Five Plays Part 8

It is a fitting libation. Our anger is somewhat appeased.

ANOTHER BEGGAR

But it was Woldery!

AKMOS (_kneeling to Agmar_)

Master, I am childless, and I--

AGMAR

Trouble us not now. It is the hour at which the G.o.ds are accustomed to speak to the G.o.ds in the language of the G.o.ds, and if Man heard us he would guess the futility of his destiny, which were not well for Man.

Begone! Begone!

ONE LINGERS (_loquitur_)

Master--

AGMAR

Begone!

[_Exeunt. Agmar takes up a piece of meat and begins to eat it; the beggars rise and stretch themselves: they laugh, but Agmar eats hungrily._

OOGNO

Ah! Now we have come into our own.

THAHN

Now we have alms.

SLAG

Master! My wise master!

ULF

These are the good days, the good days; and yet I have a fear.

SLAG

What do you fear? There is nothing to fear. No man is as wise as my master.

ULF

I fear the G.o.ds whom we pretend to be.

SLAG

The G.o.ds?

AGMAR (_taking a chunk of meat from his lips_)

Come hither, Slag.

SLAG (_going up to him_)

Yes, master.

AGMAR

Watch in the doorway while I eat. (_Slag goes to the doorway_) Sit in the att.i.tude of a G.o.d. Warn me if any of the citizens approach.

[_Slag sits in the doorway in the att.i.tude of a G.o.d, back to the audience._

OOGNO (_to Agmar_)

But, master, shall we not have Woldery wine?

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.