THE GOD-EATER 135
Iam might.
I am power.
I am light
For an hour.
I am strong, I grow.
Ho! Ho!
I taught Criosda
The evil runes.
Mine were the tunes
His passion sang.
Mine is the clang
Of the olden door.
Half the secret
I gave: no more!
Half the secret
Hidden I keep.
Hide it deep!
That is mine!
I will work.
He is nought.
The runes divine
Awry be wrought.
Hail to the murk!
[A adtstant whine ts heard.
Cover me! Lurk,
Rupha, lurk !
’Tis a foe.
Ho! Ho!
[Clouds have been obscuring the moon ;
zt is mow dark. A fox passes over
the stage.
Crafty ! Crafty !
That is the omen.
Fear not the foemen !
[She rzses up.
Mine is the spoil
Of the grimly toil.
Gloomy, gloomy! |
Ah! but I laugh.
He is but a fool.
He has lost !
He is lost !
Take the staff!
‘Trace the rule
Of the circle crossed !
[She makes a circle and a cross therein.
No light therein !
Mother of sin,
Thou hast won !
Death to the sun!
Hail to the glow
Of the corpse decayed !
Hail to the maid !
Ho! Ho!
[Ske rambles about the stage, mutter-
ing savage runes with dismal
laughter. Her words are tnarticu-
late, when with a last Ho! Ho!
the curtain falls.
[Zhe scene rises, and we again see
the stage asin Scene Il. Maurya
and CRIOSDA as in the opening.
CRIOSDA ts, however, absolutely
calm,
Maurya. Criosda, answer!
CRIOSDA. I obey, having heard.
MauRYa. This dawn shall see me take
the final flight?
CRIOSDA. It shall,
Maurya. I shall be taken utterly from
earth?
CRIOSDA. So.
Maurya. Yet abide with thee, my priest.
CRIOSDA. Ay! Ay!
Maurya. I feel no early prompting thither.
CRIOSDA. No.
It is sudden.
MAURYA. What then lacks?
CrIOSDA. . A draught : a word.
Maurya. Where is the draught?
CRIOSDA. This incense in my hand.
Maurya. What is the word ?
[CRIOSDA 7s szlent.
Criosda, answer me.
CriosDA. To invoke death it were to
answer this.
Maurya. Ah, then, forbear!
{CRIOSDA zs silent.
How shall I know the word?
CRIOSDA. Good luck may bring it to the
light.
Maurya. III luck?
CRIOSDA. A year’s delay.
MAURYA. Ah, let me gain one gift