Voice-of-the-Gods:
The gods speak through my mouth; my breath is my own breath, I am human and mortal, but my voice is from the gods and the gods cannot lie.
Ichtharion:
Is it wise in an age when the gods have lost their power to anger powerful men for the sake of the gods?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
It is wise.
Ichtharion:
We are three men and you are alone with us. Will the gods save you if we want to put you to death and slip away with your body into the jungle?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
If you should do this thing the gods have willed it. If they have not willed it you cannot.
Ichtharion:
We do not wish to do it. Nevertheless you will make this prophecy-you will go before the King and you will say that the gods have spoken and that within three days' time, for the sake of vengeance upon some unknown man who is in this city, they will overthrow all Thek unless every man is departed.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
I will not do it, for the gods cannot lie.
Ichtharion:
Has it not been the custom since unremembered time for a prophet to have two wives?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Most certainly. It is the law.
[Ichtharion holds up three fingers.]
What!
Ichtharion:
Three.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Do not betray me. It was long ago.
Ichtharion:
You will be allowed to serve the gods no more if men know this. The gods will not protect you in this matter for you have offended also against the gods.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
It is worse that the gods should lie. Do not betray me.
Ichtharion:
I go to tell the others what I know.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
I will make the false prophecy.
Ichtharion:
Ah. You have chosen wisely.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
When the gods punish me who make them lie, they will know what punishment to give to you.
Ichtharion:
The gods will not punish us. It is long ago that the gods used to punish men.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
The gods will punish us.
Act II
[Same scene.]
[Same day.]
King Karnos: [pointing off L.]
Look at them now, are they not beautiful? They catch the last rays of the lingering sun. Can you say that the orchids are not beautiful now?
Ichtharion:
Your majesty, we were wrong, they are most beautiful. They tower up from the jungle to take the sun. They are like the diadem of some jubilant king.
King Karnos:
Ah. Now you have come to love the beauty of Thek.
Ichtharion:
Yes, yes, your Majesty, I see it now. I would live in this city always.
King Karnos:
Yes, we will live here always. There is no city lovelier than Thek. Am I not right?
Ludibras:
Your Majesty, no city is like it.
King Karnos:
Ah. I am always right.
Tharmia:
How beautiful is Thek.
Arolind:
Yes, it is like a god.
[Three notes are stricken on a sonorous gong.]
Whispers: [on]
There has been a prophecy. There has been a prophecy.
King Karnos:
Ah! there has been a prophecy. Bring in the prophet. [Exit attendant.]
[Enter mournfully with dejected head and walking very slowly Voice-of-
the-Gods.]
King Karnos:
You have made a prophecy.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
I have made a prophecy.
King Karnos:
I would hear that prophecy. [A pause.]
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Your Majesty, the gods in three days' time--
King Karnos:
Stop! Is it not usual to begin with certain words? [A pause.]
Voice-of-the-Gods:
It is written and hath been said... that the gods cannot lie.
King Karnos:
That is right.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
That the gods cannot lie.
King Karnos:
Yes. Yes.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
In three days' time the gods will destroy this city for vengeance upon some man, unless all men desert it.
King Karnos:
The gods will destroy Thek!
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Yes.
King Karnos:
When will this happen?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
It must be in three days' time.
King Karnos:
How will it happen?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Why. It will happen.
King Karnos:
How?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Why... there will be a sound... as the riving of wood... a sound as of thunder coming up from the ground. A cleft will run like a mouse across the floor. There will be a red light, and then no light at all, and in the darkness Thek shall tumble in.
[The King sits in deep thought. Exit Prophet slowly; he begins to
weep, then casts his cloak over his face. He stretches out his arms
to grope his way and is led by the hand. The King sits thinking.]
Tharmia:
Save us, your Majesty.
Arolind:
Save us.
Ichtharion:
We must fly, your Majesty.
Ludibras:
We must escape swiftly.
[The King sits still in silence. He lifts a stick on his
right to beat a little silver bell; but puts it down again. At
last he lifts it up and strikes the bell. An Attendant
enters.]
King Karnos:
Bring back that prophet. [Attendant bows and exits.]
[The King looks thoughtful. The rest have a frightened
look. Re-enter Prophet.]
King Karnos:
When the gods prophesy rain in the season of rain, or the death of an old man, we believe them. But when the gods prophesy something incredible and ridiculous, such as happens not nowadays, and hath not been heard of since the fall of Bleth, then our credulity is overtaxed. It is possible that a man should lie; it is not possible that the gods should destroy a city nowadays.
Voice-of-the-Gods:
O King, have mercy.
King Karnos:
What, would you be sent safe away while your King is destroyed by the gods?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
No, no, your Majesty. I would stay in the city, your Majesty. But if the gods do not destroy the city, if the gods have misled me.
King Karnos:
If the gods have misled you they have chosen your doom. Why ask for mercy from me?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
If the gods have misled me, and punish me no further, I ask mercy from you, O King.
King Karnos:
If the gods have misled you, let the gods protect you from my executioner.
1st Sentry: [Laughs aside to 2nd Sentry]
Very witty.
2nd Sentry:
Yes, yes. [Laughs too.]
King Karnos:
If the doom fall not at sunset, why then the executioner--
Voice-of-the-Gods:
Your Majesty!
King Karnos:
No more! No doubt the gods will destroy the whole city at sunset.
[The sentries titter. The Prophet is led away.]
Ichtharion:
Your Majesty! Is it safe to kill a prophet, even for any guilt? Will not the people--
King Karnos:
Not while he is a prophet; but if he has prophesied falsely his death is due to the gods. The people once even burned a prophet themselves because he had taken three wives.