Five Plays Part 23

KING

I have been a great King--Let it be said of me "The stars overthrew him, and they sent a G.o.d for his doom." For I have not met my equal among kings that man should overthrow me; and I have not oppressed my people that man should rise up against me.

CHIEF PROPHET

It is better to give wors.h.i.+p to the stars than to do good to man. It is better to be humble before the G.o.ds than proud in the face of your enemy though he do evil.

KING

Let the stars hearken yet and I will sacrifice a child to them--I will sacrifice a girl child to the twinkling stars and a male child to the stars that blink not, the stars of the steadfast eyes. (_To his Spies_) Let a boy and girl be brought for sacrifice. (_Exit a Spy to the right looking at footprints_) Will you accept this sacrifice to the G.o.d that the stars have sent? They say that the G.o.ds love children.

CHIEF PROPHET

I may refuse no sacrifice to the stars nor to the G.o.ds whom they send.

(_To the other Prophets_) Make ready the sacrificial knives.

[_The Prophets draw knives and sharpen them._

KING

Is it fitting that the sacrifice take place by the iron door where the G.o.d from the stars has trod, or must it be in the temple?

CHIEF PROPHET

Let it be offered by the iron door. (_To the other Prophets_) Fetch hither the altar stone.

[_The owl-like whistle is heard off right. The Third Spy runs crouching toward it. Exit._

KING

Will this sacrifice avail to avert the doom?

CHIEF PROPHET

Who knows?

KING

I fear that even yet the doom will fall.

CHIEF PROPHET

It were wise to sacrifice some greater thing.

KING

What more can a man offer?

CHIEF PROPHET

His pride.

KING

What pride?

CHIEF PROPHET

Your pride that went up against the sky and troubled the stars.

KING

How shall I sacrifice my pride to the stars?

CHIEF PROPHET

It is upon your pride that the doom will fall, and will take away your crown and will take away your kingdom.

KING

I will sacrifice my crown and reign uncrowned amongst you, so only I save my kingdom.

CHIEF PROPHET

If you sacrifice your crown which is your pride, and if the stars accept it, perhaps the G.o.d that they sent may avert the doom and you may still reign in your kingdom though humbled and uncrowned.

KING

Shall I burn my crown with spices and with incense or cast it into the sea?

CHIEF PROPHET

Let it be laid here by the iron door where the G.o.d came who wrote the golden doom. When he comes again by night to shrivel up the city or to pour an enemy in through the iron door, he will see your cast-off pride and perhaps accept it and take it away to the neglected stars.

KING (_to the Chamberlain_)

Go after my spies and say that I make no sacrifice. (_Exit the Chamberlain to the right; the King takes off his crown_) Good-bye, my brittle glory; kings have sought you; the stars have envied you.

(_The stage grows darker_)

CHIEF PROPHET

Even now the sun has set who denies the stars, and the day is departed wherein no G.o.ds walk abroad. It is near the hour when spirits roam the earth and all things that go unseen, and the faces of the abiding stars will be soon revealed to the fields. Lay your crown there and let us come away.

KING _(lays his crown before the iron door; then to the Sentries_)

Go! And let no man come near the door all night.

THE SENTRIES (_kneeling_)