Chapter 1

_facing back and forth with restless muttering._

_Brude._ O thou Lactantius, Whom other gods Worship with trembling, While their star-chariots Roll to the sea! Symbolled by circles, Endless in being, Dost thou love life-blood As Druids say? When the white maiden's Pierced on the altar Dost thou drink praises From her wide wound? So teach the seers, So did I, Brude, swear-- Till I saw Lamora! Her eyes are love-fires, Her words are sorcery Stronger than god-laws! But ... who comes hither? [_Has heard a moan._ Hither harasser Of these my thoughts? Ha! is it Lamora Followed by Cormo? Curses like vampires Fall on his head! [_Steps aside._

_Lamora (entering in despair)._ Mother! sweet mother, Far in the Eastland, Soon must thy daughter Pass from earth's day! Ne'er shall a boy-babe Suck from her bosom Valor to strangle Wolves in the lair! Never shall husband From the red war-fields Bring her the foeman's spoils!

_Cormo (behind her)._ Lamora, proud one--

_Lamora._ Leave me, viper! Stand from me farther! Will you e'en now With tongue spit poison On my last ebbing hour?

_Cormo._ Nay, maiden, cruel, But I will aid thee. Words are as smoke, Deeds as flame! Hear! I will save thee From Druid talons And bear thee whither thou wilt: Give but thy vow to wed me!

_Lamora._ Wed thee?--thee?... Never--while cliffs O'er the plain jutting Plight void death to the leaper! Never while waves Curl gray lips Yearning to gulf the doomed!

_Cormo._ Then thou shalt die! shalt die! Druids shall gash Streamings of life Out of thy shrinking sides!

_Lamora._ Then die I will!... But not thro fear. Coward of Britons, Will I e'er mother Child of thy loins. Rather let flames, Tongues of the gods, Suck the red life from my breast. Yea, let the gods, Glutless as men, And, as women, Treacherous, vain-- Strike, at the call of thy Queen! [_Goes, followed by_ CORMO.

_Brude (coming forward)._ No! thou shalt live, live, live!

[_Goes into cave, then comes forth with a knife._