Chapter 50

CYPRIAN and The Demon.

CYPRIAN. Scarcely o'er earth's wounded bosom Had I the true spell-word uttered, When in the ensuing action, She, of all my dreams the subject, My adored, divine Justina.... But why take the useless trouble, That to tell you know already? I embraced her, would unmuffle Her fair face, when (woe is me!) In her beauty I discovered A gaunt skeleton, a statue, A pale image, a sepulchral Show of death, which in these measured Words thus spoke (even yet I shudder), "Cyprian, such are all the glories Of the world that you so covet."-- To assert, that on thy magic As expressed by me, the burden Of the fault should lie, is vain, For I, point by point, so worked it, That of all its silent symbols There was not a line but somewhere Had its place, of all its spell-words Not one word that was not uttered. Then, 'tis plain thou has deceived me, For though acting as instructed, I but found an empty phantom Where I sought a blissful substance.

DEMON. Cyprian, this defect from thee, Nor from me, in truth, resulted: Not from thee, because the magic Thou didst exercise with subtle Thought and skill; and not from me, For I could not teach thee further. From a higher cause, believe me, Came this injury thou hast suffered. But be not cast down: for I, Who in tranquil rest would lull thee, Will to thee unite Justina, By a different way and juster.

CYPRIAN. That is not my intention now. For this strange event has struck me With such terror and confusion, That thy ways I do not covet. And since thou has not complied with The conditions, the assumptions Of my love, I only ask thee, Now that from thy face I'm rushing, As the contract is annulled, That my bond thou shouldst return me.

DEMON. What I promised was to teach thee, By a course of secret study, How to draw to thee Justina By the potent power impulsive Of thy words: and since the wind Here Justina hath conducted, I have then fulfilled my contract, I have kept my plighted word then.

CYPRIAN. What was offered to my love Was that I should surely pluck here The sweet fruit whose seeds my hope Had to these wild wastes entrusted.

DEMON. Cyprian, I was only bound Her to bring here.

CYPRIAN. A mere shuffle: To my arms you swore to give her.

DEMON. In thy arms I saw her struggle.

CYPRIAN. 'Twas a phantom.

DEMON. 'Twas a portent.

CYPRIAN. Worked by whom?

DEMON. By one who worked it To protect her.

CYPRIAN. Who was he?

DEMON [trembling]. I don't wish the name to utter.

CYPRIAN. I will turn my magic science 'Gainst thyself. By its compulsion Speak, inform me who he is.

DEMON. Well, a god who takes this trouble For Justina.

CYPRIAN. What's one God, When of gods there's such a number?

DEMON. All their power in Him is centred.

CYPRIAN. Then One only, sole and sovereign, Must He be, whose single will Their united wills outworketh.

DEMON. I know nothing, I know nothing.

CYPRIAN. I renounce then with my utmost Power the pact that I made with thee; What compelled Him (this I urge thee In that God's great name) to guard her?

DEMON [after having struggled ineffectually not to say it]. To preserve her pure, unsullied.

CYPRIAN. Then He is the sovereign goodness Since a wrong He will not suffer. But if she remained here hidden Say what loss would have resulted?

DEMON. Loss of honour, if the secret Leaked out to the gossiping vulgar.

CYPRIAN. Then that God must be all sight, Since he could foresee these trouble. But, why could not thy enchantment Be as potent and consummate?

DEMON. Ah! His power is ampler, fuller.

CYPRIAN. Then that God must be all hands, Since whate'er He wills He worketh. Tell me then who is that God, Whom to-day I have discovered The supreme of good to be, The Creator, the Annuller, The Omniscient, the All-seeing, Whom I've sought for years unnumbered?

DEMON. Him I know not.

CYPRIAN. Speak, who is He?

DEMON. As I speak it, how I shudder! He--He is the God of the Christians.

CYPRIAN. Say what moved Him to obstruct me In my wish?

DEMON. Her Christian faith.

CYPRIAN. Does He guard so those who love Him?

DEMON. Yes; but now too late, too late, Dost thou hope to gain His succour, Since, in being my slave, thou canst not Claim the privilege of His subject.

CYPRIAN. I thy slave?

DEMON. In my possession Is thy signature.

CYPRIAN. I'll struggle To regain it from thee, since 'Twas conditional at the utmost. I don't doubt I will get it.

DEMON. How?

CYPRIAN. In this way. [He draws his sword, strikes at The Demon, but cannot touch him.

DEMON. Although the lunges Of thy naked sword against me Are well aimed, thou hast not struck me, Fierce as were thy blows. And now, Even in more despair to plunge thee, I would have thee learn at least That the Devil is thy instructor.

CYPRIAN. What do you say?

DEMON. That I am he.

CYPRIAN. Oh! to hear thee how I shudder!--

DEMON. Not alone a slave art thou, But MY slave; be that thy comfort.

CYPRIAN. I the slave of the Devil! I Own a master so unworthy?

DEMON. Yes; for since thy soul thou gav'st me, Thenceforth it to me was subject.

CYPRIAN. Is there then no gleam of hope, No appeal, no aid, no succour, By which I so great a crime Can blot out?

DEMON. No.

CYPRIAN. Why doubt further? Let not this sharp sword rest idly In my hand, but swiftly cutting Through my breast, become the willing Instrument of mine own murder. But what say I? He who could Snatch Justina from thy clutches, Can He not, too, rescue me?

DEMON. No. By choice thou wert a culprit, And He does not favour crimes, Virtues only.

CYPRIAN. If the summit Of all power He be, to pardon Is as easy as to punish.

DEMON. He rewardeth by His power, He chastiseth from His justice.

CYPRIAN. One who yields He'll not chastise. I am one, since I am humbled.

DEMON. Thou art mine, my slave: no master Canst thou have but me.

CYPRIAN. I trust not.

DEMON. How, when still in my possession Is that bond of thine, that bloody Scroll inscribed by thine own hand?

CYPRIAN. He who is supreme and sovereign, And depends not on another, Will yet bear me through triumphant.

DEMON. In what way?

CYPRIAN. He is all sight, And will see the fitting juncture.

DEMON. It I hold.

CYPRIAN. He is all hands, And will burst my bonds asunder.

DEMON. Ere that comes I'll see thee dead: Thus my clasping arms shall crush thee.

[They struggle together.

CYPRIAN. Thou great God, the Christians' God, Oh, assist me in this struggle!

DEMON [flinging CYPRIAN from his arms]. It is He who has saved thy life.

CYPRIAN. More He'll do since I seek Him humbly. [Exeunt.

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