Julian.
Still darker riddles.
Maximus.
Behold, Julian,—when Chaos seethed in the fearful void abyss, and Jehovah was alone,—that day when he, according to the old Jewish scriptures, stretched forth his hand and divided light from darkness, sea from land,—that day the great creating God stood on the summit of his power.
But with man arose will upon the earth. And men, and beasts, and trees, and herbs re-created themselves, each in its own image, according to eternal laws; and by eternal laws the stars roll through the heavenly spaces.
Did Jehovah repent? The ancient traditions of all races tell of a repentant Creator.
He had established the law of perpetuation in the universe. Too late to repent! The created will perpetuate itself—and is perpetuated.
But the two onesided empires war one against the other. Where, where is he, the king of peace, the twin-sided one, who shall reconcile them?
Julian.
[To himself.] Two years? All the gods inactive. No capricious power behind, which might bethink itself to cross my plans——