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AGMAR Let none that has known the mystery of roads, or has felt the wind arising new in the morning, or who has called forth out of the souls of men divine benevolence, ever speak any more of any trade or of the miserable gains of shops and the trading men. OOGNO I but spoke hastily, the times being bad. AGMAR I will put right the times. SLAG There is nothing that my Master cannot do.
AGMAR Let the pestilence not fall at once upon this city, as it had indeed designed to; let not the earthquake swallow it all immediately up amid the howls of the thunder; let not infuriate armies overwhelm those that escape if we be gods. OORANDER Come let us sacrifice. ILLANAUN Bring lambs. AKMOS Quick, quick. THAHN He is no common god. MLAN Indeed he has made us.
AGMAR That is not the way that we shall disguise ourselves. OOGNO Not cover our rags? AGMAR No, no. The first who looked closely would say 'These are only beggars. They have disguised themselves. ULF What shall we do? AGMAR Each of the seven shall wear a piece of the green raiment underneath his rags.
Know you the land through which I have lately come in my wanderings? Marma, where the gods are carved from green stone in the mountains. They sit all seven of them against the hills. They sit there motionless and travellers worship them. ULF Yes, yes, we know those gods. They are much reverenced here; but they are drowsy and send us nothing beautiful. AGMAR They are of green jade.
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. THIEF Master, I have been with those that see all and know all, I have been with the thieves, Master.
Now that you have suggested that we shall go as lords, he will make a better suggestion. He will suggest that we should go as kings. SLAG Ay. You do not know my Master. AGMAR You shall first come by the fine raiment in the manner I have mentioned. ULF And what then, Master? AGMAR Why then we shall go as gods. BEGGARS As gods? AGMAR As gods.
ILLANAUN I do but wish to prove his divinity. I will fetch the Woldery wine. AKMOS He will not drink. Yet if he does, then he will not overwhelm us. Let us offer him the wine. FIRST BEGGAR It is Woldery wine! SECOND BEGGAR It is Woldery! THIRD BEGGAR A goblet of Woldery wine! FOURTH BEGGAR O blessed day! MLAN O happy times! SLAG O my wise Master! Illanaun gives it to Agmar.
Warn me if any of the citizens approach. AGMAR We shall have all things if only we are wise at first for a little. THAHN Master, do any suspect us? AGMAR We must be very wise. THAHN But if we are not wise, Master? AGMAR Why then death may come to us ... THAHN O Master! AGMAR ... slowly. OOGNO Do they believe us, master? ONE Master, I want the god that does not eat. AGMAR I am he.
AGMAR Is it then strange that the gods love roasted flesh? For this purpose they keep the lightning. When the lightning flickers about the limbs of men there comes to the gods in Marma a pleasant smell, even a smell of roasting. Sometimes the gods, being pacific, are pleased to have roasted instead the flesh of lamb. It is all one to the gods: let the roasting stop.
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 gods 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 to do another thing, while the timorous man starves.
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