King: 

I will even yet see Mecca and the dreamed-of tents of the Arabs.  I will go down now into the golden sands, I——­

Chamberlain: 

Your Majesty——­

King: 

In a few years I will return to you.

Chamberlain: 

Your Majesty, it cannot be.  We could not govern the people for more than a year.  They would say, “The King is dead, the King——­”

King: 

Then I will return in a year.  In one year only.

Chamberlain: 

It is a long time, your Majesty.

King: 

I will return at noon a year from to-day.

Chamberlain: 

But, your Majesty, a princess is being sent for from Tharba.

King: 

I thought one was coming from Karshish.

Chamberlain: 

It has been thought more advisable that your Majesty should wed in Tharba.  The passes across the mountains belong to the King of Tharba and he has great traffic with Sharan and the Isles.

King: 

Let it be as you will.

Chamberlain: 

But, your Majesty, the ambassadors start this week; the princess will be here in three months’ time.

King: 

Let her come in a year and a day.

Chamberlain: 

Your Majesty!

King: 

Farewell, I am in haste.  I go to make ready for the desert. [Exit through door still speaking.] The olden, golden mother of happy men.

Chamberlain:  [to Zabra]

One from whom God had not withheld all wisdom would not have given that message to our crazy young King.

Zabra: 

But it must be known.  Many things might happen if it were not known at once.

Chamberlain: 

I knew it this morning.  He is off to the desert now.

Zabra: 

That is evil indeed; but we can lure him back.

Chamberlain: 

Perhaps not for many days.

Zabra: 

The King’s favour is like gold.

Chamberlain: 

It is like much gold.  Who are the Arabs that the King’s favour should be cast among them?  The walls of their houses are canvas.  Even the common snail has a finer wall to his house.

Zabra: 

O, it is most evil.  Alas that I told him this!  We shall be poor men.

Chamberlain: 

No one will give us gold for many days.

Zabra: 

Yet you will govern Thalanna while he is away.  You can increase the taxes of the merchants and the tribute of the men that till the fields.

Chamberlain: 

They will only pay taxes and tribute to the King, who gives of his bounty to just and upright men when he is in Thalanna.  But while he is away the surfeit of his wealth will go to unjust men and to men whose beards are unclean and who fear not God.

Zabra: 

We shall indeed be poor.