Prose Dramas (Volume 4); Emperor and Galilean

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1890 Excerpt: ... The Voice. The most glorious. Julian. What callest thou the most glorious? The Voice. Life. Julian. And the ground of life? The Voice. Death. Julian. And of death? The Voice losing itself as in a sigh). Ah, that is the riddle! Julian. Gone! Maximus looking up). Gone? Julian. Yes. Maximus. Didst thou know him? Julian. Yes. Maximus. Who was it? Julian. Cain. MAXIMUS. By that way, then! Ask no more! JULIAN with an impatient gesture). The second, Maximus! Maximus. No, no, no;--I will not! JULIAN. The second, I say! Thou hast sworn that I should fathom the meaning of certain things. The second, Maximus! I will see him; I will know my guests! Maximus. Thou hast willed it, not I. He swings his staff.) Arise and come to light, thou willing slave, thou who didst help in the next great world-transformation! JULIAN gazes for a moment into the empty space; suddenly he makes a gesture of repulsion towards the seat at his side, and says in a low voice: ) No nearer! Maximus who has turned his back). Dost thou see him? Julian. Yes. MAXIMUS. How dost thou see him? Julian. I see him as a red-bearded man. His clothes are torn, and he has a rope round his neck. Speak to him, Maximus! MAXIMUS. Thou must speak. Julian. What wast thou in life? A Voice close beside him). The twelfth wheel of the world-chariot. Julian. The twelfth? The fifth is reckoned useless. The Voice. But for me, whither had the chariot rolled? Julian. Whither did it roll by means of thee? The Voice. Into glorification. JULIAN. Why didst thou help? The Voice. Because I willed. JULIAN. What didst thou will? The Voice. What I must. JULIAN. Who chose thee? The Voice. The master. Julian. Did the master foreknow when he chose thee? The Voice. Ah, that is the riddle! (A short silence.) MAXIMUS. Thou art silent. JULIA..