King Karnos: 

Is not a King’s word death?  I have said he shall die at sunset.

    [Enter Prophet.  The Executioner creeps along close behind him.]

Voice-of-the-Gods: 

O the gods are about to have lied.  The gods will have lied.  I have prophesied falsely and the gods will have lied.  My death cannot atone for it nor the punishment of others.

    [Ichtharion and Ludibras start.]

Ichtharion: 

He will betray us yet.

Voice-of-the-Gods: 

O why did you let your voice come through my lips?  O why did you allow your voice to lie?  For centuries it has been said from city to city, “The gods cannot lie.”  The nomads have known it out upon the plains.  The mountaineers have known it near the dawn.  That is all over now.  O King, let me die at once.  For I have prophesied falsely and at sunset the gods will lie.

King Karnos: 

It is not sunset yet.  No doubt you have spoken truly.

    [Enter Queen.]

How well the Queen looks.  Her maidens are quite excellent.

Ludibras:  [To Ichtharion]

There is something a little dreadful in seeing the Queen so calm.  She is like a windless sunset in the Winter before a hurricane comes and the snow swirls up before it over the world.

Ichtharion: 

I do not like calm sunsets; they make me think that something is going to happen.  Yes, the Queen is very quiet; she will sleep to-night.

Queen: 

I am not frightened any longer.  All the wild fancies of my brain have left it.  I have often troubled you with little fears.  Now they are all at rest and I am afraid no longer.

King Karnos: 

That is good; I am very glad.  You will sleep tonight.

Queen: 

Sleep.  Why—­yes, I shall sleep.  O yes, we shall all sleep.

King Karnos: 

Your maidens have told you that there is nothing to fear.

Queen: 

Nothing to fear?  No, no more little fears to trouble me.

King Karnos: 

They have told you there is nothing at all to fear.  Indeed there is nothing.

Queen: 

No more little fears.  There is one great fear.

King Karnos: 

A great fear!  Why, what is it?

Queen: 

I must not say.  For you have often soothed me when I was frightened, and it were not well for me to trouble you at the last.

King Karnos: 

What is your fear?  Shall I send again for your maidens?

Queen: 

No, it is not my fear.  It is all men’s fear if they knew.

King Karnos:  [glancing round]

Ah, you have seen my man in red.  I will send him away.  I will——­

Queen: 

No, no.  My fear is not earthly.  I am not afraid of little things any more.

King Karnos: 

Why, what is it then?