Ludibras: [To Ichtharion]
There is something a little dreadful in seeing the Queen so calm. She is like a windless sunset in the Winter before a hurricane comes and the snow swirls up before it over the world.
Ichtharion:
I do not like calm sunsets; they make me think that something is going to happen. Yes, the Queen is very quiet; she will sleep to-night.
Queen:
I am not frightened any longer. All the wild fancies of my brain have left it. I have often troubled you with little fears. Now they are all at rest and I am afraid no longer.
King Karnos:
That is good; I am very glad. You will sleep tonight.
Queen:
Sleep. Why-yes, I shall sleep. O yes, we shall all sleep.
King Karnos:
Your maidens have told you that there is nothing to fear.
Queen:
Nothing to fear? No, no more little fears to trouble me.
King Karnos:
They have told you there is nothing at all to fear. Indeed there is nothing.
Queen:
No more little fears. There is one great fear.
King Karnos:
A great fear! Why, what is it?
Queen:
I must not say. For you have often soothed me when I was frightened, and it were not well for me to trouble you at the last.
King Karnos:
What is your fear? Shall I send again for your maidens?
Queen:
No, it is not my fear. It is all men's fear if they knew.
King Karnos: [glancing round]
Ah, you have seen my man in red. I will send him away. I will--
Queen:
No, no. My fear is not earthly. I am not afraid of little things any more.
King Karnos:
Why, what is it then?
Queen:
I do not quite know. But you know how I have ever feared the gods. The gods are going to do some dreadful thing.
King Karnos:
Believe me; the gods do nothing nowadays.
Queen:
You have indeed been very good to me. It seems a little while since the camels came to Argun-Zeerith by the iris marshes, the camels with the gold-hung palanquin, and the bells above their heads, high up in the air, the silver bridal bells. It seems a very little while ago. I did not know how swift the end would come.
King Karnos:
What end? To whom is the end coming?
Queen:
Do not be troubled. We should not let Fate trouble us. The World and its daily cares, ah, they are frightfuclass="underline" but Fate-I smile at Fate. Fate cannot hurt us if we smile at it.
King Karnos:
What end do you say is coming?
Queen:
I do not know. Something that has been shall soon be no more.
King Karnos:
No, no. Look upon Thek. It is built of rock and our palace is all of marble. Time has not scratched it with six centuries. Six tearing centuries with all their claws. We are throned on gold and founded upon marble. Death will some day find me, indeed, but I am young. Sire after sire of mine has died in Barbul-el-Sharnak or in Thek, but has left our dynasty laughing sheer in the face of Time from over these age-old walls.
Queen:
Say farewell to me now, lest something happen.
King Karnos:
No, no, we will not say unhappy things.
Executioner:
The sun has set.
King Karnos:
Not yet. The jungle hides it. It is not yet set. Look at the beautiful light upon the orchids. For how long they have flashed their purple on the gleaming walls of Thek. For how long they will flash there on our immortal palace, immortal in marble and immortal in song. Ah, how the colour changes.
[To the Executioner]
The sun is set. Take him away.
[To the Queen]
It is he whose end you foresaw.
[The Executioner grips the Prophet by the arm.]
Voice-of-the-Gods:
The gods have lied!
King Karnos:
The jungle is sinking! It has fallen into the earth!
[The Queen smiles a little, holding his hand.]
The city is falling in! The houses are rolling towards us!
[Thunder off.]
Ichtharion:
They are coming up like a wave and darkness is coming with them.
[Loud and prolonged thunder. Flashes of red light and then
total darkness. A little light comes back, showing recumbent
figures, shattered pillars and rocks of white marble.]
[The Prophet's back is broken, but he raises the fore-part of
his body for a moment.]
Voice-of-the-Gods: [triumphantly]
They have not lied!
Ichtharion:
O, I am killed.
[Laughter heard off.]
Someone is laughing. Laughing even in Thek! Why, the whole city is shattered.
[The laughter grows demoniac.]
What is that dreadful sound?
Voice-of-the-Gods:
It is the laughter of the gods that cannot lie, going back to their hills.
[He dies.]
[Curtain]
The Queen's Enemies
Dramatis Personae
The Queen Ackazarpses (her handmaid) Prince Rhadamandaspes Prince Zophernes The Priest of Horus The King of the Four Countries The Twin Dukes of Ethiopia Tharni, Tharrabas, Harlee (Slaves) Slaves.
Scene: An underground temple in Egypt.
Time: The Sixth Dynasty.
[The Curtain rises on darkness in both parts of the stage. Two
Slaves appear with tapers on the steps. As they go down the
steps, they light the torches that are clamped against the
wall, with their tapers. Afterwards when they come to the
temple they light the torches there till they are all lit. The
two Slaves are Tharni and Tharrabas.]
Tharrabas:
Is it much further, Tharni?
Tharni:
I think not, Tharrabas.
Tharrabas:
A dank and terrible place.
Tharni:
It is not much further.
Tharrabas:
Why does the Queen banquet in so fearful a place?
Tharni:
I know not. She banquets with her enemies.
Tharrabas:
In the land from which I was taken we do not banquet with our enemies.
Tharni:
No? The Queen will banquet with her enemies.
Tharrabas:
Why? Know you why?
Tharni:
It is the way of the Queen.
[Silence.]
Tharrabas:
The door, Tharni, we have come to the door!
Tharni:
Yes, that's the Temple.
Tharrabas:
Surely a grim place.
Tharni:
The banquet is prepared. We light these torches, that is all.
Tharrabas:
Unto whom is it holy?
Tharni:
They say to the Nile once. I know not to whom it is holy now.
Tharrabas:
So Nile has left it?
Tharni:
They say they worship him in this place no longer.
Tharrabas:
And if I were holy Nile I also would stay up there [pointing] in the sunlight.
[He suddenly sees the huge misshapen bulk of Harlee.]
Oh-h-h!
Harlee:
Urh
Tharni:
Why, it's Harlee.
Tharrabas:
I thought you were some fearful, evil god.
[Harlee laughs. He remains leaning on his great iron bar.]
Tharni:
He waits here for the Queen.
Tharrabas:
What sinister need could she have of Harlee?
Tharni:
I know not. You wait for the Queen, Harlee?
[Harlee nods.]
Tharrabas:
I would not banquet here. Not with a Queen.
[Harlee laughs long.]
Tharrabas:
Our work is done. Come. Let us leave this place.
[Exeunt Tharrabas and Tharni up the steps.]
[The Queen appears with her handmaid, Ackazarpses, coming down
the steps. Her handmaid holds her train. They enter the