Five Plays Part 3

Yes, yes, we know those G.o.ds. They are much reverenced here, but they are drowsy and send us nothing beautiful.

AGMAR

They are of green jade. They sit cross-legged with their right elbows resting on their left hands, the right forefinger pointing upward. We will come into the city disguised, from the direction of Marma, and will claim to be these G.o.ds. We must be seven as they are. And when we sit we must sit cross-legged as they do, with the right hand uplifted.

ULF

This is a bad city in which to fall into the hands of oppressors, for the judges lack amiability here as the merchants lack benevolence, ever since the G.o.ds forgot them.

AGMAR

In our ancient calling a man may sit at one street corner for fifty years doing the one thing, and yet a day may come when it is well for him to rise up and do another thing while the timorous man starves.

ULF

Also it were well not to anger the G.o.ds.

AGMAR

Is not all life a beggary to the G.o.ds? Do they not see all men always begging of them and asking alms with incense, and bells, and subtle devices?

OOGNO

Yes, all men indeed are beggars before the G.o.ds.

AGMAR

Does not the mighty Soldan often sit by the agate altar in his royal temple as we sit at a street corner or by a palace gate?

ULF

It is even so.

AGMAR

Then will the G.o.ds be glad when we follow the holy calling with new devices and with subtlety, as they are glad when the priests sing a new song.

ULF

Yet I have a fear.

[_Enter two men talking._

AGMAR (_to Slag_)

Go you into the city before us and let there be a prophecy there which saith that the G.o.ds who are carven from green rock in the mountain shall one day arise in Marma and come here in the guise of men.

SLAG

Yes, master. Shall I make the prophecy myself? Or shall it be found in some old doc.u.ment?

AGMAR

Let someone have seen it once in some rare doc.u.ment. Let it be spoken of in the market place.

SLAG

It shall be spoken of, master.

[_Slag lingers. Enter Thief and Thahn._

OOGNO

This is our thief.

AGMAR (_encouragingly_)

Ah, he is a quick thief.

THIEF

I could only procure you three green raiments, master. The city is not now well supplied with them; moreover, it is a very suspicious city and without shame for the baseness of its suspicions.

SLAG (_to a beggar_)

This is not thieving.

THIEF

I could do no more, master. I have not practised thieving all my life.

AGMAR

You have got something: it may serve our purpose. How long have you been thieving?

THIEF

I stole first when I was ten.

SLAG (_in horror_)

When he was ten!

AGMAR

We must tear them up and divide them amongst the seven. (_To Thahn_) Bring me another beggar.

SLAG