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 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 had 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. ACT II SCENE: 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 Our little sister the Moon. She comes to us at evenings away in the mountain of Marma. She trips over the mountains when she is young: when she is young and slender she comes and dances before us: and when she is old and unshapely she hobbles away from the hills. AGMAR Yet she is young again and forever nimble with youth: yet she comes dancing back. The years are not able to curb her nor to bring grey hairs to her brethren. OORANDER This is not wonted. ILLANAUN It is not in accordance with custom. AKMOS Prophecy hath not thought it. SLAG She comes to us new and nimble remembering olden loves. OORANDER It were well that prophets should come and speak to us.