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