THE GOD-EATER
131
Wilt thou not lull it into rest,
Some strong repoge
More satisfying than pale sleep ;
Than death more long, more deep?
Hail! at the twilight as at dawn!
The sunset close
Even on the lake as on the lawn!
The red ray glows
Across the woven stardrift’s ways
In mystery of Maurya’s praise.
Hear me, thy priest, at eventide !
These subtler throes
Than love’s or life’s, invade, divide
The world of woes.
Thy smile, thy murmur of delight, be enough
To fill the world with life and love !
[He bends over into deep reverence,
yet with the air of one expecting
a grace.
[Maurya, dike one in trance, rises
slowly, gathers her robes about her,
and descends to the altar. Reaching
over it, she bends and lifts him by
his outstretched arms. She puts
her lips to his forehead, and he,
with a deep gasp, as of one in ecstasy
not to be borne, drops back, breath- |
ing deeply. She lifts her hands,
and brings them slowly, very for-
cibly, forward, and says solemnly :
The Blessing of Maurya.
Blessed be the House of the Servants of
Maurya.
Blessed be the Stones of the House.
Blessed be the Tree of the House.
Blessed be the Food of the House.
Blessed be the Men of the House.
Blessed be all the Universe for their sakes.
The Blessing of Maurya.
[A short szlence.
[MAURYA goes back and lays her
crown and robes on the throne.
She is now dressed in wonderful
close-fitting crimson stlk, trimmed
with ermine. Her bronze-gold hair
2s cotled wonderfully about her head.
She comes down stage to CRIOSDA,
who rises on one knee and takes
her thereon. She removes his
‘helmet and strokes gently his hatr.
Criosda, my brother ! ,
Criospa. Maurya, little sister!
[He smiles with deep tenderness ;
suddenly a pang catches him ; he
strikes at his throat, and cries
sharply:
[Shivers with terrible emotion.
The
Ah!
MAuRYA. Criosda, ever the same!
old world runs
On wheels of laughter for us little ones ;
To you, whose shoulders strain, the chariot
seems
A poised fiend flogging you to hell.
CRIOSDA. These thoughts,
Maurya,—Maurya ! they become you not.
Child, to see sorrow is to taste it.
MAURYA. No;
For such a sorrow is its own calm joy.
But—share me now your pain.
Criospa. [/x agony.| No! no! not that !
MauRYA. [Srzling.] The priest has
secrets from the goddess?
CRIOSDA.
[With acry as of physical pain, deadly sharp.
Stop!
No jesting there.
MAURYA. I did not mean to jest.
As brother to sister?
CRIOSDA. Ah! that hurts, that hurts.
Maurya. I am heavy?
Criospa. Ileavy as my own heart’s fear,
MAuRYA. You fear? Am Jin fault? Is
Maurya maid
The foe to Maurya goddess?
CRIOSDA. Ah, indeed!
Maurya. Is not the work nigh ready?
[CRIOSDA grips his caduceus, which
he has dropped, and presses it
savagely to his breast. Then, with
a mingled burst of ferocity and joy,
dashes MAURYA aside to the ground,
reaches his hand towards the empty
throne, apostrophising it, and cries
with a strident laugh: