Act I - Page 2

gods are good to thee.

THE PERSIAN
Try yet again, O captain. Double or quits!

BELZANOR
No more. I am not in the vein.

THE SENTINEL (poising his javelin as he peers over the wall).
Stand. Who goes there?

They all start, listening. A strange voice replies from without.

VOICE
The bearer of evil tidings.

BELZANOR (calling to the sentry).
Pass him.

THE SENTINEL
(grounding his javelin). Draw near, O bearer of evil tidings.

BELZANOR (pocketing the dice and picking up his spear).
Let us receive this man with honor. He bears evil tidings.

The guardsmen seize their spears and gather about the gate, leaving a way through for the new comer.

PERSIAN (rising from his knee).
Are evil tidings, then, honorable?

BELZANOR
O barbarous Persian, hear my instruction. In Egypt the bearer of good tidings is sacrificed to the gods as a thank offering but no god will accept the blood of the messenger of evil. When we have good tidings, we are careful to send them in the mouth of the cheapest slave we can find. Evil tidings are borne by young noblemen who desire to bring themselves into notice. (They join the rest at the gate.)

THE SENTINEL
Pass, O young captain; and bow the head in the House of the Queen.

VOICE
Go anoint thy javelin with fat of swine, O Blackamoor; for before morning the Romans will make thee eat it to the very butt.

The owner of the voice, a fairhaired dandy, dressed in a different fashion to that affected by the guardsmen, but no less extravagantly, comes through the gateway laughing. He is somewhat battlestained; and his left forearm, bandaged, comes through a torn sleeve. In his right hand he carries a Roman sword in its sheath. He swaggers down the courtyard, the Persian on his right, Belzanor on his left, and the guardsmen crowding down behind him.

BELZANOR
Who art thou that laughest in the House of Cleopatra the Queen, and in the teeth of Belzanor, the captain of her guard?

THE NEW COMER
I am Bel Affris, descended from the gods.

BELZANOR (ceremoniously).
Hail, cousin!

ALL (except the Persian).
Hail, cousin!

PERSIAN
All the Queen's guards are descended from the gods, O stranger, save myself. I am Persian, and descended from many kings.

BEL AFFRIS (to the guardsmen).
Hail, cousins! (To the Persian, condescendingly) Hail, mortal!

BELZANOR
You have been in battle, Bel Affris; and you are a soldier among soldiers. You will not let the Queen's women have the first of your tidings.

BEL AFFRIS
I have no tidings, except that we shall have our throats cut presently, women, soldiers, and all.

PERSIAN (to Belzanor).
I told you so.

THE SENTINEL (who has been listening).
Woe,