AGMAR I know these men that have great piety. Such men have often prayed to me before, but their prayers are not acceptable. They little love the gods, their only care is their piety. I know these pious ones. They will say that the seven gods were still at Marma. So shall they seem more pious to you all, pretending that they alone have seen the gods. Fools shall believe them and share in their damnation. OORANDER (to Illanaun) Hush. You anger the gods. ILLANAUN I am not sure whom I anger. OORANDER It may be they are the gods. ILLANAUN Where are these men from Marma? CITIZEN Here are the dromedary men, they are coming now. ILLANAUN (to Agmar) The holy pilgrims from your shrine are come to worship you. AGMAR The men are doubters. How the gods hate the word! Doubt ever contaminated virtue. Let them be cast into prison and not besmirch your purity, (rising) Let them not enter here. ILLANAUN But O most reverened Deity from the mountain, we also doubt, most reverend Deity. AGMAR You have chosen. You have chosen. And yet it is not too late. Repent and cast these men in prison and it may not be too late. _The gods have never wept_. And yet when they think upon damnation and the dooms that are withering a myriad bones, then almost, were they not divine, they _could_ weep. Be quick. Repent of your doubt. ILLANAUN Most reverend Deity, it is a mighty doubt. CITIZENS _Nothing has killed him! They are not the gods_! SLAG (to Agmar) You have a plan, my Master. You have a plan? AGMAR Not yet, Slag. (Enter the dromedary men.) ILLANAUN (to Oorander) These are the men that went to the shrines at Marma. OORANDER (in a loud, clear voice) Were the gods of the mountain seated still at Marma, or were they not there? (The beggars get up hurriedly from their thrones.) DROMEDARY MAN They were not there. ILLANAUN They were not there? DROMEDARY MAN Their shrines were empty. OORANDER Behold the gods of the mountain! AKMOS They have indeed come from Marma. OORANDER Come. Let us go away to prepare a sacrifice, a mighty sacrifice to atone for our doubting. (Exeunt.) SLAG My most wise Master! AGMAR No, no, Slag. I do not know what has befallen. When I went by Marma only two weeks ago the idols of green jade were still seated there. OOGNO We are saved now. THAHN Aye, we are saved. AGMAR We are saved, but I know not how. OOGNO _Never_ had beggars such a time. THIEF I will go out and watch. (He creeps out.) ULF Yet I have a fear. OOGNO A fear? Why, we are saved. ULF Last night I dreamed. OOGNO What was your dream? ULF It was nothing. I dreamed that I was thirsty and one gave me Woldery wine; yet there was a fear in my dream. THAHN When I drink Woldery wine I am afraid of nothing. (Re-enter Thief.) THIEF They are making a pleasant banquet ready for us; they are killing lambs, and girls are there with fruits, and there is to be much Woldery wine. MLAN Never had beggars such a time. AGMAR Do any doubt us now? THIEF I do not know.