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 h.o.a.rd 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 ill.u.s.trious.
[_A pause._
KING
Who wrote it?
CHIEF PROPHET
It is pure gold. Some G.o.d has written it.
CHAMBERLAIN
Some G.o.d?
CHIEF PROPHET
Some G.o.d 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.