Plays of Near & Far Part 3

THE TWO ACOLYTES: O, O, O. Oh, oh.

[_They show extreme horror. The_ AMBa.s.sADOR _bows to the King._

KING: You do not leave us at once?

AMBa.s.sADOR: 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_ AMBa.s.sADOR; _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 the uttermost.

KING: And neither man confessed?

QUESTIONER: They would not confess.

KING: Ask them the Supreme Question.

[_The acolytes break out into renewed moaning._

QUESTIONER: It shall be asked, O King.

[_Exit_ QUESTIONER. _The acolytes moan on._

KING: They would have made me drink of a poisoned cup. I say there is poison in that cup. Your priests would have had me drink it. (_The acolytes only answer by moans._) Bid them confess. Bid them confess their crime and why it was done, and the Supreme Question shall be spared them. (_The acolytes only answer by moans._) Strange! They have done strangely. (_To acolytes._) Why has your priest spoken falsely?

(_The acolytes only moan._) Why has he spoken falsely in the name of the G.o.ds? (_The acolytes moan on._) Be silent! Be silent! May I not question whom I will? (_To himself_). They prophesied falsely in the name of the G.o.ds.

[_Enter the_ QUESTIONERS.

FIRST QUESTIONER: The Supreme Question is asked.

[_The acolytes suddenly cease moaning._

KING: Well?

FIRST QUESTIONER: They would not answer.

KING: They would not answer the Supreme Question?

FIRST QUESTIONER: They spoke at last, but they would not answer the question. They would not confess.

KING: What said they at last?

FIRST QUESTIONER: O, the King's Majesty, they but spake idly.

KING: What said they?

FIRST QUESTIONER: O, the King's Majesty, they said nought fitting.

KING: They muttered so that no man heard them clearly?

FIRST QUESTIONER: They spake. But it was not fitting.

KING: Did they speak of small things happening long ago?

FIRST QUESTIONER: O, the King's Majesty, it was not fitting.

KING: What said they? Speak!

FIRST QUESTIONER: The man you gave to me, O King, said: "No man that knew the counsels of the G.o.ds, who alone see future things, would say the G.o.ds advised King Hamaran ill when they bade him drink out of a poisoned cup." Then I put the question straightly and he died.

KING: The G.o.ds! He said it was the G.o.ds!... And the other?

SECOND QUESTIONER: He also said the same, O the King's Majesty.

KING: Both said the same. They were questioned in different chambers?

FIRST QUESTIONER: In different chambers, O King. I questioned mine in the Red Chamber.

KING (_to_ SECOND QUESTIONER): And yours?

SECOND QUESTIONER: In the Chamber of Rats.

KING: Begone!