[Again strikes her.
Rishyas (uncontrollably). You do a death-deed.
[Falls on him with the weapon and fells him quickly to the ground—then recoils with a cry. The old man strives vainly to rise.
Koïl. Oh, oh!—what have you done!
Vishwamya (mortally hurt). Slain ... slain his father!
And lost enlightenment ... and peace ... forever!
[After a struggle, terribly.
But not to gorge upon the fruit of sin!
[Turning on Koïl.
The curse of bitter karmas be upon you!
May you be born a worm and crawl in slime,
A serpent thro ten score of lives, and slough
Your skin in hideousness and hate and horror!
Koïl. Oh, oh!
Vishwamya. At every death may you despair
Of ever acquiring merit!
Rishyas (terrified). Father!
Vishwamya (to him). Aye!
[His strength failing.
For love, blood guilty boy, the love which she
Has slipped into your heart, is the curse of the world,
The immortal lure of all the generations!
Your arms have ached with it about her body,
But know that in the city whence she came
All evil men feel in their hearts this ache.
And that you may escape from it, know this:
Not your arms, yours alone, have been entwined
About this poison-flower—but, perchance,