[He leads her behind the curtains then goes, door left. A moment, which leaves Rhasis distraught, and Arduin enters. He pauses, as if at some presence; then, gazing on the sarcophagus, shudders with hope and comes down.
Arduin. The night at last when I again shall clasp her
And banish death to biers beyond the stars!
Rhasis (kneeling). Master!
Arduin. Rise up and never kneel again!
For from henceforth
I shall be lord of life,
The secret of the phœnix in my hand.
[Lifts an alembic.
Gray have I grown in quest of it and old,
Youthless and as a leper to delight,
But it has come at last—at last has come!
[Sets vessel down.
Rhasis. And I rejoice, master, for I have toiled
With you these many years—but is it sure?
Arduin. As the moon is in heaven! as the skies!
[In an ecstasy.
For last night I beheld
In dreams deeper than day how it must be.
I saw a tomb far-hidden in the earth
And Life within it
Mixing salt and sulphur—
Twin elements
Of the great trinity.
I saw her hands pour out quick mercury
Upon a bat's wing wrought with hieroglyphics,
And then I saw her cast in gold and silver
That melted with strange voice and sudden flame,
The while she gazed on me most meaningly.
And then ... when all was done....
[The vision consuming him.
My wife, my Rhea, lit with loveliness
And as a spirit clad with resurrection,
Rose up within my dream ... fair, young and glad!...
Rhasis. But, master ... are dreams true?
Arduin. Such dreams as these?