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ACT III
Same room. A few days have elapsed. Seven thrones shaped like
mountain-crags stand along the back of the stage. On these the beggars
are lounging. The Thief is absent.
MLAN Never had beggars such a time.
OOGNO Ah, the fruits and tender lamb!
THAHN The Woldery wine!
SLAG It was better to see my Master's wise devices than to have fruit
and lamb and Woldery wine.
MLAN Ah, when they spied on him to see if he would eat when they went
away!
OOGNO When they questioned him concerning the gods and Man!
THAHN When they asked him why the gods permitted cancer!
SLAG Ah! My wise Master.
MLAN How well his scheme has succeeded.
OOGNO How far away is hunger!
THAHN It is even like to one of last year's dreams, the trouble of a
brief night long ago.
MLAN Ho, ho, ho, to see them pray to us!
AGMAR (sternly) When we were beggars did we not speak as beggars? Did
we not whine as they? Was not our mien beggarly?
MLAN We were the pride of our calling.
AGMAR (sternly) Then now that we are gods let us be as gods, and not
mock our worshippers.
ULF I think the gods do mock their worshippers.
AGMAR The gods have never mocked us. We are above all pinnacles that
we have ever gazed at in dreams.
ULF I think that when Man is high then most of all are the gods wont
to mock him. (Enter Thief)
THIEF Master, I have been with those that see all and know all, I have
been with the thieves, Master. They know me for one of the craft, but
they do not know me as being one of us.
AGMAR Well, well ...
THIEF There is danger, Master, there is great danger.
AGMAR You mean that they suspect that we are men?
THIEF That they have long done, Master. I mean that they will know it.
Then we are lost.
AGMAR Then they do not know it?
THIEF They do not know it yet, but they will know it, and we are lost.
AGMAR When will they know it?
THIEF Three days ago they suspected us.
AGMAR More than you think suspected us, but have any dared to say so?
THIEF No, Master.
AGMAR Then forget your fears, my thief.
THIEF Two men went on dromedaries three days ago to see if the gods
were still at Marma.
AGMAR They went to Marma!
THIEF Yes, three days ago.
OOGNO We are lost.
AGMAR They went three days ago?
THIEF Yes, on dromedaries.
AGMAR They should be back to-day.
OOGNO We are lost.
THAHN We are lost.
THIEF They must have seen the green jade idols sitting against the
mountains. They will say, 'The gods are still at Marma.' And we shall
be burnt.
SLAG My Master will yet devise a plan.
AGMAR (to the Thief) Slip away to some high place and look towards the
desert and see how long we have to devise a plan. (Exit Thief.)
SLAG My Master will devise a plan.
OOGNO He has taken us into a trap.
THAHN His wisdom is our doom.
SLAG He will find a wise plan yet. (Re-enter Thief.)
THIEF It is too late.
AGMAR It is too late?
THIEF The dromedary men are here.
OOGNO We are lost.
AGMAR Be silent! I must think. (They all sit still. Citizens enter and
prostrate themselves. Agmar sits deep in thought.)
ILLANAUN (to Agmar) Two holy pilgrims have gone to your sacred
shrines, wherein you were wont to sit before you left the mountains.
(Agmar says nothing) They return even now.
AGMAR They left us here and went to find the gods. A fish once took a
journey into a far country to find the sea.
ILLANAUN Most reverend Deity, their piety is so great that they have
gone to worship even your shrines.
AGMAR I know these men that have great piety. Such men have often
prayed to me before, but their prayers are not acceptable. They little
love the gods, their only care is their piety. I know these pious
ones. They will say that the seven gods were still at Marma. So shall
they seem more pious to you all, pretending that they alone have seen
the gods. Fools shall believe them and share in their damnation.
OORANDER (to Illanaun) Hush. You anger the gods.
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