The God-Eater

Io [He smiles with deep tenderness ; suddenly a pang catches him; he strikes at his throat, and cries sharply :| Ah! [Shsvers with terrible emotion.] Maurya. Criosda, ever the same! The old world runs On wheels of laughter for us little ones ; To you, whose shoulders strain, the chariot seems A poised fiend flogging you to hell. CRIOSDA. These thoughts, Maurya,—Maurya ! they become you not. Child, to see sorrow is to taste it. Maurya. No; For such a sorrow is its own calm joy. But—share me now your pain. Criospa. [Jn agony.| No! no! not that! Maurya. [Smiling.| The priest has secrets from the goddess ? CRIOSDA. [With a cry as of physical pain, deadly sharp.| Stop ! No jesting there. Maurya. I did not mean to jest. As brother to sister ? CRIOSDA. Ah! that hurts, that hurts. Maurya. lam heavy? CRrIOsDA. Heavy as my own heart’s fear.