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.

[_He signs and there enters a page bearing a goblet of glass. He has a
pretty complexion and yellow hair falling as low as his chin and curling
inwards. He wears a cerise belt round his tunic exactly matching the
wine in the goblet he carries._

He prays you drink it, and to know that it was made by vintners whose
skill is lost, and stored in secret cellars over a hundred years; and
that the vineyards whence it came have been long since whelmed by war,
and only live now in legend and this wine.

KING: A gift, you say, for o