The Mother’s Tragedy

20 THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY CORA. This shaft is aimed even against thy life. ULRIC. What is my life without the love of thee ? CORA. I hate each word as I do hate the devil. ULRIC. I, each evasion. Iam bound a slave To this wild passion. It will eat me up. CORA. You cannot guess the horror that you speak. I tell you, if I know your golden heart, This detestation of yourself shall cry The cry of Edipus—“ I have profaned——” ULRIC. What sphinx more cruel? What new C:dipus ? You riddle, Cora, and it breaks my heart. [He sinks exhausted. (Rallying.) By God, I swear to you no lie shall keep Its Dead Sea bar against our marrying. CORA. The truth! Thetruth! Thetruth! I am indeed That whore I told you. That makes nothing here. I am the mother of thy bastard birth!