Produced by Tom Harris
Title: Plays of Gods and Men
Author: Lord Dunsany
[Note: this edition was prepared from the 1917 Unwin edition. LaterUS editions had many minor changes and an additional page of dialoguein "The Laughter of the Gods".]
Preface
Lest any idle person might think that I have had time to write plays
during the last few years I may mention that the first act of The
Tents of the Arabs was written on September 3rd, and the second act on
September 8th, 1910.
The first and second acts of The Laughter of the Gods were written onJanuary 29th, and the third act on February 2nd and 3rd, 1911. A Nightat an Inn was written on January 17th, 1912, and The Queen's Enemieson April 19, 20, 21, 24, 28, 29, 1913.
Dunsany, Captain
Royal Inniskilling Fusileers.
The Laughter of the Gods
A Tragedy in Three Acts
Dramatis Personæ
King Karnos
Voice-of-the-Gods (a prophet)
Ichtharion
Ludibras
Harpagas
First Sentry
Second Sentry
One of the Camel Guard
An Executioner
The Queen
Tharmia (wife of Ichtharion)
Arolind (wife of Ludibras)
Carolyx (wife of Harpagas)
Attendants
Time: About the time of the decadence in Babylon.
Tharmia:
You know that my lineage is almost divine.
Arolind:
My father's sword was so terrible that he had to hide it with a cloak.
Tharmia:
He probably did that because there were no jewels in the scabbard.
Arolind:
There were emeralds in it that outstared the sea.
* * * * * * * *
Tharmia:
Now I must leave you here and go down among the shops for I have notchanged my hair since we came to Thek.
Ichtharion:
Have you not brought that from Barbul-el-Sharnak?
Tharmia:
It was not necessary. The King would not take his court where theycould not obtain necessities.
Arolind:
May I go with your Sincerity?
Tharmia:
Indeed, Princely Lady, I shall be glad of your company.
Arolind:
[To Ludibras] I wish to see the other palaces in Thek, [To Tharmia]then we can go on beyond the walls to see what princes live in theneighbourhood.
Tharmia:
It will be delightful.
[Exeunt Tharmia and Arolind]
Ichtharion:
Well, we are here in Thek.
Ludibras:
How lucky we are that the King has come to Thek. I feared he wouldnever come.
Ichtharion:
It is a most fair city.
Ludibras:
When he tarried year after year in monstrous Barbul-el-Sharnak, Ifeared that I would see the sun rise never more in the windy gloriouscountry. I feared we should live always in Barbul-el-Sharnak and beburied among houses.
Ichtharion:
It is mountainous with houses: there are no flo