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._