But these remarks of mine about the inner significance of the plays should not tempt anybody into thinking them deficient in that element of formal perfection without which they could not be classed as works of art. They are, indeed, "things of beauty," and their beauty inheres in their design as well as in their style. Through all of them the greatest possible economy of means has been observed, so that not a word, not a tone, not a gesture is wasted in obtaining the effect aimed at. The dialogue of Maeterlinck is suggested, but not more than suggested. The words spoken by the characters of Maeterlinck are often so vague as to be practically meaningless. The characters of Lord Dunsany speak as simply as those of Maeterlinck, but always sharply to the point; there can be no mistaking of what they mean, and that meaning serves always to carry the action of the play forward. And each play of Lord Dunsany's is an exciting adventure, conveying to the reader an exhilarating sense of motion without ever descending to old-fashioned stage tricks for the production of that sense. This means that they combine to an extraordinary degree the qualities which make separately for theatrical or literary success. EDWIN BJÖRKMAN. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF PLAYS BY LORD DUNSANY THE GLITTERING GATE, 1909 KING ARGIMENES AND THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR, 1911 THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN, 1911 THE GOLDEN DOOM, 1912 THE LOST SILK HAT, 1913 THE TENTS OF THE ARABS, 1915 A NIGHT AT AN INN, 1916 THE QUEEN'S ENEMIES, 1916 THE LAUGHTER OF THE GODS, 1917 THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN PERSONS AGMAR } SLAG } ULF } OOGNO } _Beggars_ THAHN } MLAN } A THIEF } OORANDER } ILLANAUN } _Citizens_ AKMOS } THE DROMEDARY MEN CITIZENS, ETC. THE OTHERS SCENE: THE EAST THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN THE FIRST ACT _Outside a city wall. Three beggars are seated upon the ground._ OOGNO These days are bad for beggary. THAHN They are bad. ULF (_an older beggar but not gray_) Some evil has befallen the rich ones of this city. They take no joy any longer in benevolence, but are become sour and miserly at heart. Alas for them! I sometimes sigh for them when I think of this. OOGNO Alas for them! A miserly heart must be a sore affliction. THAHN A sore affliction indeed, and bad for our calling. OOGNO (_reflectively_) They have been thus for many months. What thing has befallen them? THAHN Some evil thing. ULF There has been a comet come near to the earth of late and the earth has been parched and sultry so that the gods are drowsy and all those things that are divine in man, such as benevolence, drunkenness, extravagance, and song, have faded and died and have not been replenished by the gods. OOGNO It has indeed been sultry. THAHN I have seen the comet o' nights. ULF The gods are drowsy. OOGNO