Come you then and tell us what the warning is. SECOND PROPHET (_goes up to the door and reads_) The stars have spoken. (_He cloaks himself in black_) KING What is it? What does it mean? SECOND PROPHET We do not know, but it is from the stars. CHAMBERLAIN It is a harmless thing; there is no harm in it, Majesty. Why should not birds die? KING Why have the prophets covered themselves in black? CHAMBERLAIN They are a secret people and look for inner meanings. There is no harm in it. KING They have covered themselves in black. CHAMBERLAIN They have not spoken of any evil thing. They have not spoken of it. KING If the people see the prophets covered in black they will say that the stars are against me and believe that my luck has turned. CHAMBERLAIN The people must not know. KING Some prophet must interpret to us the doom. Let the chief prophet of the stars be sent for. CHAMBERLAIN (_going toward left exit_) Summon the chief prophet of the stars that look on Zericon. VOICES OFF The chief prophet of the stars. The chief prophet of the stars. CHAMBERLAIN I have summoned the chief prophet, Majesty. KING If he interpret this aright I will put a necklace of turquoises round his neck with opals from the mines. CHAMBERLAIN He will not fail. He is a very cunning interpreter. KING What if he covers himself with a huge black cloak and does not speak and goes muttering away, slowly with bended head, till our fear spreads to the sentries and they cry aloud? CHAMBERLAIN This is no doom from the stars, but some idle scribe hath written it in his insolence upon the iron door, wasting his hoard of gold. KING Not for myself I have a fear of doom, not for myself; but I inherited a rocky land, windy and ill-nurtured, and nursed it to prosperity by years of peace and spread its boundaries by years of war. I have brought up harvests out of barren acres and given good laws unto naughty towns, and my people are happy, and lo, the stars are angry! CHAMBERLAIN It is not the stars, it is not the stars, Majesty, for the prophets of the stars have not interpreted it. Indeed, it was only some reveller wasting his gold. [_Meanwhile enter Chief Prophet of the stars that look on Zericon._ KING Chief Prophet of the Stars that look on Zericon, I would have you interpret the rhyme upon yonder door. CHIEF PROPHET (_goes up to the door and reads_) It is from the stars. KING Interpret it and you shall have great turquoises round your neck, with opals from the mines in the frozen mountains. CHIEF PROPHET (_cloaks himself like the others in a great black cloak_)