THE EQUINOX
he slew his father; and all I look for is for some one to slay
me also
1
THE CHILD. But you say his father is my father.
LAYLAH. Was! was]
THE CHILD. But it is my brother who was slain by Sliman.
My father is in Rome; he is coming hither with the next fair
wind.
LAYLAI-I. Fair wind! God]
It is I then who have slain
our son.
The scorpion I
My sole token.
[She/"alts on SLIMAN’s corpse]
My son
1 only son of my love] one sole jewel of the
world wert thou.
And the accurséd scorpion has betrayed
me.
Oh, let me from this hour throw off all womanhood, all
kindness, all compassion—all but my love that has made my
hearta hell.
From this hell spring forth fiery scorpions——
Eunuchs
1
Girls
I let us be men
1 Take swordsl take spears!
Truce or no truce, night or no night, out to the field.
Let us
slay the dogs as they lie.
God, hear me!
Make me mightier
than Semiramis!
Hate and revenge!
Battle and death!
Το armsl
To arms
I
Out into the night!
[During this speech the ennnehs,girls, and slaves, catching
her madness, have all armed themselves from the
trophies on the wall.
They [waþ ant, running and
jostling.
LAYLAH turns to the Name of God above
the throne, and waving her sabre, tries :]
Hear me, hear me, thou God of Battles
1
[Exit
THE CHILD.
God is love.
And he has protected
me.
[Alone among the corpus.]
CURTAIN.
96