O warrior spirit, wherever thou wanderest, whoever be thy gods, whether they punish thee or whether they bless thee, O kingly spirit, that once laid here this sword, behold, I pray to thee, having no gods to pray to, for the god of my nation was broken in three by night. Mine arm is stiff with three years' slavery, and remembers not the sword. But guide thy sword till I have slain six men and armed the strongest slaves, and thou shalt have the sacrifice every year of a hundred goodly oxen. And I will build in Ithara a temple to thy memory wherein all that enter in shall remember thee; so shalt thou be honored and envied among the dead, for the dead are very jealous of remembrance. Ay, though thou wert a robber that took men's lives unrighteously, yet shall rare spices smoulder in thy temple and little maidens sing and new-plucked flowers deck the solemn aisles; and priests shall go about it ringing bells that thy soul shall find repose. Oh, but it has a good blade, this old green sword; thou wouldst not like to see it miss its mark (if the dead see at all, as wise men teach), thou wouldst not like to see it go thirsting into the air; so huge a sword should find its marrowy bone. (_Extending his right hand upward_) Come into my right arm, O ancient spirit, O unknown warrior's soul! And if thou hast the ear of any gods, speak there against Illuriel, god of King Darniak. (_He rises and goes on digging_) THE KING'S OVERSEER (_reëntering_) So you have been praying. KING ARGIMENES (_kneeling_) No, master. THE KING'S OVERSEER The slave-guard saw you. (_Strikes him_) It is not lawful for a slave to pray. KING ARGIMENES I did but pray to Illuriel to make me a good slave, to teach me to dig well and to pull the rounded stone and to make me not to die when the food is scarce, but to be a good slave to my master the great King. THE KING'S OVERSEER Who art thou to pray to Illuriel? Dogs may not pray to an immortal god. (_Exit_) [_Zarb comes back, digging._ KING ARGIMENES (_digging_) Zarb! ZARB (_also digging_) Do not look at me when you speak. The guards are watching us. Look at your digging. KING ARGIMENES How do the guards know we are speaking because we look at one another? ZARB You are very witless. Of course they know. KING ARGIMENES Zarb! ZARB What is it? KING ARGIMENES How many guards are there in sight? ZARB There are six of them over there. They are watching us. KING ARGIMENES Are there other guards in sight of these six guards? ZARB No. KING ARGIMENES How do you know? ZARB Because whenever their officer leaves them they sit upon the ground and play with dice. KING ARGIMENES How does that show that there are not another six in sight of them? ZARB How witless you are, Argimenes! Of course it shows there are not. Because, if there were, another officer would see them, and their thumbs would be cut off. KING ARGIMENES Ah! (_A pause_) Zarb! (_A pause_) Would the slaves follow me if I tried to kill the guards?