The Mother’s Tragedy

THE FATAL FORCE 55 Speak, that I rise from chaos, from the world Of shapeless and illusionary forms, And dead men’s husks, and unsubstantial things. O mother, mother, mother! I arise! RATOUM. Horus, dread godhead, child of me, arise! Arise Osiris, to the sacred rites: And marriage-bed of fuller deity, Now, at the serpent-motion of this wand, Rise from the dead! Arise, dead Horus, rise To be Osiris. Isis speaks! Arise! | Zhe coffin ts opened. The leper ts raised out of zt swathed in bandages. Out of the sleep of ages wake and live! [ The wrappings fall off. THE LEPER. I am the resurrection and the death! [Ratoum falls back shrieking. The priests raise a chant to stifle the sound. PACHAD (tearing off his mask). I am the hideous poison of thy veins And foulest fruit of thy incestuous womb. RATOUM. I am thy mother! I have nurtured thee With woman’s tenderness and godhead’s strength. PACHAD. I am the avenger of my own false birth.