Plays of Gods and Men | Page 8

have not seen the gods.
Tharmia:
O do not speak like that. There used to be gods. They overthrew Bleth dreadfully. And if they still live on in the dark of the hills, why, they might hear your words.
Ichtharion:
Why! you grow frightened, too. Do not be frightened. We will go and speak with the prophet, while you follow the Queen; be much with her, and do not let her forget that she will cry if the King should be angry with us.
Arolind:
I am almost afraid when I am with the Queen; I do not like to be with her.
Tharmia:
She could not hurt us; she is afraid of all things.
Arolind:
She makes me have huge fears of prodigious things.
[Exeunt Tharmia and Arolind.]
[Enter Ludibras.]
Ludibras:
The prophet is coming this way.
Ichtharion:
Sit down. We must speak with him. He will betray us.
Ludibras:
Why should the prophet betray us?
Ichtharion:
Because the guilt of the false prophecy is not his guilt; it is ours; and the King may spare him if he tells him that. Again, he mutters of vengeance as he walks; many have told me.
Ludibras:
The King will not spare him even if he betrays us. It was he that spoke the false prophecy to the King.
Ichtharion:
The King does not in his heart believe in the gods. It is for cheating him that the prophet is to die. But if he knows we had planned it----
Ludibras:
What can we say to the prophet?
Ichtharion:
Why, we can say nothing. But we can learn what he will do from what he says to us.
Ludibras:
Here he is. We must remember everything that he says.
Ichtharion:
Watch his eyes.
[Enter the Prophet, his eyes concealed by his cloak.]
Ichtharion and Ludibras:
The gods are good.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
They are benignant.
Ichtharion:
I am much to blame. I am very much to blame.
Ludibras:
We trust that the King will relent.
Ichtharion:
He often relents at sunset; he looks out over the orchids in the evening. They are very beautiful then, and if he is angry his anger passes away just when the cool breeze comes at the set of sun.
Ludibras:
He is sure to relent at sunset.
Ichtharion:
Do not be angry. I am indeed to blame. Do not be angry.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
I do not wish the King to relent at sunset.
Ichtharion:
Do not be unhappy.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
I say to you that I have betrayed the gods.
Ichtharion:
Listen to me. Do not be so unhappy. There are no gods. Everybody knows that there are no gods. The King knows it.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
You have heard their prophet lie and believe that the gods are dead?
Ludibras:
There are indeed no gods. It is well known.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
There are gods, and they have a vengeance even for you. Listen and I will tell you what it shall be. Aye and for you also... Listen!... No, no, they are silent in the gloom of the hills. They have not spoken to me since I lied.
Ichtharion:
You are right; the gods will punish us. It is natural that they should not speak just now; but they will certainly punish us. It is not therefore necessary for any man to avenge himself upon us, even though there were any cause.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
It is not necessary.
Ichtharion:
Indeed, it might even further anger the gods if a man should be before them to punish us.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
The gods are very swift; no man outruns them.
Ludibras:
A man would be rash to attempt to.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
The sun is falling low. I will leave you now, for I have ever loved the sun at evening. I go to watch it drop through the gilded clouds, and make a wonder of familiar things. After the sunset, night, and after an evil deed, the vengeance of the gods. [Exit R.]
Ludibras: [with contemptuous wonder]
He really believes in the gods.
Ichtharion:
He is as mad as the Queen; we must humour his madness if we ever see him more. I think that all will be well.
[An executioner steals after the Prophet; he is dressed in crimson satin to the knees; he wears a leather belt and carries the axe of his trade.]
Ludibras:
His voice was angry as he went away. I fear he may yet betray us.
Ichtharion:
It is not likely. He thinks that the gods will punish us.
Ludibras:
How long will he think so? The Queen's fancies change thrice an hour.
Ichtharion:
The executioner keeps very close to him now. He comes closer every hour. There is not much time for him to change his fancies.
Ludibras:
He has the will to betray us if that fancy leaves him.
Ichtharion:
The executioner is very eager for him. He invented a new stroke lately, but he has not had a man since we came to Thek.
Ludibras:
I do not like an eager executioner--the King sees him and it makes him think...
Ichtharion:
Look how low the sun is; he has no time to betray us. The King is not yet here.
Ludibras:
He is coming.
Ichtharion:
But the prophet is not here.
Ludibras:
No, he is not yet come.
[Enter the King.]
King Karnos:
The Queen's maidens have persuaded her that there is nothing to fear. They are quite excellent; they