Plays of Gods and Men | Page 6

he lifts it up and strikes the
bell. An Attendant enters.]

King Karnos:
Bring back that prophet. [Attendant bows and exits.]
[The King looks thoughtful. The rest have a frightened look. Re-enter
Prophet.]
King Karnos:
When the gods prophesy rain in the season of rain, or the death of an
old man, we believe them. But when the gods prophesy something
incredible and ridiculous, such as happens not nowadays, and hath not
been heard of since the fall of Bleth, then our credulity is overtaxed. It
is possible that a man should lie; it is not possible that the gods should
destroy a city nowadays.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
O King, have mercy.
King Karnos:
What, would you be sent safe away while your King is destroyed by the
gods?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
No, no, your Majesty. I would stay in the city, your Majesty. But if the
gods do not destroy the city, if the gods have misled me.
King Karnos:
If the gods have misled you they have chosen your doom. Why ask for
mercy from me?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
If the gods have misled me, and punish me no further, I ask mercy from
you, O King.

King Karnos:
If the gods have misled you, let the gods protect you from my
executioner.
1st Sentry: [Laughs aside to 2nd Sentry]
Very witty.
2nd Sentry:
Yes, yes. [Laughs too.]
King Karnos:
If the doom fall not at sunset, why then the executioner----
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Your Majesty!
King Karnos:
No more! No doubt the gods will destroy the whole city at sunset.
[The sentries titter. The Prophet is led away.]
Ichtharion:
Your Majesty! Is it safe to kill a prophet, even for any guilt? Will not
the people----
King Karnos:
Not while he is a prophet; but if he has prophesied falsely his death is
due to the gods. The people once even burned a prophet themselves
because he had taken three wives.
Ichtharion: [Aside to Ludibras]

It is most unfortunate, but what can we do?
Ludibras: [Aside to Ichtharion]
He will not be killed if he betray us instead.
Ichtharion: [Aside]
Why... that is true.
[All are whispering.]
King Karnos:
Why do you whisper?
Tharmia:
Your Majesty, we fear that the gods will destroy us all and...
King Karnos:
You do not fear it?
[Dead silence. A plaintive lament off. Enter the Queen. Her face is pale
as paper.]
Queen: [loq.]
O your Majesty. Your Majesty. I have heard the lutanist, I have heard
the lutanist.
King Karnos:
She means the lute that is heard by those about to die.
Queen:
I have heard Gog-Owza, the lutanist, playing his lute. And I shall die,

O I shall die.
King Karnos:
No. No. No. You have not heard Gog-Owza. Send for her maidens,
send for the Queen's maidens.
Queen:
I have heard Gog-Owza playing, and I shall die.
King Karnos:
Hark. Why, I hear it too. That is not Gog-Owza, it is only a man with a
lute; I hear it too.
Queen:
O the King hears it too. The King will die. The great King will die. My
child will be desolate for the King will die. Mourn, people of the jungle.
Mourn, citizens of Thek. And thou, O Barbul-el-Sharnak, O
metropolitan city, mourn thou in the midst of the nations, for the great
King will die.
King Karnos:
No. No. No. [To oldest present.] Listen you. Do you not hear it?
The Oldest:
Yes, your Majesty.
King Karnos:
You see it is a real lute. That is no spirit playing.
Queen:
O but he is old; in a few days he will die; it is Gog-Owza, and the King

will die.
King Karnos:
No, no, it is only a man. Look out of the window there. [To any Young
Man.]
The Young Man:
It is dark, your Majesty, and I cannot see.
Queen:
It is the spirit Gog-Owza.
The Young Man:
I can hear the music clearly.
King Karnos:
He is young.
Queen:
The young are always in danger; they go about among swords. He will
die too and the great King and I. In a few days we will be buried.
King Karnos:
Let us all listen; we cannot all die in a few days' time.
Tharmia:
I hear it clearly.
Queen:
Women are blossoms in the hand of Death. They are often close to

Death. She will die too.
All:
I hear it. I hear it. And I. And I. And I. It is only a man with a lute.
Queen: [pacified]
I should like to see him, then I should know for certain.
[She looks out of the casement.]
No, it is too dark.
King Karnos:
We will call the man if you wish it.
Queen:
Yes, I shall be easy then, and then I shall sleep.
[King instructs Attendants to enquire without. Queen at window still.]
King