t prophets....

SATAN

Holy One!
Satan salutes you!

THE HOLY ONE

Satan--come again
After so long? A little longer--then
No carcass of illusion here shall wait
To greet you.

SATAN

In the greatness of the sea
All waves find home....

THE HOLY ONE

Yea, verily; and the deep
Lies not far off. I am drawn nearer it
Since last you came: I see its floods more clear,
It laves me daily.... But what brings you back
To my deserted dwelling from the press
Where you are ever going to and fro
Upon the earth?

SATAN

I came to seek for you,
Whose feet are on the path of blessedness.

THE HOLY ONE

Ah, has illusion rent itself in twain
For your sight also?

SATAN

Ask me not. I come
Not on my mission, but on theirs....

THE HOLY ONE

On theirs!
And who are your companions?

SATAN

Friends, who seek
What you have found.

THE HOLY ONE

They have not in their eyes
Wholly the look of Seekers. Passion lurks
Along their ruddy lips.... And yet, who knows?

FAUST

I offer you our greetings, reverend sir.
A long way have we come to meet with you,
By Satan led.

THE HOLY ONE

And what would you with me?

FAUST

Paradise! Paradise!

THE HOLY ONE

Too hotly spoken!
Go, get you to the dancers of Tanjore....
Paradise!

OLDHAM

You belie us, Faust. Let me
Have speech with him.

Most Holy One, we come,
From lands far off, beyond remotest seas
Of sunset. There, in midst of toil and stress
And clamor, have we dwelt, till weariness
Of all life's gifts impelled us to go forth
To seek if anywhere a region lay
Where happiness still dwelt. To you we turn
As unto one upon whose face is set
The seal of peace such as we dreamed not of.

SATAN

They seek the Way, the Way, most Holy One.

THE HOLY ONE

The Blessed Eightfold Way lies free to all.
I cannot ope it to them. Peace, joy, bliss,
Supernal glory is it to those souls
Who have put by the follies of their birth
And sought its refuge. But though now I stand
With lighted heart upon its blissful path,
I can stretch out no hand to grasp their hands
And draw them toward it.

SATAN

Yet the Blessed One,
In Gaya first enlightened, far