AGMAR Hark! They are coming. I hear footsteps.
THAHN The dancing girls. They are coming.
THIEF There is no sound of flutes; they said they would come with music.
OOGNO What heavy boots they have, they sound like feet of stone.
THAHN I do not like to hear their heavy tread; those that would dance to us must be light of foot.
AGMAR I shall not smile at them if they are not airy.
MLAN They are coming very slowly. They should come nimbly to us.
THAHN They should dance as they come. But the footfall is like the footfall of heavy crabs.
ULF (in a loud voice, almost chaunting) I have a fear, an old fear and a boding. We have done ill in the sight of the seven gods; beggars we were and beggars we should have remained; we have given up our calling and come in sight of our doom: I will no longer let my fear be silent: it shall run about and cry: it shall go from me crying, like a dog from out of a doomed city; for my fear has seen calamity and has known an evil thing.
SLAG (hoarsely) Master!
AGMAR (rising) Come, come! (They listen. No one speaks. The stony boots come on. Enter in
