18
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! Strange that the outer air
Should bring back manhood! Man, thou 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,
The tender love for the young flower. And these
Are none of the priest’s. Enough !
[Exit. The door clangs again. The curtain
falls; a scene drops. WRupna, an aged and
wizened hag, of gigantic stature, is dis-
covered 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.|
Rupua. The rune of the breath.
The saga of death.
The secret of earth.
The beginning of birth.
The speech of woe.
Ho! Ho!