What could it be?
CLARIN. And not be, in such a hurry.
CYPRIAN. Let us seek it.
CLARIN. Let's not seek it.
CYPRIAN. I must sift this matter further.
CLARIN. I would rather not.
* * * * *
SCENE XV.
The Demon, CYPRIAN, and CLARIN.
DEMON [aside]. Just heavens,
If my nature, in conjunction,
Once possessed both grace and science,
When 'mongst angels I was numbered,
Grace alone is what I've lost,
Science no. Then why unjustly,
If 'tis so, deprive my science
Of its proper power and function?
CYPRIAN. Lucifer, wise master mine.
CLARIN. Pray don't call him: for he'll come here
In another corse, I warrant.
DEMON. Speak, what would you?
CYPRIAN. The annulling,
The redemption of those pledges,
At whose very thought I shudder.
CLARIN. As I don't redeem my pledges,
I'll slip off here through the bushes.
[Exit.
* * * * *
SCENE XVI.
CYPRIAN and The Demon.
CYPRIAN. Scarcely o'er earth's wounded bosom
Had I the true spell-word uttered,
When in the ensuing action,
She, of all my dreams the subject,
My adored, divine Justina . . . .
But why take the useless trouble,
That to tell you know already?
I embraced her, would unmuffle
Her fair face, when (woe is me!)
In her beauty I discovered
A gaunt skeleton, a statue,
A pale image, a sepulchral
Show of death, which in these measured
Words thus spoke (even yet I shudder),
"Cyprian, such are all the glories
Of the world that you so covet.
Pages:
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99