 
Scene: Outside the King's great door in Zericon. Time: Some while before the fall of Babylon. THE GOLDEN DOOM Two Sentries pace to and fro, then halt, one on each side of the great door. FIRST SENTRY The day is deadly sultry. SECOND SENTRY I would that I were swimming down the Gyshon, on the cool side, under the fruit trees. FIRST SENTRY It is like to thunder or the fall of a dynasty. SECOND SENTRY It will grow cool by night-fall. Where is the King? FIRST SENTRY He rows in his golden barge with ambassadors or whispers with captains concerning future wars. The stars spare him! SECOND SENTRY Why do you say "the stars spare him"? FIRST SENTRY Because if a doom from the stars fall suddenly on a king it swallows up his people and all things round about him, and his palace falls and the walls of his city and citadel, and the apes come in from the woods and the large beasts from the desert, so that you would not say that a king had been there at all. SECOND SENTRY But why should a doom from the stars fall on the King? FIRST SENTRY Because he seldom placates them. SECOND SENTRY Ah! I have heard that said of him. FIRST SENTRY Who are the stars that a man should scorn them? Should they that rule the thunder, the plague and the earthquake withhold these things save for much prayer? Always ambassadors are with the King, and his commanders, come in from distant lands, prefects of cities and makers of the laws, but never the priests of the stars. SECOND SENTRY Hark! Was that thunder? FIRST SENTRY Believe me, the stars are angry. [Enter a Stranger. He wanders toward the King's door, gazing about him. SENTRIES (lifting their spears at him) Go back! Go back! STRANGER Why? FIRST SENTRY It is death to touch the King's door. STRANGER I am a stranger from Thessaly. FIRST SENTRY It is death even for a stranger. STRANGER Your door is strangely sacred. FIRST SENTRY It is death to touch it. [The Stranger wanders off. [Enter two children hand in hand. BOY (to the Sentry) I want to see the King to pray for a hoop. [The Sentry smiles. BOY (pushes the door; to girl) I cannot open it. (To the Sentry) Will it do as well if I pray to the King's door? SENTRY Yes, quite as well. (Turns to talk to the other Sentry) Is there anyone in sight? SECOND SENTRY (shading his eyes) Nothing but a dog, and he far out on the plain. FIRST SENTRY Then we can talk awhile and eat bash. BOY King's door, I want a little hoop. [The Sentries take a little bash between finger and thumb from pouches and put that wholly forgotten drug to their lips. GIRL (pointing) My father is a taller soldier than that. BOY My father can write. He taught me. GIRL Ho! Writing frightens nobody. My father is a soldier. BOY I have a lump of gold. I found it in the stream that runs down to Gyshon. GIRL I have a poem. I found it in my own head. BOY Is it a long poem? GIRL No. But it would have been only there were no more rhymes for sky. BOY What is your poem? GIRL I saw a purple bird Go up against the sky And it went up and up And round about did fly. BOY I saw it die. GIRL That doesn't scan. BOY Oh, that doesn't matter. GIRL Do you like my poem? BOY Birds aren't purple. GIRL My bird was. BOY Oh! GIRL Oh, you don't like my poem! BOY Yes, I do. GIRL No, you don't; you think it horrid. BOY No. I don't. GIRL Yes, you do. Why didn't you say you liked it? It is the only poem I ever made. BOY I do like it. I do like it. GIRL You don't, you don't! BOY Don't be angry. I'll write it on the door for you. GIRL You'll write it? BOY Yes, I can write it. My father taught me. I'll write it with my lump of gold. It makes a yellow mark on the iron door. GIRL Oh, do write it! I would like to see it written like real poetry. [The Boy begins to write. The Girl watches. FIRST SENTRY You see, we'll be fighting again soon. SECOND SENTRY Only a little war. We never have more than a little war with the hill-folk. FIRST SENTRY When a man goes to fight, the curtains of the gods wax thicker than ever before between his eyes and the future; he may go to a great or to a little war. SECOND SENTRY There can only be a little war with the hill-folk. FIRST SENTRY Yet sometimes the gods laugh. SECOND SENTRY At whom? FIRST SENTRY At kings. SECOND SENTRY Why have you grown uneasy about this war in the hills? FIRST SENTRY Because the King is powerful beyond any of his fathers, and has more fighting men, more horses, and wealth that could have ransomed his father and his grandfather and dowered their queens and daughters; and every year his miners bring him more from the opal-mines and from the turquoise-quarries. He has grown very mighty. SECOND SENTRY Then he will the more easily crush the hill-folk in a little war. FIRST SENTRY When kings grow very mighty the stars grow very jealous. BOY I've written your poem. GIRL Oh, have you really? BOY Yes, I'll read it to you. (He reads) I saw a purple bird Go up against the sky And it went up and up And round about did fly. I saw it die. GIRL It doesn't scan. BOY That doesn't matter. [Enter furtively a Spy, who crosses stage and goes out. The Sentries cease to talk. GIRL That man frightens me. BOY He is only one of the King's spies. GIRL But I don't like the King's spies. They frighten me. BOY Come on, then, we'll run away. SENTRY (noticing the children again) Go away, go away! The King is coming, he will eat you. [The Boy throws a stone at the Sentry and runs out. Enter another Spy, who crosses the stage. Enter third Spy, who notices the door. He examines it and utters an owl-like whistle. No. 2 comes back. They do not speak. Both whistle. No. 3 comes. All examine the door. Enter the King and his Chamberlain. The King wears a purple robe. The Sentries smartly transfer their spears to their left hands and return their right arms to their right sides. They then lower their spears until their points are within an inch of the ground, at the same time raising their right hands above their heads. They stand for some moments thus. Then they lower their right arms to their right sides, at the same time raising their spears. In the next motion they take their spears into their right hands and lower the butts to the floor, where they were before, the spears slanting forward a little. Both Sentries must move together precisely. FIRST SPY (runs forward to the King and kneels, abasing his forehead to the floor) Something has written on the iron door. CHAMBERLAIN On the iron door! KING Some fool has done it. Who has been here since yesterday? FIRST SENTRY (shifts his hand a little higher on his spear, brings the spear to his side and closes his heels all in one motion; he then takes one pace backward with his right foot; then he kneels on his right knee; when he has done this he speaks, but not before) Nobody, Majesty, but a stranger from Thessaly. KING Did he touch the iron door? FIRST SENTRY No, Majesty; he tried to, but we drove him away. KING How near did he come? FIRST SENTRY Nearly to our spears, Majesty. KING What was his motive in seeking to touch the iron door? FIRST SENTRY I do not know, Majesty. KING Which way did he go? FIRST SENTRY (pointing left) That way, Majesty, an hour ago. [The King whispers with one of his Spies, who stoops and examines the ground and steals away. The Sentry rises. KING (to his two remaining Spies) What does this writing say? A SPY We cannot read, Majesty. KING A good spy should know everything. SECOND SPY We watch, Majesty, and we search out, Majesty. We read shadows, and we read footprints, and whispers in secret places. But we do not read writing. KING (to the Chamberlain) See what it is. CHAMBERLAIN (goes up and reads) It is treason, Majesty. KING Read it. CHAMBERLAIN I saw a purple bird Go up against the sky, And it went up and up And round about did fly. I saw it die. FIRST SENTRY (aside) The stars have spoken. KING (to the Sentry) Has anyone been here but the stranger from Thessaly? SENTRY (kneeling as before) Nobody, Majesty. KING You saw nothing? FIRST SENTRY Nothing but a dog far out upon the plain and the children of the guard at play. KING (to the Second Sentry) And you? SECOND SENTRY (kneeling) Nothing, Majesty. CHAMBERLAIN That is strange. KING It is some secret warning. CHAMBERLAIN It is treason. KING It is from the stars. CHAMBERLAIN No, no, Majesty. Not from the stars, not from the stars. Some man has done it. Yet the thing should be interpreted. Shall I send for the prophets of the stars? [The King beckons to his Spies. They run up to him. KING Find me some prophet of the stars. (Exeunt Spies) I fear that we may go no more, my chamberlain, along the winding ways of unequalled Zericon, nor play dahoori with the golden balls. I have thought more of my people than of the stars and more of Zericon than of windy Heaven. CHAMBERLAIN Believe me, Majesty, some idle man has written it and passed by. Your spies shall find him, and then his name will be soon forgotten. KING Yes, yes. Perhaps you are right, though the sentries saw no one. No doubt some beggar did it. CHAMBERLAIN Yes, Majesty, some beggar has surely done it. But look, here come two prophets of the stars. They shall tell us that this is idle. [Enter two Prophets and a Boy attending them. All bow deeply to the King. The two Spies steal in again and stand at back. KING Some beggar has written a rhyme on the iron gate, and as the ways of rhyme are known to you I desired you, rather as poets than as prophets, to say whether there was any meaning in it. CHAMBERLAIN 'Tis but an idle rhyme. FIRST PROPHET (bows again and goes up to door. He glances at the writing) Come hither, servant of those that serve the stars. [Attendant approaches. FIRST PROPHET Bring hither our golden cloaks, for this may be a matter for rejoicing; and bring our green cloaks also, for this may tell of young new beautiful things with which the stars will one day gladden the King; and bring our black cloaks also, for it may be a doom. (Exit the Boy; the Prophet goes up to the door and reads solemnly) The stars have spoken. [ReËnter Attendant with cloaks. KING I tell you that some beggar has written this. FIRST PROPHET It is written in pure gold. (He dons the black cloak over body and head) KING What do the stars mean? What warning is it? FIRST PROPHET I cannot say. KING (to Second Prophet) Come you then and tell us what the warning is. SECOND PROPHET (goes up to the door and reads) The stars have spoken. (He cloaks himself in black) KING What is it? What does it mean? SECOND PROPHET We do not know, but it is from the stars. CHAMBERLAIN It is a harmless thing; there is no harm in it, Majesty. Why should not birds die? KING Why have the prophets covered themselves in black? CHAMBERLAIN They are a secret people and look for inner meanings. There is no harm in it. KING They have covered themselves in black. CHAMBERLAIN They have not spoken of any evil thing. They have not spoken of it. KING If the people see the prophets covered in black they will say that the stars are against me and believe that my luck has turned. CHAMBERLAIN The people must not know. KING Some prophet must interpret to us the doom. Let the chief prophet of the stars be sent for. CHAMBERLAIN (going toward left exit) Summon the chief prophet of the stars that look on Zericon. VOICES OFF The chief prophet of the stars. The chief prophet of the stars. CHAMBERLAIN I have summoned the chief prophet, Majesty. KING If he interpret this aright I will put a necklace of turquoises round his neck with opals from the mines. CHAMBERLAIN He will not fail. He is a very cunning interpreter. KING What if he covers himself with a huge black cloak and does not speak and goes muttering away, slowly with bended head, till our fear spreads to the sentries and they cry aloud? CHAMBERLAIN This is no doom from the stars, but some idle scribe hath written it in his insolence upon the iron door, wasting his hoard of gold. KING Not for myself I have a fear of doom, not for myself; but I inherited a rocky land, windy and ill-nurtured, and nursed it to prosperity by years of peace and spread its boundaries by years of war. I have brought up harvests out of barren acres and given good laws unto naughty towns, and my people are happy, and lo, the stars are angry! CHAMBERLAIN It is not the stars, it is not the stars, Majesty, for the prophets of the stars have not interpreted it. Indeed, it was only some reveller wasting his gold. [Meanwhile enter Chief Prophet of the stars that look on Zericon. KING Chief Prophet of the Stars that look on Zericon, I would have you interpret the rhyme upon yonder door. CHIEF PROPHET (goes up to the door and reads) It is from the stars. KING Interpret it and you shall have great turquoises round your neck, with opals from the mines in the frozen mountains. CHIEF PROPHET (cloaks himself like the others in a great black cloak) Who should wear purple in the land but a King, or who go up against the sky but he who has troubled the stars by neglecting their ancient worship? Such a one has gone up and up increasing power and wealth, such a one has soared above the crowns of those that went before him, such a one the stars have doomed, the undying ones, the illustrious. [A pause. KING Who wrote it? CHIEF PROPHET It is pure gold. Some god has written it. CHAMBERLAIN Some god? CHIEF PROPHET Some god whose home is among the undying stars. FIRST SENTRY (aside to the Second Sentry) Last night I saw a star go flaming earthward. KING Is this a warning or is it a doom? CHIEF PROPHET The stars have spoken. KING It is, then, a doom? CHIEF PROPHET They speak not in jest. KING I have been a great King—Let it be said of me "The stars overthrew him, and they sent a god 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 worship to the stars than to do good to man. It is better to be humble before the gods 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 god that the stars have sent? They say that the gods love children. CHIEF PROPHET I may refuse no sacrifice to the stars nor to the gods 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 god 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 god 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 god 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 gods 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) Yes, Majesty. [They remain kneeling until after the King has gone. King and the Chief Prophet walk away. CHIEF PROPHET It was your pride. Let it be forgotten. May the stars accept it. (Exeunt left) [The Sentries rise. FIRST SENTRY The stars have envied him! SECOND SENTRY It is an ancient crown. He wore it well. FIRST SENTRY May the stars accept it. SECOND SENTRY If they do not accept it what doom will overtake him? FIRST SENTRY It will suddenly be as though there were never any city of Zericon nor two sentries like you and me standing before the door. SECOND SENTRY Why! How do you know? FIRST SENTRY That is ever the way of the gods. SECOND SENTRY But it is unjust. FIRST SENTRY How should the gods know that? SECOND SENTRY Will it happen to-night? FIRST SENTRY Come! we must march away. (Exeunt right) [The stage grows increasingly darker. ReËnter the Chamberlain from the right. He walks across the Stage and goes out to the left. ReËnter Spies from the right. They cross the stage, which is now nearly dark. BOY (enters from the right, dressed in white, his hands out a little, crying) King's door, King's door, I want my little hoop. (He goes up to the King's door. When he sees the King's crown there, he utters a satisfied) O-oh! (He takes it up, puts it on the ground, and, beating it before him with the sceptre, goes out by the way that he entered) [The great door opens; there is light within; a furtive Spy slips out and sees that the crown is gone. Another Spy slips out. Their crouching heads come close together. FIRST SPY (hoarse whisper) The gods have come! [They run back through the door and the door is closed. It opens again and the King and the Chamberlain come through. KING The stars are satisfied. CURTAIN |
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