138
THE GOD-EATER
Rupua. Thou shouldst have tried that
first of all.
CRIOSDA. Why then
The Luck may avail if that wried tongue
can speak
Straight! Hast thou aught to bid me do?
To me naught matters more. My life I cast
On the one throw ; and, having lost, I have
lost.
I am indifferent to my fate as the stars
Are to my curses, were I fool enough
To curse,
Rupua. Destiny has strange ways.
CRIOSDA. I care not.
RuPHA. How long hast thou left home?
CRIOSDA. Seven years.
RUPHA. Return !
CRIOSDA. How can I?
RuPHA. Stamp the boat beneath thy feet
Down wallowing in the trough !
CRIOSDA. It is done!
[The boat sinks from under CRIOSDA.
He would sink did he not grasp the
staff extended to him.
RupuHA. Now, stand alone!
CRIOSDA. I stand.
RUPHA. Then break, O vision
Of sea; awake, O vision of the shrine !
CrRIosDA. All is illusion?
RUPHA. All. Murder a mode
And love a mode of the unknown that is,
That nor thyself nor I can ever see.
Yet, so far as may be, awake, O shrine!
[She strikes the sea with her staff ;
the storm rises; wt grows bitter
dark ; only their shapes are dimly
seen against the dark background
of cloud. The scene rises.
RuPHA. Break, break, O mist of morning!
[The stage, which ts full of mist,
gradually clears. It shows the
Temple as in Scene I. On the
throne the embalmed body of
MaurRvA is seated. The altar
flames with glowing charcoal, and
a thin steam of tncemse arises.
RUPHA and CRIOSDA are zn front,
R. Two priests minister ; a goodly
crew of choristers intone low litanies.
A few young folk are at a barrier
by the footlights (centre) in prayer.
An old woman enters and brings
an offering of flowers, which the
priests receive and cast before the
throne. RUPHA motions CRIOSDA
fo he silent.
Ist PRIEST. Glory unto thee, Maurya,
secret Lady of the Stars ! |
CHORISTERS. Who wast born on earth!
2nd PRigestT. Glory unto thee, Maurya,
Lady of Life !
CHORISTERS. Who didst die for us!
ALL. Glory for ever unto Maurya !
THE WORSHIPPING FOLK. Maurya, hear
us !
[All bend deeper and deeper in adora-
tion. Silence awhile. They rese,
and the priests see RUPHA and
CRIOSDA.
Ist PRIEST. [Whzspers.] Itis the Mother
of our Lady.
2nd PRIEST. [Whispers.| Whois with her ?
Ist PRIEST. [WAispers.] The first disciple.
2nd Priest. [WAzspfers.] Blessed is this
day, O brother !
Ist PRiEST. [Whispers.] Let us go and
do them reverence.
[ They approach RUPHA and CRIOSDA,
and bend low before them.
RuPHA. Criosda! Of one act the ultima-
tion
Rings through eternity past the poles of space.
Choose then what spangle on the robe of time
Shall glitter in thine eyes: for the hour
strikes.
CRIOSDA. Mother! I would see the Luck
of Maurya stand
Two thousand years from now.
RupPHA. Good priest, bring forth
The globe of crystal.
Ist PRIEST. Hearing is enough.
[Zhe priest takes a crystal from out
the altar, and places it thereupon.
RUPHA and CRIOSDA advance.
RupPHA. Look ! I uplift the veil.
[She unvetls the crystal,