_Black Witch_ (_Moving backwards, hands aloft in earnest supplication._) Come, Wind of night! oh, Night Wind come! Thy blasting fury loose upon this world! (_Pauses, drops arms, no response, again muses sadly._) Ah! Wind of Night, on which I’ve drifted through the sky these thousand years, hast thou too deserted me? (_Again raises arms aloft and cries in desperation_) Will none come forth to do my will?
(_Enter Mirth, silently, directly behind Black Witch. Remains behind B. W. and out of her sight, dogging her footsteps, poking fun at her, making grimaces, etc._)
_Black Witch_ (_Moving towards kettle soliloquizing brokenly_) Ah, mighty Jove, hast thou delivered me unto mine enemies on this dark night of all dark nights?--Some one has cast a spell upon the place and for the moment I am powerless--Aye! for the moment! (_looks at her rod as if conscious of it for the first time_) But I have still my trusty rod of black, and it will yet dispel this impotence oppressive--Though my voice fail this rod will fail me not!
(_Makes passes over kettle with rod and turning slightly catches sight of Mirth._)
_Black Witch_ (_Rather amused as if White Fairy were a foe of small consequence._) Ah, ha! White Fairy is now revealed as Jove’s agent to work my ruin and she hath sent Mirth, her messenger, to haunt my footsteps and bedevil me! (_chuckles, then calls_) Come Erebus, Imp of Blackness, come! Make haste and drive this Mirth away.
(_Enter Erebus from left, treading slowly and heavily_)
_Black Witch_ What ails thee, Imp of Blackness?
_Erebus_ (_Yawning_) I sleep and cannot wake. My feet drag like lead behind me. (_groans_) My eyes will not open and my body wilts in sleep.
_Black Witch_ (_Musing_) It is the dread fairy spell! (_severely to Erebus_) Cease thy deep grumblings and drive Mirth away from here.
(_Erebus takes after Mirth. Mirth tripping lightly, Erebus dragging himself along heavily._)
(_Exeunt Erebus and Mirth to back of stage._)
_Black Witch_ (_Calling, toward left_) Come also Noctis, Black Fury of the night, come too! Speed thee hence. Lend thy brother aid.
(_Enter Noctis, moaning and yawning, also treading heavily as if in a stupor._)
_Noctis_ (_Lifelessly_) Did call me, mother Witch?