ieves go clad in gold--age after age--
Because, though sordid, ragged, rude, and mean,
They saw, like gods, no law above their heads.
But when they fell--then for this cause they fell,
This last mean cobweb of the fairy tales
Of good and ill: that they must stand and fight
When a man bade, though they had chose to stand
And fight not. I am stronger than the world.

[_Folds his arms._]

REDFEATHER [_lifts his hand_].

If in your body be the blood of man,

[_Strikes him._]

Now let it rush to the face--
God! Have you sunk
Lower than anger?

LORD ORM.

How I triumph now.

REDFEATHER [_stamps wildly]_.

Damned, whimpering dog! vile, snivelling, sick poltroon!
Are you alive?

LORD ORM.

Evil, be thou my good;
Let the sun blacken and the moon be blood:
I have said the words.

REDFEATHER [_studying him_].

And if I struck you dead,
You would turn to daisies!

LORD ORM.

And you do not strike.

REDFEATHER [_dreamily_].

Indeed, poor soul, such magic would be kind
And full of pity as a fairy-tale:
One touch of this bright wand [_Lifts his sword_]
and down would drop
The dark abortive blunder that is you.
And you would change, forgiven, into flowers.

LORD ORM.

And yet--and yet you do not strike me dead.
I do not draw: the sword is in your hand--
Drive the blade through me where I stand.

REDFEATHER.

Lord Orm,
You asked the Lady Olive (I can speak
As to a toad to you, my lord)--you asked
Olive to be your paramour: and she--

LORD ORM.

Refused.

REDFEATHER.

And yet her father was at stake,
And she is soft and kind. Now look at me,
Ragged and ruined, soaked in bestial sins:
My lord, I too have my virginity--
Turn the thing round, my lord, and topside down,
You cannot spell it. Be the fact enough,
I use no sword upon a swordless man.

LORD ORM.

For her?

REDFEATHER.

I too have my virginity.

LORD ORM.

Now look on me: I am the lord of earth,
For I have broken the last bond of man.
I stand erect, crowned with the stars--and why?
Because I stand a coward--because you
Have mercy--on a coward. Do I win?

REDFEATHER.

Though there you stand with moving mouth and eyes,
I think, my lord, you are not possible--
God keep you from my dreams.

[_Goes out._]

LORD ORM.

Alone and free.
Since first in flowery meads a child I ran,
My one long thirst--to be alone and free.
Free of all laws, creeds, codes, and commo