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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 PERSONAE_

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