Scene XV

(The scene is changed into the palm region of the third scene. Adam, again as a young man, comes out of the hut, half asleep, looking about him with amazement. Eve slumbers within. Lucifer stands in the middle. Bright sunshine.)

ADAM.
Dread images, Oh! whither are ye fled?
While all still breathes and smiles, my heart is dead.

LUCIFER.
The laws of nature thou'dst annihilate,
That comets new, thy life illuminate,
Thou in thy vanity thy due dost deem.

ADAM.
Ah! was I dreaming, or is this a dream?
Or is life but a dream. When it doth light
On lifeless matter, to be lost in night
With it? Wherefore this fleeting consciousness.
Which but reveals the awful nothingness?

LUCIFER.
Dost thou repine? 'Tis but a cowardly weakness
Without a strife, to take a blow with meekness;
But for the strong, thus calmly to await,
Unmurmuring, the mandates of a fate
Eternal, proves that circumstances vain
Must be, for o'er them, fate's grim mandates reign,
And thou'rt the medium which draws them forth.

ADAM.
No, no! thou liest. The will is free. My worth
Hath surely earned it, for my Paradise,
My all, for this did I e'en sacrifice,
Much have I learned from scenes I viewed in dreams,
And much to me now but illusion seems,
But 'tis for me, a different path to ope!

LUCIFER.
If e'er oblivion and constant hope
Were not confederates of fate, each wound
To heal, and veil the chasm's depths profound,
Assuring thee, " a hundred bold ones fall
Therein, but thou more fortunate than all,
Shalt o'er it leap ! " But thou hast surely seen,
As scientist, 'mongst curious things, I ween,
The ascaris, in hawk and cat can live;
But in the mouse alone, it doth receive
Its first development; but who can say
A certain mouse is doomed to be the prey
Of cat or hawk, and whosoe'er be sly,
May live to a great age, and hoary, die
In his domestic circle. Still doth wait
In spite of all, invincible as fate,
A law, which none of them can e'er resist,
And many fall, that always may exist
In future ages, the Mollusca. Man
Is not as individual bound, nor can
The chain be borne together, by the throng;
By inspiration, is he borne along
For new ideals. Martyrs at the stake
There'll be, and scoffers, but who the calculation
Makes, must e'er admire the compensation
Of fate, which all so well apportioneth ;
Sin and virtue; faith, marriage and death;
Madness and suicide.

ADAM.
Hold! what thought
Like light'ning, rushes through my brain distraught?
E'en thee, O God, can I defy, although
A hundred times fate says, " thus long," I know
I need not live, against my will ; for down
Below the abyss ; above, the cliff doth frown.
One spring — the last scene — and the play doth end.
(Adam rushes up the cliff. Eve appears at the door.)

LUCIFER.
Doth end — indeed! Naught doth such speech portend.
Is not each moment, end, beginning too?
For this, did'st thou not several ages view?

EVE.
Adam, why did'st thou steal away from me?
So cold was thy last kiss ; anger and care
Sit on thy brow, and I have fear of thee.

ADAM (Going on.)
To dog my footstep, how can'st thou thus dare?
This can the woman never comprehend;
The lord of earth his time can not e'er spend
In vain coquetry, and a burden she

(More tenderly.)

Becomes. Why did'st not slumber peacefully.
A little while? for harder 't will be now,
The sacrifice I to the future owe.

EVE.
But list and it may better be endured
That which till now was doubtful, is assured —
The future.

ADAM.
How?

EVE.
Thou'lt smile when I avow ,
My secret; this — come nearer Adam — now,
Into thine ear I'll whisper but one word ;
I feel I am a mother.

ADAM (Falling on his knees.)
Oh! my Lord,
Thou'st vanquished me. Here in the dust I lie;
Without thee, 'gainst thee, vainly strive must I,
Raise me, or strike to earth! I bare my breast
To thee.

LUCIFER.
Thou worm! All, I at thy behest
Have done, thy greatness, all forgotten?

ADAM.
Cease !
'T was a distorted vision; this is peace.

LUCIFER.
Why, foolish woman dost thou boast? To earth,
But misery and sin, will bring the birth
Of him, who was conceived in Eden, 'though
Conceived in sin.

EVE.
And if, God will, we know,
One there will be, conceived in misery,
And sin extirpate, and fraternity
Will bring into the world.

LUCIFER.
Dost thou revolt?
Slave, beast! Rise from the earth, thou dolt!
(He strikes Adam. Heaven opens. The Lord appears in a halo, surounded by angels.)

THE LORD.
Spirit, down into dust! Greatness 'fore me
Can not exist.
LUCIFER (Crouching.)
My curses upon thee!

THE LORD.
Rise, Adam! preserve thy soul serene.
Once more thou'rt in my care.

LUCIFER.
The family scene!
To sentiment, perhaps, most beautiful,
To understanding, infinitely dull.
And wearisome. 'Tis best to steal away.

(Starts.)
THE LORD.
Lucifer, a word I have to say
To thee. Remain! My son, tell me thy grief.

ADAM.
My Lord, such frightful scenes have tortured me;
And I know not what is reality.
Oh! tell me, tell what is my destiny!
Is there naught else but this existence here,
So limited and narrow? And my soul,
Will it 'mid all the strife then be distilled,
Like purest wine, that poured upon the ground,
To sink into the dust? Or dost ordain
For noble spirits, better things? My race
Will it approach thy throne, or like the beast
But tread the mill, till wearied unto death
From its own sphere, escaping never more?
And will the noble soul be recompensed
For the shed blood and scoffing of the mob?
Enlighten me, and gratefully my fate,
Whate'er it be, I will endure, if only
I may progress, for this uncertainty
Is hell.

THE LORD.
Ask not again, the secret, veiled
Beneficently from thy longing eyes,
By the wise hand of God. But could'st thou know
That momentarily on earth, thy soul
Did rest while waits eternity above,
No virtue 'twere to suffer longer here.
If thou did'st know thy soul would be absorbed
In dust, for grand ideas, what incentive
To sacrifice the moment's fleeting bliss?
While now, the future gleameth through a mist,
So heavy laden with the cares and woes
Of this transitory life, the sense
Of an infinitude doth wake; if this
Engender pride, mortality restricts it;
Both greatness then and virtue, are assured.

LUCIFER (Laughing.)
In truth, whate'er career thou enterest,
Is glorious! So greatness then and virtue
Thee will guide. These terms can be embodied
Alone, where prejudice and superstition
With ignorance united, hold their sway.
Why have I striven so long with man, of mire
And sunshine molded? He is too dwarfed for wisdom,
Yet too great for blindness.

ADAM.
Scoff, oh! scoff not,
Lucifer! I've seen the pure creation
Of thy mind, but cold upon my soul,
The sight did fall ; but Lord, who will uphold
If on the right path I remain? From me
Thou did'st withdraw thy guiding hand, that I
Might of the tree of knowledge eat.

THE LORD.
Thine arm
is strong, thy soul exalted; infinite
The scope which e'er to action doth invite ;
And if thou heedest well, a voice will call
To thee unceasingly, to lure thee back
And raise thee up ; but follow e'er the call.
If in the turbulence of active life
The heavenly voice be stilled, the purer soul
Of this frail woman e'er will hear it, far
Away, from the mire of earthly interest,
And in her heart, to song and poesy
'Twill be distilled. Thus, at thy side, sits e'er
In happiness and in misfortune's hour,
A smiling and consoling genius.
And thou too Lucifer, thou art a link
In my great cosmos; so pursue thy work,
For thy cold wisdom and absurd negation
Will be the leaven that causes fermentation ;
Though in man, an instant doubt creating,
What matters it, he will return again;
But thine own sin, eternal being, that
Which thou would'st fain destroy, will be the germ
Of beauty and nobility to come.

CHORUS OF ANGELS.
What a mighty thought!
We're free, 'twixt good and ill
To choose, while over us,
God's mercy waiteth still.
Act boldly, fearing not
The herd's ingratitude;
For this is not thine aim
But action, great and good.
For else thou must feel shame,
And vanity, to earth,
This consciousness doth hurl,
Ennobling, glorious worth.
But on the lofty way
Let thee not blind the sight,
The thought, that thou could'st add
One atom to God's might,
He only speaks to thee,
As means toward thy fate
Fulfilling. Honor comes
From him, for him doth wait.

EVE.
Ah ! now I comprehend the lay ; to God
Be praise!

ADAM.
I feel it too, and follow it.
But oh! my destiny — could I forget!
THE LORD.
I've told thee, man, strive and trust!