The Equinox (Volume I, Number X)

THE SHIP Scene II [4 woodland scene: Springtime. On a mound in the midst ts the barren tree, with two main branches right and left. On each side of the same a flat stone. [The scene ts in darkness ; after a little slow and very faint and hesitating music, the voices of women ave heard. They ave seated on the stones, their attitudes expressing woe and anxiety. Joanna. Sister, we touch the hour of fear. The midmost murk is near. Juuia. There is no sign, no mark To sunder dark from dark. Joanna. There is no mark nor sign Of our lost shrine. Jutta. Persuasion of the pit Made us abandon it. JOANNA. Nay, by inscrutable Law of all Life it fell. Jutta. Is that the light? JOANNA. The boon Of the pure moon? [Far above glimmers a crescent, and sheds a wan light. A horvible discord arises: the howling of wolves, the moaning of dogs, the wailing of cats, the crying ofjackals. And in the half light appear first marsh-lights wandering, then giant illusions of gods and men, all of which disappear in turn, their evanishment awaking a peal of mocking laughter. The women shrink into themselves, clinging to the tree, and mingling their lamentations with the hellish concert. Suddenly Joanna, drawing herself up, points tothe front of stage, where is acivcular pool, whose 71