Collected Works (Vol. II)

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