Collected Works (Vol. II)

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,