Who are the stars that a man should scorn them? Should they that rule the thunder, the plague and the earthquake withhold these things save for much prayer? Always amba.s.sadors are with the King, and his commanders, come in from distant lands, prefects of cities and makers of the laws, but never the priests of the stars.

SECOND SENTRY

Hark! Was that thunder?

FIRST SENTRY

Believe me, the stars are angry.

[_Enter a Stranger. He wanders toward the King's door, gazing about him._

SENTRIES (_lifting their spears at him_)

Go back! Go back!

STRANGER

Why?

FIRST SENTRY

It is death to touch the King's door.

STRANGER

I am a stranger from Thessaly.

FIRST SENTRY

It is death even for a stranger.

STRANGER

Your door is strangely sacred.

FIRST SENTRY

It is death to touch it.

[_The Stranger wanders off._

[_Enter two children hand in hand._

BOY (_to the Sentry_)

I want to see the King to pray for a hoop.

[_The Sentry smiles._

BOY (_pushes the door; to girl_)

I cannot open it. (_To the Sentry_) Will it do as well if I pray to the King's door?

SENTRY

Yes, quite as well. (_Turns to talk to the other Sentry_) Is there anyone in sight?

SECOND SENTRY (_shading his eyes_)

Nothing but a dog, and he far out on the plain.

FIRST SENTRY

Then we can talk awhile and eat bash.

BOY

King's door, I want a little hoop.

[_The Sentries take a little bash between finger and thumb from pouches and put that wholly forgotten drug to their lips._

GIRL (_pointing_)

My father is a taller soldier than that.

BOY

My father can write. He taught me.

GIRL

Ho! Writing frightens n.o.body. My father is a soldier.

BOY

I have a lump of gold. I found it in the stream that runs down to Gyshon.

GIRL

I have a poem. I found it in my own head.

BOY

Is it a long poem?

GIRL

No. But it would have been only there were no more rhymes for sky.