Scene 1
(The setting is a room in the palace of the Queen of Sheba. The Queen sits at one end of the room on a chair. Zahrah stands on one side of the chair. Amram is showing some silks to the Queen.)
Amram: Would your Majesty be good enough to feel this silk? See how fine and soft it is!
(Amarm comes a little closer to the Queen and holds out some purple silk. She feels it.)
Queen: Yes, it is. And I like this bright purple color very much. (She turns to Zahrah.) Zahrah, what do you think of it?
Zahrah: I like it very much, and it is a good color for a queen, your Majesty. (She folds up the silk and puts it to one side.)
Amram: The king of my own country, the wise King Solomon, likes this bright purple better than any other color.
Queen: I have heard many things about your king.
Amram: He is a good king, your Majesty, and a kind man. All his people love him.
Queen: I have also heard that he is very wise. Is it true, Amram, that King Solomon understands what animals say?
Amram: It is true, your Majesty.
Queen (Smiles): It's very hard to believe.
Amram: If I told you what happened one time when I was with the king, I think you would believe it.
Queen: I'd like to hear your story.
Amram: Well, one day our king and some men of his palace were riding on horseback to a nearby city. The king was riding ahead of the rest of us. All at once he pulled his horse to stop. He looked down at the sand in the road.
Queen: Go on.
Amram: Then the king turned his horse off the road and onto the grass. He kept his horse on the grass a little way before turning back onto the road.
Queen: Did he say why he stopped and then turned his horse off the road?
Amram: King Solomon told us he had seen some ants hurrying along in the sand of the road. He said he had heard them say they were afraid that the horses would walk on them.
Queen (Surprised): And that was why your mighty king turned off the road?
Amram (Proud)Yes, your Majesty. The mighty King Solomon stopped to hear what the little ants in the sand were saying. He turned off the road to save them from being hurt.
Queen: Then he must be as wise and as kind as people say he is.
Amram: Now you can believe it, can't you?
Queen: I won't fully believe it until I see and hear him myself, Amram.
Amram: Then why don't you come to our country and pay him a visit, your Majesty?
Queen: Yes, I think I shall do that, Amram. But first I must think of a way to test this wise king. You may go now, Amram,
Amram: Good day, your Majesty. (He backs away.)
(Curtain)
