Plays of Near Far | Page 2

is defeated because that
particular evil is, as I have said, defeating its enemies at present. Nor
could there be any drama in a contest between the brutal Sladder and a
Stage Curate; for the spark that we call humour, by whose light we see
much of life, comes as it were of two flints, and not of a flint and
cheese.
The three little plays that follow I will leave to speak for themselves, as
ultimately all plays have to do.
DUNSANY

CONTENTS
PAGE
THE COMPROMISE OF THE KING OF THE GOLDEN ISLES 1
THE FLIGHT OF THE QUEEN 21 CHEEZO 65 A GOOD BARGAIN
103 IF SHAKESPEARE LIVED TO-DAY 117 FAME AND THE
POET 135

THE COMPROMISE OF THE KING OF THE GOLDEN ISLES
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN ISLES: KING HAMARAN. THE
KING'S POLITICIAN. THE AMBASSADOR OF THE EMPEROR.
THE EMPEROR'S SEEKER. TWO PRIESTS OF THE ORDER OF
THE SUN. THE KING'S QUESTIONERS. THE AMBASSADOR'S

NUBIAN. THE HERALD OF THE AMBASSADOR. THE
EMPEROR'S DWARF. THE DEPUTY CUP-BEARER. THE KING'S
DOOM-BEARER.

THE KING'S POLITICIAN: A man has fled from the Emperor, and
has taken refuge in your Majesty's Court in that part of it called holy.
THE KING: We must give him up to the Emperor.
POLITICIAN: To-day a spearsman came running from Eng-Bathai
seeking the man who fled. He carries the barbed spear of one of the
Emperor's seekers.
KING: We must give him up.
POLITICIAN: Moreover he has an edict from the Emperor demanding
that the head of the man who fled be sent back to Eng-Bathai.
KING: Let it be sent.
POLITICIAN: Yet your Majesty is no vassal of the Emperor, who
dwells at Eng-Bathai.
KING: We may not disobey the Imperial edict.
POLITICIAN: Yet----
KING: None hath dared to do it.
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]