHET
They speak not in jest.
KING
I have been a great King--Let it be said of me "The stars overthrew
him, and they sent a god for his doom." For I have not met my equal
among kings that man should overthrow me; and I have not oppressed my
people that man should rise up against me.
CHIEF PROPHET
It is better to give worship to the stars than to do good to man. It is
better to be humble before the gods than proud in the face of your
enemy though he do evil.
KING
Let the stars hearken yet and I will sacrifice a child to them--I will
sacrifice a girl child to the twinkling stars and a male child to the
stars that blink not, the stars of the steadfast eyes. (_To his
Spies_) Let a boy and girl be brought for sacrifice. (_Exit a Spy
to the right looking at footprints_) Will you accept this sacrifice
to the god that the stars have sent? They say that the gods love
children.
CHIEF PROPHET
I may refuse no sacrifice to the stars nor to the gods whom they send.
(_To the other Prophets_) Make ready the sacrificial knives.
[_The Prophets draw knives and sharpen them._
KING
Is it fitting that the sacrifice take place by the iron door where the
god from the stars has trod, or must it be in the temple?
CHIEF PROPHET
Let it be offered by the iron door. (_To the other Prophets_) Fetch
hither the altar stone.
[_The owl-like whistle is heard off right. The Third Spy runs
crouching toward it. Exit._
KING
Will this sacrifice avail to avert the doom?
CHIEF PROPHET
Who knows?
KING
I fear that even yet the doom will fall.
CHIEF PROPHET
It were wise to sacrifice some greater thing.
KING
What more can a man offer?
CHIEF PROPHET
His pride.
KING
What pride?
CHIEF PROPHET
Your pride that went up against the sky and troubled the stars.
KING
How shall I sacrifice my pride to the stars?
CHIEF PROPHET
It is upon your pride that the doom will fall, and will take away your
crown and will take away your kingdom.
KING
I will sacrifice my crown and reign uncrowned amongst you, so only I
save my kingdom.
CHIEF PROPHET
If you sacrifice your crown which is your pride, and if the stars
accept it, perhaps the god that they sent may avert the doom and you
may still reign in your kingdom though humbled and uncrowned.
KING
Shall I burn my crown with spices and with incense or cast it into the
sea?
CHIEF PROPHET
Let it be laid here by the iron door where the god came who wrote the
golden doom. When he comes again by night to shrivel up the city or to
pour an enemy in through the iron door, he will see your cast-off pride
and perhaps accept it and take it away to the neglected stars.
KING (_to the Chamberlain_)
Go after my spies and say that I make no sacrifice. (_Exit the
Chamberlain to the right; the King takes off his crown_) Good-bye,
my brittle glory; kings have sought you; the stars have envied you.
(_The stage grows darker_)
CHIEF PROPHET
Even now the sun has set who denies the stars, and the day is departed
wherein no gods walk abroad. It is near the hour when spirits roam the
earth and all things that go unseen, and the faces of the abiding stars
will be soon revealed to the fields. Lay your crown there and let us
come away.
KING _(lays his crown before the iron door; then to the Sentries_)
Go! And let no man come near the door all night.
THE SENTRIES (_kneeling_)
Yes, Majesty.
[_They remain kneeling until after the King has gone. King and the
Chief Prophet walk away._
CHIEF PROPHET
It was your pride. Let it be forgotten. May the stars accept it.
(_Exeunt left_)
[_The Sentries rise._
FIRST SENTRY
The stars have envied him!
SECOND SENTRY
It is an ancient crown. He wore it well.
FIRST SENTRY
May the stars accept it.
SECOND SENTRY
If they do not accept it what doom will overtake him?
FIRST SENTRY
It will suddenly be as though there were never any city of Zericon nor
two sentries like you and me standing before the door.
SECOND SENTRY
Why! How do you know?
FIRST SENTRY
That is ever the way of the gods.
SECOND SENTRY
But it is unjust.
FIRST SENTRY
How should the gods know that?
SECOND SENTRY
Will it happen to-night?
FIRST SENTRY
Come! we must march away. (_Exeunt right_)
[_The stage grows increasingly darker. Reënter the Chamberlain from
the right. He walks across the Stage and goes out to the left. Reënter
Spies from the right. They cross the stage, which is now nearly
dark._
BOY (_enters from the right, dressed in white, his hands out
a little, crying_)
King's door, King's door, I want my little hoop. (_He goes up to the
King's door. When he sees the King's crown there, he utters a
satisfied_) O-oh! (_He takes it up, puts it on the ground, and,
beating it before him with the sceptre, goes out by the way that he
entered_)
[_The great door opens; there is light within; a furtive Spy slips
out and sees that the crown is gone. Another Spy slips out. Their
crouching heads come close together._
FIRST SPY (_hoarse whisper_)
The gods have come!
[_They run back through the door and the door is closed. It opens
again and the King and the Chamberlain come through._
KING
The stars are satisfied.
CURTAIN
KING ARGIMENES AND THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR
PERSONS
KING ARGIMENES }
ZARB, _a slave born of slaves_ }
AN OLD SLAVE } _Slaves of King Darniak_
A YOUNG SLAVE }
SLAVES }
KING DARNIAK
THE KING'S OVERSEER
A PROPHET
THE IDOL-GUARD
THE SERVANT OF THE KING'S DOG
QUEEN ATHARLIA }
QUEEN OXARA } _Queens of King Darniak_
QUEEN CAHAFRA }
QUEEN THRAGOLIND }
GUARDS AND ATTENDANTS
_Time: A long time ago._
KING ARGIMENES AND THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR
THE FIRST ACT
_The dinner-hour on the slave-fields of King Darniak. King Argimenes is
sitting upon the ground, bowed, ragged and dirty, gnawing a bone. He
has uncouth hair and a dishevelled beard. A battered spade lies near
him. Two or three slaves sit at back of stage eating raw
cabbage-leaves. The tear-song, the chant of the low-born, rises at
intervals, monotonous and mournful, coming from distant slave-fields._
KING ARGIMENES
This is a good bone; there is juice in this bone.
ZARB
I wish I were you, Argimenes.
KING ARGIMENES
I am not to be envied any longer. I have eaten up my bone.
ZARB
I wish I were you, because you have been a king. Because men have
prostrated themselves before your feet. Because you have ridden a horse
and worn a crown and have been called Majesty.
KING ARGIMENES
When I remember that I have been a king it is very terrible.
ZARB
But you are lucky to have such things in your memory as you have. I
have nothing in my memory--Once I went for a year without being
flogged, and I remember my cleverness in contriving it--I have nothing
else to remember.
KING ARGIMENES
It is very terrible to have been a king.
ZARB
But we have nothing who have no good memories in the past. It is not
easy for us to hope for the future here.
KING ARGIMENES
Have you any god?
ZARB
We may not have a god because he might make us brave and we might kill
our guards. He might make a miracle and give us swords.
KING ARGIMENES
Ah, you have no hope, then.
ZARB
I have a little hope. Hush, and I will tell you a secret--The King's
great dog is ill and like to die. They will throw him to us. We shall
have beautiful bones then.
KING ARGIMENES
Ah! Bones.
ZARB
Yes. That is what _I_ hope for. And have _you_ no other hope? Do you
not hope that your nation will arise some day and rescue you and cast
off the king and hang him up by his thumbs from the palace gateway?
KING ARGIMENES
No. I have no other hope, for my god was cast down in the temple and
broken into three pieces on the day that they surprised us and took me
sleeping. But will they throw him to us? Will so honorable a brute as
the King's dog be thrown to us?
ZARB
When he is dead his honors are taken away. Even the King when he is
dead is given to the worms. Then why should not his dog be thrown to
us?
KING ARGIMENES
We are not worms!
ZARB
You do not understand, Argimenes. The worms are little and free, while
we are big and enslaved. I did not say we were worms, but we are _like_
worms, and if they have the King when he is dead, why then--
KING ARGIMENES
Tell me more of the King's dog. Are there big bones on him?
ZARB
Ay, he is a big dog--a high, big, black one.
KING ARGIMENES
You know him then?
ZARB
Oh yes, I know him. I know him well. I was beaten once because of him,
twenty-five strokes from the treble whips, two men beating me.
KING ARGIMENES
How did they beat you because of the King's dog?
ZARB
They beat me because I spoke to him without making obeisance. He was
coming dancing along over the slave-fields and I spoke to him. He was a
friendly great dog, and I spoke to him and patted his head, and did not
make obeisance.
KING ARGIMENES
And they saw you do it?
ZARB
Yes, the slave-guard saw me. They came and seized me at once and bound
my arms. The great dog wanted me to speak to him again, but I was
hurried away.
KING ARGIMENES
You should have made obeisance.
ZARB
The great dog seemed so friendly that I forgot he was the King's great
dog.
KING ARGIMENES
But tell me more. Was he hurt or is it a sickness?
ZARB
They say that it is a sickness.
KING ARGIMENES
Ah, then he will grow thin if he does not die soon. If it had been a
hurt!--but we should not complain. I complain more often than you do
because I had not learned to submit while I was yet young.
ZARB
If your beautiful memories do not please you, you should hope more. I
wish I had your memories. I should not trouble to hope then. It is very
hard to hope.
KING ARGIMENES
There will be nothing more to hope for when we have eaten the King's
dog.
ZARB
Why, you might find gold in the earth while you were digging. Then you
might bribe the commander of the guard to lend you his sword; we would
all follow you if you had a sword. Then we might take the King and bind
him and lay him on the ground and fasten his tongue outside his mouth
with thorns and put honey on it and sprinkle honey near. Then the gray
ants would come from one of their big mounds. My father found gold once
when he was digging.
KING ARGIMENES (_pointedly_)
Did your father free himself?
ZARB
No. Because the King's Overseer found him looking at the gold and
killed him. But he would have freed himself if he could have bribed the
guard.
[_A Prophet walks across the stage attended by two guards._
SLAVES
He is going to the King. He is going to the King.
ZARB
He is going to the King.
KING ARGIMENES
Going to prophesy good things to the King. It is easy to prophesy good
things to a king, and be rewarded when the good things come. What else
should come to a king? A prophet! A prophet!
[_A deep bell tolls slowly. King Argimenes and Zarb pick up their
spades at once, and the old slaves at the back of the stage go down on
their knees immediately and grub in the soil with their hands. The
white beard of the oldest trails in the dirt as he works. King
Argimenes digs._
KING ARGIMENES
What is the name of that song that we always sing? I like the song.
ZARB
It has no name. It is our song. There is no other song.
KING ARGIMENES
Once there were other songs. Has this no name?
ZARB
I think the soldiers have a name for it.
KING ARGIMENES
What do the soldiers call it?
ZARB
The soldiers call it the tear-song, the chant of the low-born.
KING ARGIMENES
It is a good song. I could sing no other now.
[_Zarb moves away digging._
KING ARGIMENES (_to himself as his spade touches something in the
earth_)
Metal! (_Feels with his spade again_) Gold perhaps!--It is of no use
here. (_Uncovers earth leisurely. Suddenly he drops on his knees and
works excitedly in the earth with his hands. Then very slowly, still
kneeling, he lifts, lying flat on his hands, a long greenish sword, his
eyes intent on it. About the level of his uplifted forehead he holds
it, still flat on both hands, and addresses it thus_) O holy and
blessed thing! (_Then he lowers it slowly till his hands rest on his
knees, and looking all the while at the sword, loquitur_) Three years
ago to-morrow King Darniak spat at me, having taken my kingdom from me.
Three times in that year I was flogged, with twelve stripes, with
seventeen stripes, and with twenty stripes. A year and eleven months
ago, come Moon-day, the King's Overseer struck me in the face, and nine
times in that year he called me dog. For one month two weeks and a day
I was yoked with a bullock and pulled a rounded stone all day over the
paths, except while we were fed. I was flogged twice that year--with
eighteen stripes and with ten stripes. This year the roof of the
slave-sty has fallen in and King Darniak will not repair it. Five
weeks ago one of his Queens laughed at me as she came across the
slave-fields. I was flogged again this year and with thirteen stripes,
and twelve times they have called me dog. And these things they have
done to a king, and a king of the House of Ithara.(_He listens
attentively for a moment, then buries the sword again and pats the
earth over it with his hands, then digs again_)
[_The old slaves do not see him: their faces are to the earth. Enter
the King's Overseer carrying a whip. The slaves and King Argimenes
kneel with their foreheads to the ground as he passes across the stage.
Exit the King's Overseer._
KING ARGIMENES (_kneeling, hands outspread downward_)
O warrior spirit, wherever thou wanderest, whoever be thy gods, whether
they punish thee or whether they bless thee, O kingly spirit, that once
laid here this sword, behold, I pray to thee, having no gods to pray
to, for the god of my nation was broken in three by night. Mine arm is
stiff with three years' slavery, and remembers not the sword. But guide
thy sword till I have slain six men and armed the strongest slaves, and
thou shalt have the sacrifice every year of a hundred goodly oxen. And
I will build in Ithara a temple to thy memory wherein all that enter in
shall remember thee; so shalt thou be honored and envied among the
dead, for the dead are very jealous of remembrance. Ay, though thou
wert a robber that took men's lives unrighteously, yet shall rare
spices smoulder in thy temple and little maidens sing and new-plucked
flowers deck the solemn aisles; and priests shall go about it ringing
bells that thy soul shall find repose. Oh, but it has a good blade,
this old green sword; thou wouldst not like to see it miss its mark (if
the dead see at all, as wise men teach), thou wouldst not like to see
it go thirsting into the air; so huge a sword should find its marrowy
bone. (_Extending his right hand upward_) Come into my right arm,
O ancient spirit, O unknown warrior's soul! And if thou hast the ear of
any gods, speak there against Illuriel, god of King Darniak. (_He
rises and goes on digging_)
THE KING'S OVERSEER (_reëntering_)
So you have been praying.
KING ARGIMENES (_kneeling_)
No, master.
THE KING'S OVERSEER
The slave-guard saw you. (_Strikes him_) It is not lawful for a
slave to pray.
KING ARGIMENES
I did but pray to Illuriel to make me a good slave, to teach me to dig
well and to pull the rounded stone and to make me not to die when the
food is scarce, but to be a good slave to my master the great King.
THE KING'S OVERSEER
Who art thou to pray to Illuriel? Dogs may not pray to an immortal god.
(_Exit_)
[_Zarb comes back, digging._
KING ARGIMENES (_digging_)
Zarb!
ZARB (_also digging_)
Do not look at me when you speak. The guards are watching us. Look at
your digging.
KING ARGIMENES
How do the guards know we are speaking because we look at one another?
ZARB
You are very witless. Of course they know.
KING ARGIMENES
Zarb!
ZARB
What is it?
KING ARGIMENES
How many guards are there in sight?
ZARB
There are six of them over there. They are watching us.
KING ARGIMENES
Are there other guards in sight of these six guards?
ZARB
No.
KING ARGIMENES
How do you know?
ZARB
Because whenever their officer leaves them they sit upon the ground and
play with dice.
KING ARGIMENES
How does that show that there are not another six in sight of them?
ZARB
How witless you are, Argimenes! Of course it shows there are not.
Because, if there were, another officer would see them, and their
thumbs would be cut off.
KING ARGIMENES
Ah! (_A pause_) Zarb! (_A pause_) Would the slaves follow me if I
tried to kill the guards?
ZARB
No, Argimenes.
KING ARGIMENES
Why would they not follow me?
ZARB
Because you look like a slave. They will never follow a slave, because
they are slaves themselves, and know how mean a creature is a slave. If
you looked like a king they would follow you.
KING ARGIMENES
But I am a king. They know that I am a king.
ZARB
It is better to look like a king. It is looks that they would go by.
KING ARGIMENES
If I had a sword would they follow me? A beautiful huge sword of
bronze.
ZARB
I wish I could think of things like that. It is because you were once a
king that you can think of a sword of bronze. I tried to hope once that
I should some day fight the guards, but I couldn't picture a sword, I
couldn't imagine it; I could only picture whips.
KING ARGIMENES
Dig a little nearer, Zarb. (_They both edge closer_) I have found
a very old sword in the earth. It is not a sword such as common
soldiers wear. A king must have worn it, and an angry king. It must
have done fearful things; there are little dints in it. Perhaps there
was a battle here long ago where all were slain, and perhaps that king
died last and buried his sword, but the great birds swallowed him.
ZARB
You have been thinking too much of the King's dog, Argimenes, and that
has made you hungry, and hunger has driven you mad.
KING ARGIMENES
I _have_ found such a sword. [_A pause._
ZARB
Why--then you will wear a purple cloak again, and sit on a great
throne, and ride a prancing horse, and we shall call you Majesty.
KING ARGIMENES
I shall break a long fast first and drink much water, and sleep. But
will the slaves follow me?
ZARB
You will _make_ them follow you if you have a sword. Yet is Illuriel a
very potent god. They say that none have prevailed against King
Darniak's dynasty so long as Illuriel stood. Once an enemy cast
Illuriel into the river and overthrew the dynasty, but a fisherman
found him again and set him up, and the enemy was driven out and the
dynasty returned.
KING ARGIMENES
If Illuriel could be cast down as my god was cast down perhaps King
Darniak could be overcome as I was overcome in my sleep?
ZARB
If Illuriel were cast down all the people would utter a cry and flee
away. It would be a fearful portent.
KING ARGIMENES
How many men are there in the armory at the palace?
ZARB
There are ten men in the palace armory when all the slave-guards are
out.
[_They dig awhile in silence._
ZARB
The officer of the slave-guard has gone away--They are playing with
dice now. (_He throws down his spade and stretches his arms_) The
man with the big beard has won again, he is very nimble with his
thumbs--They are playing again, but it is getting dark, I cannot
clearly see.
[_King Argimenes furtively uncovers the sword, he picks it up and
grips it in his hand._
ZARB
Majesty!
[_King Argimenes crouches and steals away towards the slave-guard._
* * * * *
ZARB (_to the other slaves_)
Argimenes has found a terrible sword and has gone to slay the
slave-guard. It is not a common sword, it is some king's sword.
AN OLD SLAVE
Argimenes will be dreadfully flogged. We shall hear him cry all night.
His cries will frighten us, and we shall not sleep.
ZARB
No, no! The guards flog poor slaves, but Argimenes had an angry look.
The guards will be afraid when they see him look so angry and see his
terrible sword. It was a huge sword, and he looked very angry. He will
bring us the swords of the slave-guard. We must prostrate ourselves
before him and kiss his feet or he will be angry with us too.
OLD SLAVE
Will Argimenes give me a sword?
ZARB
He will have swords for six of us if he slays the slave-guard. Yes, he
will give you a sword.
SLAVE
A sword! No, no, I must not; the King would kill me if he found that I
had a sword.
SECOND SLAVE (_slowly, as one who develops an idea_)
If the King found that I had a sword, why, then it would be an evil day
for the King.
[_They all look off left._
ZARB
I think that they are playing at dice again.
FIRST SLAVE
I do not see Argimenes.
ZARB
No, because he was crouching as he walked. The slave-guard is on the
sky-line.
SECOND SLAVE
What is that dark shadow behind the slave-guard?
ZARB
It is too still to be Argimenes.
SECOND SLAVE
Look! It moves.
ZARB
The evening is too dark, I cannot see.
[_They continue to gaze into the gathering darkness. They raise
themselves on their knees and crane their necks. Nobody speaks. Then
from their lips and from others farther off goes up a long, deep "Oh!"
It is like the sound that goes up from the grandstand when a horse
falls at a fence, or, in England, like the first exclamation of the
crowd at a great cricket match when a man is caught in the slips._
CURTAIN
THE SECOND ACT
_The Throne Hall of King Darniak. The King is seated on his throne in
the centre at the back of the stage; a little to his left, but standing
out from the wall, a dark-green seated idol is set up. His Queens are
seated about him on the ground, two on his right and two between him
and the idol. All wear crowns. Beside the dark-green idol a soldier
with a pike is kneeling upon one knee. The tear-song, the chant of the
low-born, drifts faintly up from the slave-fields._
FIRST QUEEN
Do show us the new prophet, Majesty; it would be very interesting to
see another prophet.
THE KING
Ah, yes.
[_He strikes upon a gong, and an Attendant enters, walks straight
past the King and bows before the idol; he then walks back to the
centre of the stage and bows before the King._
THE KING
Bring the new prophet hither.
[_Exit Attendant. Enter the King's Overseer holding a roll of paper.
He passes the King, bows to the idol, returns to the front of the King,
kneels, and remains kneeling with bended head._
THE KING (_speaking in the meanwhile to the Second Queen on his
immediate right_)
We are making a beautiful arbor for you, O Atharlia, at an end of the
great garden. There shall be iris-flowers that you love and all things
that grow by streams. And the stream there shall be small and winding
like one of those in your country. I shall bring a stream a new way
from the mountains. (_Turning to Queen Oxara on his extreme right_) And
for you, too, O Oxara, we shall make a pleasance. I shall have rocks
brought from the quarries for you, and my idle slaves shall make a hill
and plant it with mountain shrubs, and you can sit there in the winter
thinking of the North. (_To the kneeling Overseer_) Ah, what is here?
THE KING'S OVERSEER
The plans of your royal garden, Majesty. The slaves have dug it for
five years and rolled the paths.
THE KING (_takes the plans_)
Was there not a garden in Babylon?
THE KING'S OVERSEER
They say there was a garden there of some sort, Majesty.
THE KING
I will have a greater garden. Let the world know and wonder. (_Looks
at the plans_)
THE KING'S OVERSEER
It shall know at once, Majesty.
THE KING (_pointing at the plan_)
I do not like that hill, it is too steep.
THE KING'S OVERSEER
No, Majesty.
THE KING
Remove it.
THE KING'S OVERSEER
Yes, Majesty.
THE KING
When will the garden be ready for the Queens to walk in?
THE KING'S OVERSEER
Work is slow, Majesty, at this season of the year because the green
stuff is scarce and the slaves grow idle. They even become insolent and
ask for bones.
QUEEN CAHAFRA (_to the King's Overseer_)
Then why are they not flogged? (_To Queen Thragolind_) It is so simple,
they _only_ have to flog them, but these people are so silly sometimes.
I want to walk in the great garden, and then they tell me: "It is not
ready, Majesty. It is not ready, Majesty," as though there were any
reason why it should _not_ be ready.
FOURTH QUEEN
Yes, they are a great trouble to us.
[_Meanwhile the King hands back the plans. Exit the King's Overseer.
Reënter Attendant with the Prophet, who is dressed in a long dark brown
cloak; his face is solemn; he has a long dark beard and long hair.
Having bowed before the idol, he bows before the King and stands
silent. The attendant, having bowed to both, stands by the doorway._
THE KING (_meanwhile to Queen Atharlia_)
Perhaps we shall lure the ducks when the marshes are frozen to come and
swim in your stream; it will be like your own country. (_To the
Prophet_) Prophesy unto us.
THE PROPHET (_speaks at once in a loud voice_)
There was once a King that had slaves to hate him and to toil for him,
and he had soldiers to guard him and to die for him. And the number of
the slaves that he had to hate him and to toil for him was greater than
the number of the soldiers that he had to guard him and to die for him.
And the days of that King were few. And the number of thy slaves, O
King, that thou hast to hate thee is greater than the number of thy
soldiers.
QUEEN CAHAFRA (_to Queen Thragolind_)
--and I wore the crown with the sapphires and the big emerald in it,
and the foreign prince said that I looked very sweet.
[_The King, who has been smiling at Atharlia, gives a gracious nod to
the Prophet when he hears him stop speaking. When the Queens see the
King nod graciously, they applaud the Prophet by idly clapping their
hands._
THIRD QUEEN
Do ask him to make us another prophecy, Majesty! He is so interesting.
He looks so clever.
THE KING
Prophesy unto us.
THE PROPHET
Thine armies camped upon thy mountainous borders descry no enemy in the
plains afar. And within thy gates lurks he for whom thy sentinels seek
upon lonely guarded frontiers. There is a fear upon me and a boding.
Even yet there is time, even yet; but _little_ time. And my mind
is dark with trouble for thy kingdom.
QUEEN CAHAFRA (_to Queen Thragolind_)
I do not like the way he does his hair.
QUEEN THRAGOLIND
It would be all right if he would only have it cut.
THE KING (_to the Prophet, dismissing him with a nod of the head_)
Thank you, that has been very interesting.
QUEEN THRAGOLIND
How clever he is! I wonder how he thinks of things like that?
QUEEN CAHAFRA
Yes, but I hate a man who is conceited about it. Look how he wears his
hair.
QUEEN THRAGOLIND
Yes, of course, it is perfectly dreadful.
QUEEN CAHAFRA
Why can't he wear his hair like other people, even if he does say
clever things?
QUEEN THRAGOLIND
Yes, I hate a conceited man.[1]
[Footnote 1: It is not necessary for the prophet's hair to be at all
unusual.]
[_Enter an Attendant. He bows before the idol, then kneels to the
King._
THE ATTENDANT
The guests are all assembled in the Chamber of Banquets.
[_All rise. The Queens walk two abreast to the Chamber of Banquets._
QUEEN ATHARLIA (_to Queen Oxara_)
What was he talking about?
QUEEN OXARA
He was talking about the armies on the frontier.
QUEEN ATHARLIA
Ah! That reminds me of that young captain in the Purple Guard. They say
that he loves Linoora.
QUEEN OXARA
Oh, Thearkos! Linoora probably said that.
[_When the Queens come to the doorway they halt on each side of it.
Then they turn facing one another. Then the King leaves his throne and
passes between them into the Chamber of Banquets, each couple
courtseying low to him as he passes. The Queens follow, then the
attendants. There rises the wine-song, the chant of the nobles,
drowning the chant of the low-born. Only the Idol-Guard remains behind,
still kneeling beside Illuriel._
THE IDOL-GUARD
I do not like those things the Prophet said--It would be terrible if
they were true--It would be very terrible if they were false, for he
prophesies in the name of Illuriel--Ah! They are singing the wine-song,
the chant of the nobles. The Queens are singing. How merry they are!--I
should like to be a noble and sit and look at the Queens. (_He joins
in the song_)
THE VOICE OF A SENTINEL
Guard, turn out. (_The wine-song still continues_)
THE VOICE OF ONE HAVING AUTHORITY
Turn out the guard there! Wake up, you accursed pigs!
[_Still the wine-song. A faint sound as of swords._
A VOICE CRYING
To the armory! To the armory! Reinforce! The Slaves have come to the
armory. Ah! mercy! (_For awhile there is silence_)
KING ARGIMENES (_in the doorway_)
Go you to the slave-fields. Say that the palace-guard is dead and that
we have taken the armory. Ten of you, hold the armory till our men come
from the slave-fields. (_He comes into the hall with his slaves armed
with swords_) Throw down Illuriel.
THE IDOL-GUARD
You must take my life before you touch my god.
A SLAVE
We only want your pike.
[_All attack him; they seize his sword and bind his hands behind him.
They all pull down Illuriel, the dark-green idol, who breaks into seven
pieces._
KING ARGIMENES
Illuriel is fallen and broken asunder.
ZARB (_with some awe_)
Immortal Illuriel is dead at last.
KING ARGIMENES
My god was broken into three pieces, but Illuriel is broken into seven.
The fortunes of Darniak will prevail over mine no longer. (_A slave
breaks off a golden arm from the throne_) Come, we will arm all the
slaves. (_Exeunt_)
KING DARNIAK (_enters with Retinue_)
My throne is broken. Illuriel is turned against me.
AN ATTENDANT
Illuriel is fallen.
ALL (_with King Darniak_)
Illuriel is fallen, is fallen. (_Some drop their spears_)
KING DARNIAK (_to the Idol-Guard_)
What envious god or sacrilegious man has dared to do this thing?
THE IDOL-GUARD
Illuriel is fallen.
KING DARNIAK
Have men been here?
THE IDOL-GUARD
Is fallen.
KING DARNIAK
What way did they go?
THE IDOL-GUARD
Illuriel is fallen.
KING DARNIAK
They shall be tortured here before Illuriel, and their eyes shall be
hung on a thread about his neck, so that Illuriel shall see it, and on
their bones we will set him up again. Come!
[_Those that have dropped their spears pick them up, but trail them
along behind them on the ground. All follow dejectedly._
VOICES OF LAMENTATION (_growing fainter and fainter off_)
Illuriel is fallen, Illuriel is fallen. Illuriel, Illuriel, Illuriel.
Is fallen. Is fallen. (_The song of the low-born ceases suddenly.
Then voices of the slaves in the slave-fields chanting very loudly_)
Illuriel is fallen, is fallen, is fallen. Illuriel is fallen and broken
asunder. Illuriel is fallen, fallen, fallen.
[_Clamor of fighting is heard, the clash of swords, and voices, and
now and then the name of Illuriel._
THE IDOL-GUARD (_kneeling over a fragment of Illuriel_)
Illuriel is broken. They have overthrown Illuriel. They have done great
harm to the courses of the stars. The moon will be turned to blackness
or fall and forsake the nights. The sun will rise no more. They do not
know how they have wrecked the world.
[_Reënter King Argimenes and his men._
KING ARGIMENES (_in the doorway_)
Go you to the land of Ithara and tell them that I am free. And do you
go to the army on the frontier. Offer them death, or the right arm of
the throne to be melted and divided amongst them all. Let them choose.
(_The armed slaves go to the throne and stand on each side of it,
loquitur_) Majesty, ascend your throne. (_King Argimenes, standing
with his face toward the audience, lifts the sword slowly, lying on
both his hands, a little above his head, then looking up at it,
loquitur_) Praise to the unknown warrior and to all gods that bless
him. (_He ascends the throne. Zarb prostrates himself at the foot of
it and remains prostrated for the rest of the Act, muttering at
intervals "Majesty." An armed slave enters dragging the King's
Overseer. King Argimenes sternly watches him. He is dragged before the
Throne. He still has the roll of parchment in his hand. For some
moments King Argimenes does not speak. Then pointing at the
parchment_) What have you there?
THE KING'S OVERSEER (_kneeling_)
It is a plan of the great garden, Majesty. It was to have been a wonder
to the world. (_Unfolds it_)
KING ARGIMENES (_grimly_)
Show me the place that I digged for three years. (_The King's Overseer
shows it with trembling hands; the parchment shakes visibly_) Let there
be built there a temple to an Unknown Warrior. And let this sword be
laid on its altar evermore, that the ghost of that Warrior wandering by
night (if men do walk by night from across the grave) may see his sword
again. And let slaves be allowed to pray there and those that are
oppressed; nevertheless the noble and the mighty shall not fail to
repair there too, that the Unknown Warrior shall not lack due
reverence.
[_Enter, running, a Man of the household of King Darniak. He starts
and stares aghast on seeing King Argimenes._
KING ARGIMENES
Who are you?
MAN
I am the servant of the King's dog.
KING ARGIMENES
Why do you come here?
MAN
The King's dog is dead.
KING ARGIMENES AND HIS MEN (_savagely and hungrily_)
Bones!
KING ARGIMENES (_remembering suddenly what has happened and where he
is_)
Let him be buried with the late King.
ZARB (_in a voice of protest_)
Majesty!
CURTAIN
THE GLITTERING GATE
PERSONS
JIM, _lately a burglar_ }
BILL, _lately a burglar_ } _Both dead_
_Scene: A Lonely Place._
_Time: The present._
THE GLITTERING GATE
_The Lonely Place is strewn with large black rocks and uncorked
beer-bottles, the latter in great profusion. At back is a wall of
granite built of great slabs, and in it the Gate of Heaven. The door is
of gold._
_Below the Lonely Place is an abyss hung with stars._
_The rising curtain reveals Jim wearily uncorking a beer-bottle. Then
he tilts it slowly and with infinite care. It proves to be empty. Faint
and unpleasant laughter is heard off. This action and the accompanying
far laughter are repeated continually throughout the play. Corked
bottles are discovered lying behind rocks, and more descend constantly
through the air, within reach of Jim. All prove to be empty._
_Jim uncorks a few bottles._
JIM (_weighing one carefully_)
That's a full one. (_It is empty, like all_)
[_Singing is heard off left._
BILL (_enters from left with a bullet-hole over his eye, singing_)
Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves. (_Breaking off his song_)
Why, 'ullo. 'Ere's a bottle of beer. (_Finds it empty; looking off and
downward_) I'm getting a bit tired of those blooming great stars down
there and this rocky ledge. I've been walking along under this wall
ever since. Why, it must be twenty-four hours since that house-holder
shot me. And he needn't have done it, either, _I_ wasn't going to hurt
the bloke. I only wanted a bit of his silver stuff. It felt funny, that
did. Hullo, a gate. Why, that's the Gate of Heaven. Well, well. So
that's all right. (_Looks up and up for some time_) No. I can't climb
_that_ wall. Why, it's got no top to it. Up and up it goes. (_Knocks at
the door and waits_)
JIM
That isn't for the likes of us.
BILL
Why, hullo, there's another bloke. Why, somebody's been hanging him.
Why, if it isn't old Jim! Jim!
JIM (_wearily_)
Hullo.
BILL
Why, Jim! 'Ow long 'ave you been 'ere?
JIM
I _am_ 'ere always.
BILL
Why, Jim, don't you remember me? Why, you taught Bill to pick locks
years and years ago when he was a little boy, and had never learnt a
trade and hadn't a penny in the world, and never would have had but for
you, Jim. (_Jim stares vaguely_) I never forgot _you_, Jim. I broke
into scores of houses. And then I took on big houses. Out in the
country, you know, real big ones. I got rich, Jim, and respected by all
who knew me. I was a citizen, Jim, one who dwelt in our midst. And of
an evening, sitting over the fire, I used to say, "I am as clever as
Jim." But I wasn't, Jim. I couldn't climb like you. And I couldn't walk
like you on a creaky stair, when everything's quite still and there's a
dog in the house and little rattly things left lying about, and a door
that whines if you touch it, and someone ill upstairs that you didn't
know of, who has nothing to do but to listen for _you_ 'cause she can't
get to sleep. Don't you remember little Bill?
JIM
That would be somewhere else.
BILL
Yes, Jim, yes. Down on Earth.
JIM
But there isn't anywhere else.
BILL
I never forgot _you_, Jim. I'd be pattering away with my tongue,
in Church, like all the rest, but all the time I'd be thinking of you
in that little room at Putney and the man searching every corner of it
for you with a revolver in one hand and a candle in the other, and you
almost going round with him.
JIM
What is Putney?
BILL
Oh, Jim, can't you remember? Can't you remember the day you taught me a
livelihood? I wasn't more than twelve, and it was spring, and all the
may was in blossom outside the town. And we cleared out No. 25 in the
new street. And next day we saw the man's fat, silly face. It was
thirty years ago.
JIM
What are years?
BILL
Oh, _Jim_!
JIM
You see there isn't any hope here. And when there isn't any hope there
isn't any future. And when there isn't any future there isn't any past.
It's just the present here. I tell you we're stuck. There aren't no
years here. Nor no nothing.
BILL
Cheer up, Jim. You're thinking of a quotation, "Abandon hope, all ye
that enter here." I used to learn quotations; they are awfully genteel.
A fellow called Shakespeare used to make them. But there isn't any
sense in them. What's the use of saying _ye_ when you mean _you_? Don't
be thinking of quotations, Jim.
JIM
I tell you there is no hope here.
BILL
Cheer up, Jim. There's plenty of hope there, isn't there? (_Points to
the Gate of Heaven_)
JIM
Yes, and that's why they keep it locked up so. They won't let us have
any. No. I begin to remember Earth again now since you've been
speaking. It was just the same there. The more they'd got the more they
wanted to keep _you_ from having a bit.
BILL
You'll cheer up a bit when I tell you what I've got. I say, Jim, have
you got some beer? Why, so you have. Why, _you_ ought to cheer up,
Jim.
JIM
All the beer you're ever likely to see again. They're empty.
BILL (_half rising from the rock on which he has seated himself, and
pointing his finger at Jim as he rises; very cheerfully_)
Why, you're the chap that said there was no hope here, and you're
hoping to find beer in every bottle you open.
JIM
Yes; I _hope_ to see a drop of beer in one some day, but I _know_ I
won't. Their trick _might_ not work just once.
BILL
How many have you tried, Jim?
JIM
Oh, I don't know. I've always been at it, working as fast as I can,
ever since--ever since--(_Feels his neck meditatively and up toward
his ear_) Why, ever since, Bill.
BILL
Why don't you stop it?
JIM
I'm too thirsty, Bill.
BILL
What do you think _I've got_, Jim?
JIM
I don't know. Nothing's any use.
BILL (_as yet another bottle is shown to be empty_)
Who's that laughing, Jim?
JIM (_astonished at such a question, loudly and emphatically_)
Who's that laughing?
BILL (_looks a little disconcerted at having apparently asked a silly
question_)
Is it a pal?
JIM
A pal!--(_laughs_) (_The laugh off joins in loudly and for long_)
BILL
Well, I don't know. But, Jim, what do you think I've got?
JIM
It isn't any good to you whatever it is. Not even if it is a ten-pound
note.
BILL
It's better than a ten-pound note, Jim. Jim, try and remember, Jim.
Don't you remember the way we used to go for those iron safes? Do you
remember anything, Jim?
JIM
Yes, I am beginning to remember now. There used to be sunsets. And then
there were great yellow lights. And one went in behind them through a
swinging door.
BILL
Yes, yes, Jim. That was the Blue Bear down at Wimbledon.
JIM
Yes, and the room was all full of golden light. And there was beer with
light in it, and some would be spilt on the counter and there was light
in that too. And there was a girl standing there with yellow hair.
She'd be the other side of that door now, with lamplight in her hair
among the angels, and the old smile on her lips if one of them chaffed
her, and her pretty teeth a-shining. She would be very near the throne;
there was never any harm in Jane.
BILL
No, there was never any 'arm in Jane, Jim.
JIM
Oh, I don't want to see the angels, Bill. But if I could see Jane again
(_points in direction of laugh_) he might laugh as much as he cared to
whenever I wanted to cry. You can't cry here, you know, Bill.
BILL
You shall see her again, Jim.
[_Jim takes no interest in this remark; he lowers his eyes and goes
on with his work._
BILL
Jim, you shall see her again. You want to get into Heaven, don't you?
JIM (_not raising his eyes_)
Want!
BILL
Jim. Do you know what I've got, Jim?
[_Jim makes no answer, goes on wearily with his work._
BILL
You remember those iron safes, Jim, how we used to knock them open like
walnuts with "Old Nut-cracker"?
JIM (_at work, wearily_)
Empty again.
BILL
Well, I've got Old Nut-cracker. I had him in my hand at the time, and
they let me keep him. They thought it would be a nice proof against me.
JIM
Nothing is any good here.
BILL
I'll get in to Heaven, Jim. And you shall come with me because you
taught me a livelihood. I couldn't be happy there, like those angels,
if I knew of anyone being outside. I'm not like that.
[_Jim goes on with his work._
BILL
Jim, Jim. You'll see Jane there.
JIM
You'll never get through those gates, Bill. You'll never do it.
BILL
They're only gold, Jim. Gold's soft like lead. Old Nut-cracker would do
it if they were steel.
JIM
You'll never do it, Bill.
[_Bill puts a rock against the gates, stands on it to reach the lock
and gets to work on the lock. A good instrument to use is an
egg-whipper. Jim goes on wearily with his work. As Bill works away,
fragments and golden screws begin to fall on the floor._
BILL
Jim! Old Nut-cracker thinks nothing of it. It's just like cheese to old
Nut-cracker.
JIM
They won't let you do it, Bill.
BILL
They don't know what I've got. I'm getting through it like cheese, Jim.
JIM
Suppose it's a mile thick. Suppose it's a million miles thick. Suppose
it's a hundred million miles thick.
BILL
Can't be, Jim. These doors are meant to open outward. They couldn't do
that if they were more than four inches at the most, not for an
Archbishop. They'd stick.
JIM
You remember that great safe we broke open once, what had coal in it.
BILL
This isn't a safe, Jim, this is Heaven. There'll be the old saints with
their halos shining and flickering, like windows o' wintry nights.
(_Creak, creak, creak_) And angels thick as swallows along a cottage
roof the day before they go. (_Creak, creak, creak_) And orchards full
of apples as far as you can see, and the rivers of Tigris and
Euphrates, so the Bible says; and a city of gold, for those that care
for cities, all full of precious stones; but I'm a bit tired of cities
and precious stones. (_Creak, creak, creak_) I'll go out into the
fields where the orchards are, by the Tigris and the Euphrates. I
shouldn't be surprised if my old mother was there. She never cared much
for the way I earned my livelihood (_creak, creak_), but she was a good
mother to me. I don't know if they want a good mother in there who
would be kind to the angels and sit and smile at them when they sang
and soothe them if they were cross. If they let all the good ones in
she'll be there all right. (_Suddenly_) Jim! They won't have brought me
up against her, will they? That's not fair evidence, Jim.
JIM
It would be just like them to. Very like them.
BILL
If there's a glass of beer to be got in Heaven, or a dish of tripe and
onions, or a pipe of 'bacca she'll have them for me when I come to her.
She used to know my ways wonderful; and what I liked. And she used to
know when to expect me almost anywhere. I used to climb in through the
window at any hour and she always knew it was me. (_Creak, creak_)
She'll know it's me at the door now, Jim. (_Creak, creak_) It will
be all a blaze of light, and I'll hardly know it's her till I get used
to it.... But I'll know her among a million angels. There weren't none
like her on Earth and there won't be none like her in Heaven.... Jim!
I'm through, Jim! One more turn, and old Nut-cracker's done it! It's
giving! It's giving! I know the feel of it. _Jim!_
[_At last there is a noise of falling bolts; the gates swing out an
inch and are stopped by the rock._
BILL
Jim! Jim! I've opened it, Jim. I've opened the Gate of Heaven! Come and
help me.
JIM (_looks up for a moment with open mouth. Then he mournfully shakes
his head and goes on drawing a cork_)
Another one empty.
BILL (_looks down once into the abyss that lies below the Lonely
Place_)
Stars. Blooming great stars.
[_Then he moves away the rock on which he stood. The gates move
slowly. Jim leaps up and runs to help; they each take a gate and move
backward with their faces against it._
BILL
Hullo, mother! You there? Hullo! You there? It's Bill, mother.
[_The gates swing heavily open, revealing empty night and stars._
BILL (_staggering and gazing into the revealed Nothing, in which far
stars go wandering_)
Stars. Blooming great stars. There _ain't_ no Heaven, Jim.
[_Ever since the revelation a cruel and violent laugh has arisen off.
It increases in volume and grows louder and louder._
JIM
That's like them. That's very like them. Yes, they'd do that!
_The curtain falls and the laughter still howls on._
THE LOST SILK HAT
PERSONS
THE CALLER
THE LABORER
THE CLERK
THE POET
THE POLICEMAN
_Scene: A fashionable London street._
THE LOST SILK HAT
_The Caller stands on a doorstep, "faultlessly dressed," but without
a hat. At first he shows despair, then a new thought engrosses him._
_Enter the Laborer._
THE CALLER
Excuse me a moment. Excuse me--but--I'd be greatly obliged to you
if--if you could see your way--in fact, you can be of great service to
me if--
THE LABORER
Glad to do what I can, sir.
CALLER
Well, all I really want you to do is just to ring that bell and go up
and say--er--say that you've come to see to the drains, or anything
like that, you know, and get hold of my hat for me.
LABORER
Get hold of your 'at!
CALLER
Yes. You see, I left my hat behind most unfortunately. It's in the
drawing-room (_points to window_), that room there, half under the long
sofa, the far end from the door. And if you could possibly go and get
it, why I'd be (_The Laborer's expression changes_)--Why, what's the
matter?
LABORER (_firmly_)
I don't like this job.
CALLER
Don't like this job! But my dear fellow, don't be silly, what possible
harm--?
LABORER
Ah-h. That's what I don't know.
CALLER
But what harm can there possibly be in so simple a request? What harm
does there seem to be?
LABORER
Oh, it seems all right.
CALLER
_Well_, then.
LABORER
All these crack jobs do seem all right.
CALLER
But I'm not asking you to rob the house.
LABORER
Don't seem as if you are, certainly, but I don't like the looks of it;
what if there's things what I can't 'elp taking when I gets inside?
CALLER
I only want my hat--Here, I say, please don't go away--here's a
sovereign, it will only take you a minute.
LABORER
_What I want to know_--
CALLER
Yes?
LABORER
--Is what's _in_ that hat?
CALLER
What's _in_ the hat?
LABORER
Yes; that's what I want to know.
CALLER
What's _in_ the hat?
LABORER
Yes, you aren't going to give me a sovereign--?
CALLER
I'll give you two sovereigns.
LABORER
You aren't going to give me a sovereign, and rise it to two sovereigns,
for an _empty_ hat?
CALLER
But I must have my hat. I can't be seen in the streets like this.
There's nothing _in_ the hat. What do you think's in the hat?
LABORER
Ah, I'm not clever enough to say that, but it looks as if the papers
was in that hat.
CALLER
The papers?
LABORER
Yes, papers proving, if you can get them, that you're the heir to that
big house, and some poor innocent will be defrauded.
CALLER
Look here, the hat's absolutely empty. I _must_ have my hat. If there's
anything in it you shall have it yourself as well as the two pounds,
only get me my hat.
LABORER
Well, that seems all right.
CALLER
That's right, then you'll run up and get it?
LABORER
Seems all right to me and seems all right to you. But it's the police
what you and I have got to think of. Will it seem all right to them?
CALLER
Oh, for heaven's sake--
LABORER
Ah!
CALLER
What a hopeless fool you are.
LABORER
Ah!
CALLER
Look here.
LABORER
Ah, I got you there, mister.
CALLER
Look here, for goodness sake don't go.
LABORER
Ah! (_Exit_)
[_Enter the Clerk._
CALLER
Excuse me, sir. Excuse my asking you, but, as you see, I am without a
hat. I shall be extraordinarily obliged to you if you would be so very
good as to get it for me. Pretend you have come to wind the clocks, you
know. I left it in the drawing-room of this house, half under the long
sofa, the far end.
CLERK
Oh, er--all right, only--
CALLER
Thanks so much, I am immensely indebted to you. Just say you've come to
wind the clocks, you know.
CLERK
I--er--don't think I'm very good at winding clocks, you know.
CALLER
Oh, that's all right, just stand in front of the clock and fool about
with it. That's all they ever do. I must warn you there's a lady in the
room.
CLERK
Oh!
CALLER
But that's all right, you know. Just walk past up to the clock.
CLERK
But I think, if you don't mind, as there's someone there--
CALLER
Oh, but she's quite young and very, very beautiful and--
CLERK
Why don't you get it yourself?
CALLER
That is impossible.
CLERK
Impossible?
CALLER
Yes, I have sprained my ankle.
CLERK
Oh! Is it bad?
CALLER
Yes, very bad indeed.
CLERK
I don't mind trying to carry you up.
CALLER
No, that would be worse. My foot has to be kept on the ground.
CLERK
But how will you get home?
CALLER
I can walk all right on the flat.
CLERK
I'm afraid I have to be going on. It's rather later than I thought.
CALLER
But for goodness sake don't leave me. You can't leave me here like this
without a hat.
CLERK
I'm afraid I must, it's later than I thought.
(_Exit_)
[_Enter the Poet._
CALLER
Excuse me, sir. Excuse my stopping you. But I should be immensely
obliged to you if you would do me a very great favor. I have
unfortunately left my hat behind while calling at this house. It is
half under the long sofa, at the far end. If you could possibly be so
kind as to pretend you have come to tune the piano and fetch my hat for
me I should be enormously grateful to you.
POET
But why cannot you get it for yourself?
CALLER
I cannot.
POET
If you would tell me the reason perhaps I could help you.
CALLER
I cannot. I can never enter that house again.
POET
If you have committed a murder, by all means tell me. I am not
sufficiently interested in ethics to wish to have you hanged for it.
CALLER
Do I look like a murderer?
POET
No, of course not. I am only saying that you can safely trust me, for
not only does the statute book and its penalties rather tend to bore
me, but murder itself has always had a certain fascination for me. I
write delicate and fastidious lyrics, yet, strange as it may appear, I
read every murder trial, and my sympathies are always with the
prisoner.
CALLER
But I tell you I am not a murderer.
POET
Then what have you done?
CALLER
I have quarrelled with a lady in that house and have sworn to join the
Bosnians and die in Africa.
POET
But this is beautiful.
CALLER
Unfortunately I forgot my hat.
POET
You go to die for a hopeless love, and in a far country; it was the
wont of the troubadours.
CALLER
But you will get my hat for me?
POET
That I will gladly do for you. But we must find an adequate reason for
entering the house.
CALLER
You pretend to tune the piano.
POET
That, unfortunately, is impossible. The sound of a piano being
unskilfully handled is to me what the continual drop of cold water on
the same part of the head is said to be in countries where that
interesting torture is practised. There is--
CALLER
But what are we to do?
POET
There is a house where kind friends of mine have given me that security
and comfort that are a poet's necessity. But there was a governess
there and a piano. It is years and years since I was able even to see
the faces of those friends without an inward shudder.
CALLER
Well, we'll have to think of something else.
POET
You are bringing back to these unhappy days the romance of an age of
which the ballads tell us that kings sometimes fought in no other armor
than their lady's nightshirt.
CALLER
Yes, but you know first of all I must get my _hat_.
POET
But why?
CALLER
I cannot possibly be seen in the streets without a hat.
POET
Why not?
CALLER
It can't be done.
POET
But you confuse externals with essentials.
CALLER
I don't know what you call essentials, but being decently dressed in
London seems pretty essential to me.
POET
A hat is not one of the essential things of life.
CALLER
I don't want to appear rude, but my hat isn't quite like yours.
POET
Let us sit down and talk of things that matter, things that will be
remembered after a hundred years. (_They sit_) Regarded in this
light one sees at once the triviality of hats. But to die, and die
beautifully for a hopeless love, that is a thing one could make a lyric
about. That is the test of essential things--try and imagine them in a
lyric. One could not write a lyric about a hat.
CALLER
I don't care whether you could write a lyric about my hat or whether
you couldn't. All I know is that I am not going to make myself
absolutely ridiculous by walking about in London without a hat. Will
you get it for me or will you not?
POET
To take any part in the tuning of a piano is impossible to me.
CALLER
Well, pretend you've come to look at the radiator. They have one under
the window, and I happen to know it leaks.
POET
I suppose it has an artistic decoration on it.
CALLER
Yes, I think so.
POET
Then I decline to look at it or to go near it. I know these decorations
in cast iron. I once saw a pot-bellied Egyptian god, named Bes, and
he was _meant_ to be ugly, but he wasn't as ugly as these
decorations that the twentieth century can make with machinery. What
has a plumber got to do with art that he should dare to attempt
decoration?
CALLER
Then you won't help me.
POET
I won't look at ugly things and I won't listen to ugly noises, but if
you can think of any reasonable plan I don't mind helping you.
CALLER
I can think of nothing else. You don't look like a plumber or a
clock-winder. I can think of nothing more. I have had a terrible ordeal
and I am not in the condition to think calmly.
POET
Then you will have to leave your hat to its altered destiny.
CALLER
Why can't you think of a plan? If you're a poet, thinking's rather in
your line.
POET
If I could bring my thoughts to contemplate so absurd a thing as a hat
for any length of time no doubt I could think of a plan, but the very
triviality of the theme seems to scare them away.
CALLER (_rising_)
Then I must get it myself.
POET
For Heaven's sake, don't do that! Think what it means!
CALLER
I know it will seem absurd, but not so absurd as walking through London
without it.
POET
I don't mean that. But you will make it up. You will forgive each
other, and you will marry her and have a family of noisy, pimply
children like everyone else, and Romance will be dead. No, don't ring
that bell. Go and buy a bayonet, or whatever one does buy, and join the
Bosnians.
CALLER
I tell you I can't without a hat.
POET
What is a hat! Will you sacrifice for it a beautiful doom? Think of
your bones, neglected and forgotten, lying forlornly because of
hopeless love on endless golden sands. "Lying forlorn!" as Keats said.
What a word! Forlorn in Africa. The careless Bedouins going past by
day, at night the lion's roar, the grievous voice of the desert.
CALLER
As a matter of fact, I don't think you're right in speaking of it as
desert. The Bosnians, I believe, are only taking it because it is
supposed to be the most fertile land in the world.
POET
What of that? You will not be remembered by geography and statistics,
but by golden-mouthed Romance. And that is how Romance sees Africa.
CALLER
Well, I'm going to get my hat.
POET
Think! Think! If you enter by that door you will never fall among the
foremost Bosnians. You will never die in a far-off, lonely land to lie
by immense Sahara. And she will never weep for your beautiful doom and
call herself cruel in vain.
CALLER
Hark! She is playing the piano. It seems to me that she might be
unhappy about it for years. I don't see much good in that.
POET
No. _I_ will comfort her.
CALLER
I'm damned if you do! Look here! I don't mind saying, I'm damned if you
do.
POET
Calm yourself. Calm yourself. I do not mean in that way.
CALLER
Then what on earth do you mean?
POET
I will make songs about your beautiful death, glad songs and sad songs.
They shall be glad because they tell again the noble tradition of the
troubadours, and sad because they tell of your sorrowful destiny and of
your hopeless love.
I shall make legends also about your lonely bones, telling perhaps how
some Arabian men, finding them in the desert by some oasis, memorable
in war, wonder who loved them. And then as I read them to her, she
weeps perhaps a little, and I read instead of the glory of the soldier,
how it overtops our transitory--
CALLER
Look here, I'm not aware that you've ever been introduced to her.
POET
A trifle, a trifle.
CALLER
It seems to me that you're in rather an undue hurry for me to get a
Jubu spear in me; but I'm going to get my hat first.
POET
I appeal to you. I appeal to you in the name of beautiful battles, high
deeds, and lost causes; in the name of love-tales told to cruel maidens
and told in vain. In the name of stricken hearts broken like beautiful
harp-strings, I appeal to you.
I appeal in the ancient holy name of Romance: _do not ring that bell_.
[_Caller rings the bell._
POET (_sits down, abject_)
You will marry. You will sometimes take a ticket with your wife as far
as Paris. Perhaps as far as Cannes. Then the family will come; a large
sprawling family as far as the eye can see (I speak in hyperbole).
You'll earn money and feed it and be like all the rest. No monument
will ever be set up to your memory but--
[_Servant answers bell. Caller says something inaudible. Exit through
door._
POET (_rising, lifting hand_)
But let there be graven in brass upon this house: Romance was born
again here out of due time and died young. (_He sits down_)
[_Enter Laborer and Clerk with Policeman. The music stops._
POLICEMAN
Anything wrong here?
POET
Everything's wrong. They're going to kill Romance.
POLICEMAN (_to Laborer_)
This gentleman doesn't seem quite right somehow.
LABORER
They're none of them quite right to-day.
[_Music starts again._
POET
My God! It is a duet.
POLICEMAN
He seems a bit wrong somehow.
LABORER
You should 'a seen the other one.
CURTAIN
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Five Plays" ***
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