POLITICIAN: It is so long since any dared to do it that the Emperor mocks at kings. If your Majesty disobeyed him the Emperor would tremble. KING: Ah. POLITICIAN: The Emperor would say, "There is a great king. He defies me." And he would tremble strangely. KING: Yet--if---- POLITICIAN: The Emperor would fear you. KING: I would fain be a great king--yet---- POLITICIAN: You would win honour in his eyes. KING: Yet is the Emperor terrible in his wrath. He was terrible in his wrath in the olden time. POLITICIAN: The Emperor is old. KING: This is a great affront that he places upon a king, to demand a man who has come to sanctuary in that part of my Court called holy. POLITICIAN: It is a great affront. [_Enter the_ SEEKER. _He abases himself._ SEEKER: O King, I have come with my spear, seeking for one that fled the Emperor and has found sanctuary in your Court in that part called holy. KING: It has not been the wont of the kings of my line to turn men from our sanctuary. SEEKER: It is the Emperor's will. KING: It is not _my_ will. SEEKER: Behold the Emperor's edict. [_The_ KING _takes it. The_ SEEKER _goes towards the door._ SEEKER: I go to sit with my spear by the door of the place called holy. [_Exit_ SEEKER. KING: The edict, the edict. We must obey the edict. POLITICIAN: The Emperor is old. KING: True, we will defy him. POLITICIAN: He will do nothing. KING: And yet the edict. POLITICIAN: It is of no importance. KING: Hark. I will not disobey the Emperor. Yet will I not permit him to abuse the sanctuary of my Court. We will banish the man who fled from Eng-Bathai. [_To his_ DOOM-BEARER.] Hither, the Doom-Bearer; take the black ivory spear, the wand of banishment, that lies on the left of my throne, and point it at the man that shelters in the holy place of my Court. Then show him the privy door behind the horns of the altar, so that he go safely hence and meet not the Emperor's seeker. [_The_ DOOM-BEARER _bows and takes the spear on the flat of both his hands. The shaft is all black, but the head is of white ivory. It is blunt and clearly ceremonial. Exit._] [_To_ POLITICIAN. Thus we shall be safe from the wrath of the Emperor, and the holy place of my Court will not be violate. POLITICIAN: Had your Majesty scorned the Emperor it were better. He is old and durst not take vengeance. KING: I have decided, and the man is banished. [_A_ HERALD _marches in and blows his trumpet._ HERALD: The Ambassador of the Emperor. [_Enter the_ AMBASSADOR. _He bows to the King from his place near the door._ KING: For what purpose to my Court from Eng-Bathai comes thus the Ambassador of the Emperor? AMBASSADOR: I bring to the King's Majesty a gift from the great Emperor, [AMBASSADOR _and his men bow_] who reigns in Eng-Bathai, the reward of obedience to his edict, a goblet of inestimable wine.