We are making a beautiful arbor for you, O Atharlia, at an end of the great garden. There shall be iris-flowers that you love and all things that grow by streams. And the stream there shall be small and winding like one of those in your country. I shall bring a stream a new way from the mountains. (_Turning to Queen Oxara on his extreme right_) And for you, too, O Oxara, we shall make a pleasance. I shall have rocks brought from the quarries for you, and my idle slaves shall make a hill and plant it with mountain shrubs, and you can sit there in the winter thinking of the North. (_To the kneeling Overseer_) Ah, what is here? THE KING'S OVERSEER The plans of your royal garden, Majesty. The slaves have dug it for five years and rolled the paths. THE KING (_takes the plans_) Was there not a garden in Babylon? THE KING'S OVERSEER They say there was a garden there of some sort, Majesty. THE KING I will have a greater garden. Let the world know and wonder. (_Looks at the plans_) THE KING'S OVERSEER It shall know at once, Majesty. THE KING (_pointing at the plan_) I do not like that hill, it is too steep. THE KING'S OVERSEER No, Majesty. THE KING Remove it. THE KING'S OVERSEER Yes, Majesty. THE KING When will the garden be ready for the Queens to walk in? THE KING'S OVERSEER Work is slow, Majesty, at this season of the year because the green stuff is scarce and the slaves grow idle. They even become insolent and ask for bones. QUEEN CAHAFRA (_to the King's Overseer_) Then why are they not flogged? (_To Queen Thragolind_) It is so simple, they _only_ have to flog them, but these people are so silly sometimes. I want to walk in the great garden, and then they tell me: "It is not ready, Majesty. It is not ready, Majesty," as though there were any reason why it should _not_ be ready. FOURTH QUEEN Yes, they are a great trouble to us. [_Meanwhile the King hands back the plans. Exit the King's Overseer. Reënter Attendant with the Prophet, who is dressed in a long dark brown cloak; his face is solemn; he has a long dark beard and long hair. Having bowed before the idol, he bows before the King and stands silent. The attendant, having bowed to both, stands by the doorway._ THE KING (_meanwhile to Queen Atharlia_) Perhaps we shall lure the ducks when the marshes are frozen to come and swim in your stream; it will be like your own country. (_To the Prophet_) Prophesy unto us. THE PROPHET (_speaks at once in a loud voice_) There was once a King that had slaves to hate him and to toil for him, and he had soldiers to guard him and to die for him. And the number of the slaves that he had to hate him and to toil for him was greater than the number of the soldiers that he had to guard him and to die for him. And the days of that King were few. And the number of thy slaves, O King, that thou hast to hate thee is greater than the number of thy soldiers. QUEEN CAHAFRA (_to Queen Thragolind_)