s crave
Help of the helpers of men.

_Druids (incanting around the cavern)._ Orpo!--Ai!--
Serpents are spawned
Of devils' spit,
O gods!
Orpo!--Ai!--
Spit boiled with blood
In caverns lit
By fungous fangs
From Mona's wood.

[_They circle._ BRUDE _steals behind_ CORLUN.

Orpo!--Ai!--
Serpents are spawned
In magic broth
To coil and wriggle,
Writhe and twist;
Till their froth
Becomes a mist,
Till the mist
An egg shall form--
Charm that Druids prize.

_Brude (with a sudden cry)._ Corlun, the gods
Wait for thy soul!
[_Slays him._
Lamora, fly!
With me, fly--
Thro the black forest!
[_Has cut her bonds._
Great Lactantius,
Maker of gods,
Loves _not_ the maiden's death-cry!

[_They escape._

_Druids (in terror)._ Corlun is slain!
Corlun! slain!
Woe to the Druids!
Woe from the heavens!
Woe from the ireful Queen!

[_They pursue confusedly._

SCENE IV: _Dawn; far in the forest. Enter_ BRUDE _and_ LAMORA
_faintingly to a spot where_ HORMA, _the hag, unseen by them
is gathering herbs._

_Lamora._ Strength no more
Wings me for flight.
With hunger of sleep I faint.
[_Falls._

_Brude (sinking by her)._ Yet ere thy sleep,
Maid like the dawn,
List to my heart's wild uttering!
All I have dared
Was for thy love--
Tho but to love thee
Would I dare all!

_Lamora._ Ah! What is love,
Brude wise and noble?
Is it this burning
Far in my breast
Melting my soul to thine?
Is it this power
Hid in my eyes
Shaping thy face
On hill and cloud?
Is it this whisper,
As of sea-waves,
Singing thy name to me?
Yea! So now we may sleep.

[_They lie down._ HORMA, _the hag, who has heard_
_them, creeps maundering up and gazes at them._

_Horma._ Owl and eaglet?
Have they fled?
Then let witch-toads sing!
Oaths forgotten,
Would they wed?
Then let bull-bats,
Wild a-wing,
Flap the moon from heaven!
Deep in the forest--
Ha! ho! ho!

[_Breaks off, hearing shouts. Continues._

They'll be slain!