HEROD (_rises suddenly without being asked, crosses his arms, glares, and shouts very loudly_). Ha! Would you have Imperial hearing? Hounds! I am that Herod which is he that am The lonely Lebanonian (_interruption_) who despaired In Deep Marsupial Dens ... (_cries of “Sit down!”_) ... In dreadful hollows To--(“_Sit down!_”)--tear great trees with the teeth, and hurricanes--(“_Sit down!_”)-- That shook the hills of Moab! CHORUS OF DEAD MEN--Oh! Sit down. (_He is swamped by the clamour, in the midst of which Lucullus murmurs to himself_) LUCULLUS (_musing_)--The banquet’s done. There was a tribute drawn Of anchovies and olives and of soup In tins of conquered nations; subject whiting: Saddle of mutton from the antipodes Close on the walls of ice; Laponian pheasants; Eggs of Canadian rebels, humbled now To such obeisance--scrambled eggs--and butter From Brittany enslaved, and the white bread Hardened for heroes in the test of time, Was California’s offering. But the cheese, The cheese was ours.... Oh! but the glory faded Of feasting at repletion mocks our arms And threatens even Empire. (_Great noise of Vulgarians, a mob of people, heralds, trumpets, flags. Enter_ VITELLIUS.) VITELLIUS-- I have dined! But not with you. The master of the world Has dined alone and at his own expense. And oh!--I am almost too full for words-- But oh! My lieges, I have used you well! I have commanded fifteen hundred seats And standing room for something like a thousand To view my triumph over Nobody Upon the limelit stage. HEROD-- Oh! rare Vitellius, Oh! Prominent great Imperial ears! Oh! Mouth To bellow largesse! Oh! And rolling Thunder, And trains of smoke. And oh!... VITELLIUS-- Let in the vulgar To see the master sight of their dull lives: Great Cæsar putting on his overcoat. And then, my loved companions, we’ll away To see the real Herod in the Play. (_The Shades pass out in a crowd. In the street_ THEOCRITUS _is heard singing in a voice that gets fainter and fainter with distance...._) “Put me somewhere ea-heast of Su-hez, W’ere the best is loi-hoike the worst-- W’ere there hain’ no”--(_and so forth_). FINIS.