King Karnos: 

No.  No.  No. [To oldest present.] Listen you.  Do you not hear it?

The Oldest: 

Yes, your Majesty.

King Karnos: 

You see it is a real lute.  That is no spirit playing.

Queen: 

O but he is old; in a few days he will die; it is Gog-Owza, and the
King will die.

King Karnos: 

No, no, it is only a man.  Look out of the window there. [To any Young
Man.]

The Young Man: 

It is dark, your Majesty, and I cannot see.

Queen: 

It is the spirit Gog-Owza.

The Young Man: 

I can hear the music clearly.

King Karnos: 

He is young.

Queen: 

The young are always in danger; they go about among swords.  He will die too and the great King and I. In a few days we will be buried.

King Karnos: 

Let us all listen; we cannot all die in a few days’ time.

Tharmia: 

I hear it clearly.

Queen: 

Women are blossoms in the hand of Death.  They are often close to Death. 
She will die too.

All: 

I hear it.  I hear it.  And I. And I. And I. It is only a man with a lute.

Queen:  [pacified]

I should like to see him, then I should know for certain.

    [She looks out of the casement.]

No, it is too dark.

King Karnos: 

We will call the man if you wish it.

Queen: 

Yes, I shall be easy then, and then I shall sleep.

    [King instructs Attendants to enquire without.  Queen at window still.]

King Karnos: 

It is some man down by the river playing his lute.  I am told that sometimes a man will play all night.

Tharmia:  [Aside]

That’s their amusement here.

Arolind:  [Aside]

Well, really, its almost all the music we get.

Tharmia:  [Aside]

It really is.

Arolind:  [Aside]

O how I cry for the golden Hall of Song in Barbul-el-Sharnak.  I think it would almost hold the city of Thek.

    [Re-enter Attendant]

Attendant: 

It is only a common lute, your Majesty.  All hear it except one man.

King Karnos: 

All except one, did you say?  Ah, thank you.

    [To Queen at window.]

It is only a common lute.

Queen: 

One man did not hear it.  Who was he?  Where is he?  Why didn’t he?

Attendant: 

He was riding back again to Barbul-el-Sharnak.  He was just starting.  He said he did not hear it.

Queen: 

Oh, send for him here.

Attendant: 

He is gone, your Majesty.

Queen: 

Overtake him quick.  Overtake him.

    [Exit Attendant.]

Tharmia:  [Aside to Arolind]