Who should wear purple in the land but a King, or who go up against the sky but he who has troubled the stars by neglecting their ancient worship? Such a one has gone up and up increasing power and wealth, such a one has soared above the crowns of those that went before him, such a one the stars have doomed, the undying ones, the illustrious. [_A pause._ KING Who wrote it? CHIEF PROPHET It is pure gold. Some god has written it. CHAMBERLAIN Some god? CHIEF PROPHET Some god whose home is among the undying stars. FIRST SENTRY (_aside to the Second Sentry_) Last night I saw a star go flaming earthward. KING Is this a warning or is it a doom? CHIEF PROPHET The stars have spoken. KING It is, then, a doom? CHIEF PROPHET They speak not in jest. KING I have been a great King--Let it be said of me "The stars overthrew him, and they sent a god for his doom." For I have not met my equal among kings that man should overthrow me; and I have not oppressed my people that man should rise up against me. CHIEF PROPHET It is better to give worship to the stars than to do good to man. It is better to be humble before the gods than proud in the face of your enemy though he do evil. KING Let the stars hearken yet and I will sacrifice a child to them--I will sacrifice a girl child to the twinkling stars and a male child to the stars that blink not, the stars of the steadfast eyes. (_To his Spies_) Let a boy and girl be brought for sacrifice. (_Exit a Spy to the right looking at footprints_) Will you accept this sacrifice to the god that the stars have sent? They say that the gods love children. CHIEF PROPHET I may refuse no sacrifice to the stars nor to the gods whom they send. (_To the other Prophets_) Make ready the sacrificial knives. [_The Prophets draw knives and sharpen them._ KING Is it fitting that the sacrifice take place by the iron door where the god from the stars has trod, or must it be in the temple? CHIEF PROPHET Let it be offered by the iron door. (_To the other Prophets_) Fetch hither the altar stone. [_The owl-like whistle is heard off right. The Third Spy runs crouching toward it. Exit._ KING Will this sacrifice avail to avert the doom? CHIEF PROPHET Who knows? KING I fear that even yet the doom will fall. CHIEF PROPHET It were wise to sacrifice some greater thing. KING What more can a man offer? CHIEF PROPHET His pride. KING What pride? CHIEF PROPHET Your pride that went up against the sky and troubled the stars. KING How shall I sacrifice my pride to the stars? CHIEF PROPHET It is upon your pride that the doom will fall, and will take away your crown and will take away your kingdom. KING I will sacrifice my crown and reign uncrowned amongst you, so only I save my kingdom. CHIEF PROPHET