Chrysalis-Moth. (Whirling) Ah! (Stands still) O light! O love! O! ecstasy Of being! Life has entered me!
A Few Last Moths. Eternal life—all hail to thee!
[They fall dead.
Chrysalis-Moth. Hearken, O heaven! O earth, give ear! I will proclaim a mystery here. I will solve all things. I will tell The whole world’s meaning. Hearken well....
[She falls dead.
Tramp. (Kneeling by the dead Chrysalis) Dead. She’s dead too. Pore Chrysalis—and you ’ad sich ’opes. What was yer going to say? I wonder! They don’t seem skeered o’ death, these little mites don’t. Life’s a rapture to them, and death’s a rapture. It’s queer. Pore little mites—all done for....’Ere—what’s this? My turn, is it? Get off my chest, damn yer! I won’t die. ’Aven’t I jest learned ’ow to live and let live? Gawd, I feel sick. I can’t be dyin’? It can’t ’ave come to me?... Chuck it—yer stranglin’ me. I know ’oo it is—you’re Death. Yer want to count me out—I know. Take that!
Enter Two Snails.
First Snail. Thtop—Thome one’s makin’ a noith.
Second Snail. Come back, come back.
Tramp. That’s for you, rattlebones! You felt that, eh? ’Ere, get yer knee off my chest—I only want to live. I won’t give yer my life, yer old skull and crossbones yer.—Ow! It’s ’is foot on my head.