Queen: 

I do not quite know.  But you know how I have ever feared the gods.  The gods are going to do some dreadful thing.

King Karnos: 

Believe me; the gods do nothing nowadays.

Queen: 

You have indeed been very good to me.  It seems a little while since the camels came to Argun-Zeerith by the iris marshes, the camels with the gold-hung palanquin, and the bells above their heads, high up in the air, the silver bridal bells.  It seems a very little while ago.  I did not know how swift the end would come.

King Karnos: 

What end?  To whom is the end coming?

Queen: 

Do not be troubled.  We should not let Fate trouble us.  The World and its daily cares, ah, they are frightful:  but Fate—­I smile at Fate.  Fate cannot hurt us if we smile at it.

King Karnos: 

What end do you say is coming?

Queen: 

I do not know.  Something that has been shall soon be no more.

King Karnos: 

No, no.  Look upon Thek.  It is built of rock and our palace is all of marble.  Time has not scratched it with six centuries.  Six tearing centuries with all their claws.  We are throned on gold and founded upon marble.  Death will some day find me, indeed, but I am young.  Sire after sire of mine has died in Barbul-el-Sharnak or in Thek, but has left our dynasty laughing sheer in the face of Time from over these age-old walls.

Queen: 

Say farewell to me now, lest something happen.

King Karnos: 

No, no, we will not say unhappy things.

Executioner: 

The sun has set.

King Karnos: 

Not yet.  The jungle hides it.  It is not yet set.  Look at the beautiful light upon the orchids.  For how long they have flashed their purple on the gleaming walls of Thek.  For how long they will flash there on our immortal palace, immortal in marble and immortal in song.  Ah, how the colour changes.

    [To the Executioner]

The sun is set.  Take him away.

    [To the Queen]

It is he whose end you foresaw.

    [The Executioner grips the Prophet by the arm.]

Voice-of-the-Gods: 

The gods have lied!

King Karnos: 

The jungle is sinking!  It has fallen into the earth!

    [The Queen smiles a little, holding his hand.]

The city is falling in!  The houses are rolling towards us!

    [Thunder off.]

Ichtharion: 

They are coming up like a wave and darkness is coming with them.

    [Loud and prolonged thunder.  Flashes of red light and then
    total darkness.  A little light comes back, showing recumbent
    figures, shattered pillars and rocks of white marble.]

    [The Prophet’s back is broken, but he raises the fore-part of
    his body for a moment.]