[Stops quickly.
But no, not yet! until my youth comes back,
As now it will,
Over the sea from France!
Already passion lifts away the years
That weight its wings and I am as I was.
Now gaze upon me, now! Is it not I?
Myrrha. Sir—!
Arduin. Sir! O quickly see. For to my breast
Again has striving brought you, to my bosom!
The bitter nights are ended—the blind pits
Sleepless and infinite. Awake! stare not
So strangely! press your lips in praise to mine,
Your breast upon my breast!... Delay you still?
Myrrha. O sir—!
Arduin. See, see! the years have been too long.
[Clasps her, dropping alembic.
My arms have waited an infinitude.
[She struggles.
Do you not now remember with my lips
To yours, the brimming beauty of our youth?
Myrrha. Release me!
Arduin. Awake and know me! It is I!
Your lover Arduin whom once you wooed:
Whose every word was to you as a wind
Of God! whose every kiss.... Do you not see?
Myrrha. No, no! I'm not your love—
Arduin. Not—? You uprisen?
Has the tomb treachery to change the soul?
Ye skies, must I go mad now at this moment
When I have brought her back from destiny?
Not mine?... Awake! Oblivion enthralls you.
[Suddenly starting from her.
Or is it that there in the grave, another—?
Myrrha. No, no! but—
Arduin. Ha, then! if not—if it be not—
Is it that here returned you wish another?
You who so gaze upon my goaded brow
And face grown old with toil to conquer death?
O youth ruthless to age! e'en tho its furrows
Were got for your delight!—Ingratitude!—
Have I so hungered thro long years to pluck
A flower of Hell back to the light!... No, No!
It cannot be!... You shall be mine!
Myrrha (in terror). Sir, sir!
Arduin. Mad will I be, as they have thought me, mad
In holding that which I have given life.
Myrrha. But you mistake!... I am not what you think.
Hear me, for I love one who——
Arduin. Is not—I?
[As to invisible judges.
You hear her say it?
Myrrha. O, I love but Ion,
Your—
Arduin. Ion, my brother! Then, God! it was true,
And being true thy Heaven is but a brothel!
She was unfaithful to me, as he said!
And in the other world has met and clasped him!
Myrrha. No, let me speak!
Arduin. And spurn me more with it?
Shall I abide mockery like a mummy!
Ha-ha! (A laugh that racks him.)
Years but to hear her say that she loves him!
To see her come back from the grave, where she
Has still embraced him, still—and to my face,
On which the rage of sleepless toil is wrought,
Tell me....
She shall die for it! God, whose stars
Are vermin, she shall die!
Myrrha. O!
Arduin (frenziedly). Die, die, die!
As trustless women should: until no womb
Of lies is left in the world! Die, and be shut
Again into the curst sarcophagus
From whence I brought her ...
Myrrha (in his grasp). Sir!—help!—sir! do not!
O, I will love you!
Arduin. Liar! and turn from him
Whom you betrayed me for—and swear again
False love to me? Then ... in the tomb do it!