University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

The Soul of Kausis.
Spring breaks; it is the Serpent's time for treading
His heaven of dank and narrow alleys,
Where he his needle's eye is threading
To sow his hate among the distant valleys.
There eager warriors, whose soil
The troops of Voragine had made their spoil
In war's disastrous play of sword and fire,
Pause in the passion of debate,
And but the Serpent's oracle await,
That rich in easy, subtle thought
Must now the thirst of vengeance sate
In foes who drink at conscience, staking nought.
'Twill tell them how the strong to shake
And in their triumphs overtake
By wiles the Serpent only can invent,
Of lofty seeming but of base intent.
So shall the conquered their new Spring begin:
While the corn grows gathering the fruits of sin.

The inside of a Serpent-Temple in the burnt Forest. Hayus and others, before the Idol.
HAYUS.
O Kausis, why hast thou forsaken me?

KAUSIS.
Thou hast proclaimed the Cross.

HAYUS.
Not wilfully,
But with that sign of peace to be avenged—

KAUSIS.
Vengeance is mine.

HAYUS.
To be avenged in thee.

KAUSIS.
What boon demand ye at this sacrifice?

HAYUS.
To be as gods and slay our enemies.

KAUSIS.
Only through Death, robed in the flowing blood
Of thy own son.

HAYUS.
The bleating lamb is here;
Yet, be it as thou wilt.

KAUSIS.
Thy son shall die.

HAYUS.
Thy will encompasses
Our weak affections: touch us, that our blood,
Chilled at death's edge, be in its altered course
Numb to remorse. This hand shall loose the stream
Of that dear life.

KAUSIS.
Bear him unto the Tree,
And spear his side; in his last agony
Prophetic, shall he soothsay in thine ear
The one, the certain way.

HAYUS.
Friends, lead him thither,
But blind him, lest he see his father's face.

KAUSIS.
So shall the avenging father through his son
Behold his wish accomplished.

HAYUS.
Be it done.

KAUSIS.
In him the blood of innocence is spilt
To heighten vengeance on another's guilt,
And while his darkness spreads o'er all the land
His inward sight shall more and more expand
To the near future, and its secret know,
And he shall whisper with his dying breath
Such knowledge as can only be in death.
Three days thy son shall sojourn in the grave,
Then shall he rise and his loved people save:
He goes before thee; on his path attend
And with thee shall he tarry to the end.


So, scripture-tongued the Serpent's voice prevailed,
And only one the sacrifice bewailed.

HAYUS.
The oracle is closed, but heard the prayer:
Give the dear victim to a father's care;
Only to me will he his soul declare.

PEOPLE.
Hail, King of the Ophidians!


Hayus wept.
His heart in that last pang of anguish dead,
The father of the martyr bowed his head,
And the last tear he ever shed
From his deep-purposed brow with trembling fingers swept.