Page:Selections from the Writings of Lord Dunsany.djvu/66

 him to us? Will so honourable a brute as the King's dog be thrown to us?

ZARB When he is dead his honours are taken away. Even the King when he is dead is given to the worms. Then why should not his dog be thrown to us?

KING ARGIMĒNĒS We are not worms!

ZARB You do not understand, Argimēnēs. The worms are little and free, while we are big and enslaved. I did not say we were worms, but we are like worms, and if they have the King when he is dead, why then —

KING ARGIMĒNĒS Tell me more of the King's dog. Are there big bones on him?

ZARB Ay, he is a big dog — a high, big, black one.

KING ARGIMĒNĒS You know him then?

ZARB O yes, I know him. I know him well. I was beaten once because of him, twenty-five strokes from the treble whips, two men beating me.

KING ARGIMĒNĒS How did they beat you because of the King's dog?

ZARB They beat me because I spoke to him without making obeisance. He was coming dancing alone over the slave-fields and I spoke to him. He was a friendly great dog, and I spoke to him and patted his head, and did not make obeisance.

KING ARGIMĒNĒS And they saw you do it?