Collected Works (Vol. II)

134 THE GOD-EATER Did make in very deed: so I will make In uttermost truth a new god, since the old Are dead, or drunk with wine, and soma- juice And hemp and opium ! Maurya, thou shalt be! So for long years I have dared. First the twin death Of the dotards, slow constraint of Maurya’s mind Totheone end. Next, study: next, research In places long-forgotten of the West, Deep hidden of the East: the perfect rite Dragged by laborious hand and brain to shape And this [Pazses glass] the first fruits ! Hail, thou fount of wit, Light liquor, child of cares how heavy! Drink! The peace of the Priest ! [He drinks up the liquor. Be thou my light ! Uncloud the misty channels of the mind ! Off, horror! Off, compassion ! Be the brain The almighty engine of the Will—and those Subtler and deeper forces grimly guessed, Terribly proven—be they strong thereby ! Awake, O sleeping serpent of the soul, Unhinted skills, and unimagined powers, And purposes undreamed of! [He goes now calmly about the temple, arranging all the ornaments. He empties the censer. Shadowy influence Of smoke! Where lies its physiologic act? What drug conceals the portent? Mystery! Mystery ninefold closed upon itself That matter should move mind—Ay ! darker yet - That mind should work on matter? And the proof . Extant, implicit in the thought thereof ! Else all our work were vain. These twain be one ; And in their essence? Deeper, deeper yet I dive. [He draws the dirk and tests the point. And will to-morrow show me aught? [He extinguishes the lamps, goes to the door and opens it. The clang startles him. I hate that door! air Should bring back manhood! pitiest her ! Man, thou art whelmed in that red tide of lust That rolls over strong loathing by vast will, Hideous rapture of death. That’s for thee, man! Thine are the scalding tears of sympathy, Strange that the outer Man, thou The tender love for the young flower. And these Are none of the priest’s. Enough! [Hxit. The door clangs again. The curtain falls; a _ scene drops. RuPHA, an aged and wizened hag, of gigantic stature, 7s adiscovered seated, C. The scene represents a lonely hill-top covered with stones. A little coarse grass grows in places. Three great menhirs stand up, C. Moonlight, RuPpHaA. The rune of the breath. The saga of death. The secret of earth. The beginning of birth. The speech of woe. Ho! Ho! I scent the prey. I sniff the air. The dawn of day Makes Maurya May The Goddess rare. The light of the stars Be hers ; go, go, Ye silent folk, Harness your cars ! Brace the yoke ! It is time to Know. Ho! Ho! Desolate deeds ! She bleeds, she bleeds. The golden head Is drooped for aye. She is dead, she is dead. She is God, and I?