Plays of Near Far | Page 4

priests are very subtle. They worship the gods
that guard the Golden Isles.
AMBASSADOR: The Emperor has other gods.
[Enter L. two priests of the Order of the Sun. Two acolytes follow. One
carries a tripod and the other a gong.
[The priests abase themselves and the acolytes bow. The
AMBASSADOR stands with almost Mongolian calm by the door from
which he has not moved since he entered.
[The impassive NUBIAN stands motionless near the KING, holding up
the cups on a tray.
KING: The Emperor has honoured me with these two cups of wine that
I may drink one of them to the grandeur of his throne. I bid you

importune the gods that they may surely tell me which it were well to
drink.
FIRST PRIEST: We will importune the gods with the savour of rarest
spices. We will send up to them the odour of herbs they love. We will
commune with them in silence and they shall answer our thoughts,
when they snuff the savour of the smoke of the burning on the tripod
that is sacred to the Sun.
[The calm of the AMBASSADOR and the impassivity of the NUBIAN
grow ominous. The two priests hang over the tripod. They cast herbs
upon it. They pass their hands over it. The herbs begin to smoulder. A
smoke goes up. The priests bend over the smoke. Presently they step
back from it.
FIRST PRIEST: The gods sleep.
KING: They sleep! The gods that guard the Golden Isles?
FIRST PRIEST: The gods sleep.
KING: Importune them as never before. I will make sacrifice of many
sheep. I will give emeralds to the Monks of the Sun.
[The second acolyte moves nearer to the tripod and beats listlessly on
his great gong at about the pace of a great clock striking slowly.
FIRST PRIEST: We will importune the gods as never before.
[They heap up more herbs and spices. The smoke grows thicker and
thicker. It streams upwards. They hover about it as before. At a sign the
gong ceases.
The gods have spoken.
KING: What is their message?
FIRST PRIEST: Drink of the cup upon the Nubian's left.

KING: Ah. My gods defend me.
[He seizes the cup boldly. He looks straight at the AMBASSADOR,
whose face remains expressionless, merely watching. He lifts the cup
upon the Nubian's left a little up from the tray.
[He glances towards the priests.
[Suddenly he starts. He has seen a strange expression upon the face of
the priest. He puts the cup down. He strides a step nearer and looks at
his face.
PRIEST!--Priest!---- What is that look in your eyes?
FIRST PRIEST: O King, I know not. I have given the message of the
gods.
[The KING continues to search out his face.
KING: I mistrust it.
FIRST PRIEST: It is the message of the gods.
KING: I will drink of the other cup!
[The KING steps back to his place in the front of his throne where the
Nubian stands beside him. He takes the cup upon the Nubian's right.
He gazes at the priest. He looks round at the Ambassador, but sees
nothing in that watchful, expressionless face.
[He glances sidelong at the priest, then drinks, draining the cup at
some length. He puts it down in silence. The face of the Ambassador
and the whole bulk of the Nubian remain motionless.
KING: An inestimable wine!
AMBASSADOR: It is the Emperor's joy.
KING: Send for my Questioners.

[There are weird whistles. Two dark men run on in loin clothes.
Ask these two priests the Seven Questions.
[The QUESTIONERS run nimbly up to the two priests and lead them
away by the arm.
THE TWO ACOLYTES: O, O, O. Oh, oh.
[They show extreme horror. The AMBASSADOR bows to the King.
KING: You do not leave us at once?
AMBASSADOR: I go back to the Emperor, whom it is happiness to
obey, and length of days.
[He bows and walks away. The HERALD marches out, then the
AMBASSADOR; the PAGE, the DWARF and the NUBIAN follow.
[Exeunt.
[The HERALD is heard blowing upon his trumpet the same notes as
when he entered, one merry bar of music.
[The tray and two precious cups, one empty and the other full, are left
glittering near the KING.
KING (looking at cups): Those are rare emeralds that glisten there! Yet
an evil gift. (To the moaning acolytes.) Be silent! Your priests sinned
strangely.
[The acolytes continue to moan.
[Enter one of the QUESTIONERS. He has sweat on his face and his
hair has become damp and unkempt.
QUESTIONER: We have asked the Seven Questions.
KING: Well?

QUESTIONER: They have not answered.
KING: Not answered!
QUESTIONER: Neither man has confessed.
KING: Oho! Do I keep Questioners that bring me no answers?
QUESTIONERS: We questioned them to