OOMUZ: In other times once princes followed a queen and came back boasting. Master, the workers were angry. Be warned, Master, because you and I went together once to the hoard beyond the marshes. Be warned. They were angry, Master. ZOON: I care not for the workers. OOMUZ: Master, be warned. It was long ago and they say they were very angry. ZOON: I care not, Oomuz. I come not boasting back from the hills under Aether Mountain. I shall not halt till I have told the Queen my love. I shall wed with her who is less only than Fate, if less she be. I am not as those, Oomuz. Who weds the Queen is more than the servant of Fate. OOMUZ: Master---- [_He stretches out his hands towards_ ZOON _imploringly._ ZOON: Well, Oomuz? OOMUZ: Master. There is a doom about the Queen. ZOON: What doom, Oomuz? OOMUZ: We know not, Master. We are simple people and we know not that. But we know from of old there is a doom about her. We know it, Master; we have been told from of old. ZOON: Yes, there could well be a doom about the Queen. OOMUZ: Follow not after, Master, when she goes to Aether Mountain. There is surely a doom about her. A doom was with her mother upon that very peak. ZOON: Yes, Oomuz, a doom well becomes her. OOMUZ: Doubt it not, Master; there is a doom about her. ZOON: Oomuz, I doubt not. For there is something wonderful about the Queen, beyond all earthly wonders. Something like thunder beyond far clouds or hail hurling from heaven; there should be indeed a terrible doom about her. OOMUZ: Master, I have warned you for the sake of the days when we raided the golden hoard beyond the marshes. ZOON (_taking his hand_): Thank you, good Oomuz. [_He goes towards door after the others._ OOMUZ: But where go you, Master? ZOON: I wait to follow the Queen when she goes to Aether Mountain. [_Exit._ OOMUZ _weeps silently on to the Queen's Treasure._ CURTAIN. SCENE II _The Palace of Zoorm: the Hall of Queen Zoomzoomarma._ _Time: Same as Scene I._ THE QUEEN: Is none worthy to kiss my hand, Oozizi; none? LADY OOZIZI: Lady, none. [_The_ QUEEN _sighs._ You should not sigh, great lady. QUEEN: Why should I not sigh, Oozizi? OOZIZI: Great lady, because such things as sighs pertain only to love. QUEEN: Love is a joy, Oozizi; love is a glow. Love makes them dance so lightly along rays of the sunlight. It is made of sunlight and gladness. It is like flowers in twilight. How should they sigh? OOZIZI: Lady! Great lady! Say not such things of love! QUEEN: Say not such things, Oozizi? Are they not true? OOZIZI: True? Yes, great lady, true. But love is a toy of the humble; love is a common thing that the lowly use; love is ... Great lady, had any overheard you speaking then they might have thought, they might have madly dreamed ... QUEEN: Dreamed what, Oozizi? OOZIZI: Incredible things. QUEEN (_meditatively_): I must not love, Oozizi. OOZIZI: Lady! The common people love. [_She points to door._