THE KING’S THRESHOLD
Scene: Steps before the Palace of king guaire at Gort. A table or litter in front of steps at one side, with food on it, and a bench. seachan lying on steps. pupils before steps. king on the upper step before a curtained door.
king. I welcome you that have the mastery
Of the two kinds of Music: the one kind
Being like a woman, the other like a man.
Both you that understand stringed instruments,
And how to mingle words and notes together
So artfully, that all the Art’s but Speech
Delighted with its own music; and you that carry
The long twisted horn, and understand
The heady notes that, being without words,
Can hurry beyond Time and Fate and Change.
For the high angels that drive the horse of Time—
The golden one by day, by night the silver—
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