Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett

Name: Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany — The First Act of King Argimenes and the Unknown Warrior
Author: Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett

Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

Summary

“Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany — The First Act of King Argimenes and the Unknown Warrior”, published in 1912, is a work by Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett. It explores elements such as Illuriel, sword and slave.

Quotes from Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett)

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ KING ARGIMĒNĒS Why would they not follow me?
ZARB Because you look like a slave. They will never follow a slave, because they are slaves themselves, and know how mean a creature is a slave. If you looked like a king they would follow you.
KING ARGIMĒNĒS But I am a king. They know that I am a king.
ZARB It is better to look like a king. It is looks that they would go by.
KING ARGIMĒNĒS If I had a sword would they follow me? A beautiful huge sword of bronze. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ THE KING'S OVERSEER The slave-guard saw you. (Strikes him) It is not lawful for a slave to pray.
KING ARGIMĒNĒS I did but pray to Illuriel to make me a good slave, to teach me to dig well and to pull the rounded stone, and to make me not to die when the food is scarce, but to be a good slave to my master, the great King.
THE KING'S OVERSEER Who art thou to pray to Illuriel? Dogs may not pray to an immortal god. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ This year the roof of the slave-sty has fallen in and King Darniak will not repair it. Five weeks ago one of his queens laughed at me as she came across the slave-fields. I was flogged again this year and with thirteen stripes, and twelve times they have called me dog. And these things they have done to a king, and a king of the house of Ithara. (He listens attentively for a moment, then buries the sword again and pats the earth over it with his hands, then digs again. The old slaves do not see him: their faces are to the earth.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ ZARB Majesty! (King Argimēnēs crouches and steals away towards the slave-guard.)
ZARB (to the other slaves) Argimēnēs has found a terrible sword and has gone to slay the slave-guard. It is not a common sword, it is some king's sword.
AN OLD SLAVE Argimēnēs will be dreadfully flogged. We shall hear him cry all night. His cries will frighten us, and we shall not sleep.
ZARB No! no! The guards flog poor slaves, but Argimēnēs had an angry look. The guards will be afraid when they see him look so angry and see his terrible sword. It was a huge sword, and he looked very angry. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ It is very hard to hope.
KING ARGIMĒNĒS There will be nothing more to hope for when we have eaten the King's dog.
ZARB Why you might find gold in the earth while you were digging. Then you might bribe the commander of the guard to lend you his sword; we would all follow you if you had a sword. Then we might take the King and bind him and lay him on the ground and fasten his tongue outside his mouth with thorns and put honey on it and sprinkle honey near. Then the grey ants would come from one of their big mounds. My father found gold once when he was digging. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ And I will build in Ithara a temple to thy memory wherein all that enter in shall remember thee, so shalt thou be honoured and envied among the dead, for the dead are very jealous of remembrance. Aye, though thou wert a robber that took men's lives unrighteously, yet shall rare spices smoulder in thy temple and little maidens sing and new-plucked flowers deck the solemn aisles ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (1912)

“ O but it has a good blade this old green sword; thou wouldst not like to see it miss its mark (if the dead see at all, as wise men teach,) thou wouldst not like to see it go thirsting into the air; so huge a sword should find its marrowy bone. (Extending his right hand upward.) Come into my right arm, O ancient spirit, O unknown warrior's soul. And if thou hast the ear of any gods, speak there against Illuriel, god of King Darniak. (He rises and goes on digging. Re-enter the King's Overseer.)
THE KING'S OVERSEER So you have been praying.
KING ARGIMĒNĒS (kneeling) No, Master. ”

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett

Summary

Quotes from Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany… (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett)

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