We watch, Majesty, and we search out, Majesty. We read shadows, and we read footprints, and whispers in secret places. But we do not read writing. KING (_to the Chamberlain_) See what it is. CHAMBERLAIN (_goes up and reads_) It is treason, Majesty. KING Read it. CHAMBERLAIN I saw a purple bird Go up against the sky, And it went up and up And round about did fly. I saw it die. FIRST SENTRY (_aside_) The stars have spoken. KING (_to the Sentry_) Has anyone been here but the stranger from Thessaly? SENTRY (_kneeling as before_) Nobody, Majesty. KING You saw nothing? FIRST SENTRY Nothing but a dog far out upon the plain and the children of the guard at play. KING (_to the Second Sentry_) And you? SECOND SENTRY (_kneeling_) Nothing, Majesty. CHAMBERLAIN That is strange. KING It is some secret warning. CHAMBERLAIN It is treason. KING It is from the stars. CHAMBERLAIN No, no, Majesty. Not from the stars, not from the stars. Some man has done it. Yet the thing should be interpreted. Shall I send for the prophets of the stars? [_The King beckons to his Spies. They run up to him._ KING Find me some prophet of the stars. (_Exeunt Spies_) I fear that we may go no more, my chamberlain, along the winding ways of unequalled Zericon, nor play dahoori with the golden balls. I have thought more of my people than of the stars and more of Zericon than of windy Heaven. CHAMBERLAIN Believe me, Majesty, some idle man has written it and passed by. Your spies shall find him, and then his name will be soon forgotten. KING Yes, yes. Perhaps you are right, though the sentries saw no one. No doubt some beggar did it. CHAMBERLAIN Yes, Majesty, some beggar has surely done it. But look, here come two prophets of the stars. They shall tell us that this is idle. [_Enter two Prophets and a Boy attending them. All bow deeply to the King. The two Spies steal in again and stand at back._ KING Some beggar has written a rhyme on the iron gate, and as the ways of rhyme are known to you I desired you, rather as poets than as prophets, to say whether there was any meaning in it. CHAMBERLAIN 'Tis but an idle rhyme. FIRST PROPHET (_bows again and goes up to door. He glances at the writing_) Come hither, servant of those that serve the stars. [_Attendant approaches._ FIRST PROPHET Bring hither our golden cloaks, for this may be a matter for rejoicing; and bring our green cloaks also, for this may tell of young new beautiful things with which the stars will one day gladden the King; and bring our black cloaks also, for it may be a doom. (_Exit the Boy; the Prophet goes up to the door and reads solemnly_) The stars have spoken. [_Reënter Attendant with cloaks._ KING I tell you that some beggar has written this. FIRST PROPHET It is written in pure gold. (_He dons the black cloak over body and head_) KING What do the stars mean? What warning is it? FIRST PROPHET I cannot say. KING (_to Second Prophet_)