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
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