Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsay | Page 7

who did not know, had almost said that they ate like hungry men.
OTHERS Hush.
AKMOS Yet they look as though they had not had a meal like this for a long time.
OORANDER They have a hungry look.
AGMAR (who has not eaten) I have not eaten since the world was very new and the flesh of men was tenderer than now. These younger gods have learned the habit of eating from the lions.
OORANDER O oldest of divinities, partake, partake.
AGMAR It is not fitting that such as I should eat. None eat but beasts and men and the younger gods. The Sun and the Moon and the nimble Lightning and I, we may kill, and we may madden, but we do not eat.
AKMOS If he but eat of our offering he cannot overwhelm us.
ALL O ancient deity, partake, partake.
AGMAR Enough. Let it be enough that these have condescended to this bestial and human habit.
ILLANAUN (to Akmos) And yet he is not unlike a beggar whom I saw not so long since.
OORANDER But beggars eat.
ILLANAUN Now I never knew a beggar yet who would refuse a bowl of Woldery wine.
AKMOS This is no beggar.
ILLANAUN Nevertheless let us offer him a bowl of Woldery wine.
AKMOS You do wrong to doubt him.
ILLANAUN I do but wish to prove his divinity. I will fetch the Woldery wine. (Exit)
AKMOS He will not drink. Yet if he does, then he will not overwhelm us. Let us offer him the wine.
(Re-enter Illanaun with a goblet.)
FIRST BEGGAR It is Woldery wine!
SECOND BEGGAR It is Woldery!
THIRD BEGGAR A goblet of Woldery wine!
FOURTH BEGGAR O blessed day!
MLAN O happy times!
SLAG O my wise Master! (All the Beggars stretch out their hands, including Agmar. Illanaun gives it to Agmar. Agmar takes it solemnly, and very carefully pours it upon the ground.)
FIRST BEGGAR He has spilt it.
SECOND BEGGAR He has spilt it. (Agmar sniffs the fumes.)
AGMAR It is a fitting libation. Our anger is somewhat appeased.
ANOTHER BEGGAR But it was Woldery!
AKMOS (kneeling to Agmar) Master, I am childless, and I....
AGMAR Trouble us not now. It is the hour at which the gods are accustomed to speak to the gods in the language of the gods, and if Man heard us he would guess the futility of his destiny, which were not well for Man. Begone! Begone! (Exeunt all but one who lingers.)
ONE Master....
AGMAR Begone! (exit one) (Agmar takes up a piece of meat and begins to eat it: the beggars rise and stretch themselves: they laugh, but Agmar eats hungrily.)
OOGNO Ah, now we have come into our own.
THAHN Now we have alms.
SLAG Master! My wise Master!
ULF These are the good days, the good days; and yet I have a fear.
SLAG What do you fear? There is nothing to fear. No man is as wise as my Master.
ULF I fear the gods whom we pretend to be.
SLAG The gods?
AGMAR (taking a chunk of meat from his lips) Come hither, Slag.
SLAG (going up to him) Yes, Master.
AGMAR Watch in the doorway while I eat. (Slag goes to the doorway) Sit in the attitude of a god. Warn me if any of the citizens approach. (Slag sits in the doorway in the attitude of a god, back to the audience)
OOGNO (to Agmar) But, Master, shall we not have Woldery wine?
AGMAR We shall have all things if only we are wise at first for a little.
THAHN Master, do any suspect us?
AGMAR We must be very wise.
THAHN But if we are not wise, Master?
AGMAR Why then death may come to us ...
THAHN O Master!
AGMAR ... slowly. (All stir uneasily except Slag motionless in the doorway.)
OOGNO Do they believe us, master?
SLAG (half turning his head) Someone comes. (Slag resumes his position.)
AGMAR (putting away his meat) We shall soon know now. (All take up the attitude. Enter one.)
ONE Master, I want the god that does not eat.
AGMAR I am he.
ONE Master, my child was bitten in the throat by a death-adder at noon. Spare him, Master; he still breathes, but slowly.
AGMAR Is he indeed your child?
ONE He is surely my child, Master.
AGMAR Was it your wont to thwart him in his play, while he was strong and well?
ONE I never thwarted him, Master.
AGMAR Whose child is Death?
ONE Death is the child of the gods.
AGMAR Do you that never thwarted your child in his play ask this of the gods?
ONE (with some horror, perceiving Agmar's meaning) Master!
AGMAR Weep not. For all the houses that men have builded are the play-fields of this child of the gods. (The man goes away in silence not weeping.)
OOGNO (Taking Thahn by the wrist) Is this indeed a man?
AGMAR A man, a man, and until just now a hungry one.

ACT III
Same room. A few days have elapsed. Seven thrones shaped like mountain-crags stand along the back of the stage. On these the beggars are lounging. The Thief is