ties. I pour into their souls the eternal insanities, projects of
happiness, plans for the future, dreams of glory, and oaths of love, as
well as virtuous resolutions. I drive them on perilous voyages and on
mighty enterprises. I have carved with my claws the marvels of
architecture. It is I that hung the little bells on the tomb of
Porsenna, and surrounded with a wall of Corinthian brass the quays of
the Atlantides.

"I seek fresh perfumes, larger flowers, pleasures hitherto unknown. If
anywhere I find a man whose soul reposes in wisdom, I fall upon him and
strangle him."

_The Sphinx_--"All those whom the desire of God torments, I have
devoured.

"The strongest, in order to climb to my royal forehead, mount upon the
stripes of my fillets as on the steps of a staircase. Weariness takes
possession of them, and they fall back of their own accord."

Antony begins to tremble. He is not before his cell, but in the desert,
having at either side of him those two monstrous animals, whose jaws
graze his shoulders.

_The Sphinx_--"O Fantasy, bear me on thy wings to enliven thy sadness!"

_The Chimera_--"O Unknown One, I am in love with thine eyes! I turn
round thee, soliciting allayment of that which devours me!"

_The Sphinx_--"My feet cannot raise themselves. The lichen, like a
ringworm, has grown over my mouth. By dint of thinking, I have no longer
anything to say."

_The Chimera_--"You lie, hypocritical Sphinx! How is it that you are
always addressing me and abjuring me?"

_The Sphinx_--"It is you, unmanageable caprice, who pass and whirl
about."

_The Chimera_--"Is that my fault? Come, now, just let me be!"

It barks.

_The Sphinx_--"You move away; you avoid me!"

The Sphinx grumbles.

_The Chimera_--"Let us make the attempt! You crush me!"

_The Sphinx_--"No; impossible!"

And sinking, little by little, it disappears in the sand, while the
Chimera, crawling, with its tongue out, departs with a winding movement.

The breath issuing from its mouth has produced a fog.

In this fog Antony traces masses of clouds and imperfect curves.
Finally, he distinguishes what appear to be human bodies.

And first advances the group of Astomi, like air-balls passing across
the sun.

"Don't puff too strongly! The drops of rain bruise us; the false sounds
excoriate us; the darkness blinds us. Composed of breezes and of
perfumes, we roll, we float--a little more than dreams, not entirely
beings."

The Nisnas have