Voice-of-the-Gods: 

O King, have mercy.

King Karnos: 

What, would you be sent safe away while your King is destroyed by the gods?

Voice-of-the-Gods: 

No, no, your Majesty.  I would stay in the city, your Majesty.  But if the gods do not destroy the city, if the gods have misled me.

King Karnos: 

If the gods have misled you they have chosen your doom.  Why ask for mercy from me?

Voice-of-the-Gods: 

If the gods have misled me, and punish me no further, I ask mercy from you, O King.

King Karnos: 

If the gods have misled you, let the gods protect you from my executioner.

1st Sentry:  [Laughs aside to 2nd Sentry]

Very witty.

2nd Sentry: 

Yes, yes. [Laughs too.]

King Karnos: 

If the doom fall not at sunset, why then the executioner——­

Voice-of-the-Gods: 

Your Majesty!

King Karnos: 

No more!  No doubt the gods will destroy the whole city at sunset.

    [The sentries titter.  The Prophet is led away.]

Ichtharion: 

Your Majesty!  Is it safe to kill a prophet, even for any guilt?  Will not the people——­

King Karnos: 

Not while he is a prophet; but if he has prophesied falsely his death is due to the gods.  The people once even burned a prophet themselves because he had taken three wives.

Ichtharion:  [Aside to Ludibras]

It is most unfortunate, but what can we do?

Ludibras:  [Aside to Ichtharion]

He will not be killed if he betray us instead.

Ichtharion:  [Aside]

Why... that is true.

    [All are whispering.]

King Karnos: 

Why do you whisper?

Tharmia: 

Your Majesty, we fear that the gods will destroy us all and...

King Karnos: 

You do not fear it?

    [Dead silence.  A plaintive lament off.  Enter the Queen.  Her
    face is pale as paper.]

Queen:  [loq.]

O your Majesty.  Your Majesty.  I have heard the lutanist, I have heard the lutanist.

King Karnos: 

She means the lute that is heard by those about to die.

Queen: 

I have heard Gog-Owza, the lutanist, playing his lute.  And I shall die,
O I shall die.

King Karnos: 

No.  No.  No.  You have not heard Gog-Owza.  Send for her maidens, send for the Queen’s maidens.

Queen: 

I have heard Gog-Owza playing, and I shall die.

King Karnos: 

Hark.  Why, I hear it too.  That is not Gog-Owza, it is only a man with a lute; I hear it too.

Queen: 

O the King hears it too.  The King will die.  The great King will die.  My child will be desolate for the King will die.  Mourn, people of the jungle.  Mourn, citizens of Thek.  And thou, O Barbul-el-Sharnak, O metropolitan city, mourn thou in the midst of the nations, for the great King will die.