Then will the gods be glad when we follow the holy calling with new devices and with subtlety, as they are glad when the priests sing a new song. ULF Yet I have a fear. [_Enter two men talking._ AGMAR (_to Slag_) Go you into the city before us and let there be a prophecy there which saith that the gods who are carven from green rock in the mountain shall one day arise in Marma and come here in the guise of men. SLAG Yes, master. Shall I make the prophecy myself? Or shall it be found in some old document? AGMAR Let someone have seen it once in some rare document. Let it be spoken of in the market place. SLAG It shall be spoken of, master. [_Slag lingers. Enter Thief and Thahn._ OOGNO This is our thief. AGMAR (_encouragingly_) Ah, he is a quick thief. THIEF I could only procure you three green raiments, master. The city is not now well supplied with them; moreover, it is a very suspicious city and without shame for the baseness of its suspicions. SLAG (_to a beggar_) This is not thieving. THIEF I could do no more, master. I have not practised thieving all my life. AGMAR You have got something: it may serve our purpose. How long have you been thieving? THIEF I stole first when I was ten. SLAG (_in horror_) When he was ten! AGMAR We must tear them up and divide them amongst the seven. (_To Thahn_) Bring me another beggar. SLAG When my master was ten he had already to slip by night out of two cities. OOGNO (_admiringly_) Out of two cities? SLAG (_nodding his head_) In his native city they do not now know what became of the golden cup that stood in the Lunar Temple. AGMAR Yes, into seven pieces. ULF We will each wear a piece of it over our rags. OOGNO Yes, yes, we shall look fine. AGMAR That is not the way that we shall disguise ourselves. OOGNO Not cover our rags? AGMAR No, no. The first who looked closely would say, "These are only beggars. They have disguised themselves." ULF What shall we do? AGMAR Each of the seven shall wear a piece of the green raiment underneath his rags. And peradventure here and there a little shall show through; and men shall say, "These seven have disguised themselves as beggars. But we know not what they be." SLAG Hear my wise master. OOGNO (_in admiration_) _He_ is a beggar. ULF He is an _old_ beggar. CURTAIN THE SECOND ACT _The Metropolitan Hall of the city of Kongros. Citizens, etc._ _Enter the seven beggars with green silk under their rags._ OORANDER Who are you and whence come you? AGMAR Who may say what we are or whence we come? OORANDER What are these beggars and why do they come here? AGMAR Who said to you that we were beggars? OORANDER Why do these men come here? AGMAR Who said to you that we were men? ILLANAUN Now, by the moon! AGMAR My sister. ILLANAUN What? AGMAR My little sister. SLAG