_Didymus._ And these shouts, these shouts, Incessant, brutal, terrible, they mean--
_Cratidas._ That now the lictors drive her forth; they mean Quick menace to a never-soilèd blossom Of Hellas come, and her heroic seed. Ah, well: she will recant; she must recant.-- My young hound bays her welcome. Enter, sir.-- What! Gone? An armored man swooped like a hawk Down the sheer ledges to the city’s core? Beware, my fiery nameless half-a-Christian, Hot for romance, beneath the stars of spring! Well, well, well, well! Down, Demo. I believe He’ll somehow free her: we shall have her back, Good Demo.... Tut! of all the wild hawk-swoops!
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_Midnight. A brothel._ Theodora _alone_. Didymus _breaks in_.
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_Didymus._ Grant me forgiveness, lady Theodora! And fear not. I have spent my breath of life, Beating the human hurricane outside, To reach thee first of any. Piteous thing, Flutter not to and fro; thy net is cut: No carrion crow shall ever prey on thee, White dove! The evil room’s alive with light, Thy light shed out; nor am I longer dark, Who see, feel, bathe in it. Oh, what a stream, Full from within, as through a lattice door, Widens around thee in an aureole; From lifted eyes, loose hair, and hands unlocked, Gushes the even glory! While I look, So bright, thou seraph of the golden blood, Rains that pure fire on me, that now I know Of what clear essence thou, not less am I; Yea, I with thee, and all my thoughts with thine, Run up before our God in one straight flame. Child, I am here to help thee: Didymus, A Cappadocian.
_Theodora._ Heaven be thanked, and thou, For I believe thee! Cappadocia: Was it not there the blessed Dorothy Brought apples to her lover, after death, In token of the riches of that orchard Where Christ walks with His own? Let us go thither.
_Didymus._ Though unto me thy voice be like the foam Upon a wave of quiet, thy delay Dearer than wine of roses, rouse thee: haste! How else can I the pact maintain with Him Who bade me loose thee from the snare? Come nigh: Doff thine apparel; put mine armor on. Think but of flight, and safety.