ruins of a power far greater than thine were crumbling into dust around
It; hundreds of gods such as those you trust in, were lying prostrate on
the ground, trampled under careless feet, not even daring to raise their
crushed and wounded heads to gaze upon the Crucified. It stood upon the
seven hills, stretching its mighty arms to the east and to the west, its
holy brow glittering in the golden sunshine; men wistfully gazed upon
its perfect lesson of self-abnegating Love; it won all hearts, it RULED
THE WORLD!

PANCRATIUS. An old wife's tale, hollow as the rattling of these vain
escutcheons! (_He strikes the shield._) These discussions are in vain,
for I have read all the secrets of your yearning heart! If you really
wish to find the _infinite_ which has so long baffled your search; if
you love the _truth_, and are willing to suffer for it; if you are a
_man_, created in the image of our common humanity, and not the
impossible hero of an old nursery song--listen to me! Oh, let not these
rapidly fleeting moments, the last in which you can possibly be saved,
pass in vain! The race renews itself, man of the Past; and _of the blood
we shed to-day, no trace will be found to-morrow_! For the last time I
conjure you, if you are what you once appeared to be, A MAN, rise in
your former might, aid the down-trodden and oppressed people, help to
emancipate and enlighten your fellow men, work for the common good,
forsake your false ideas of a personal glory, quit these tottering ruins
which all your pride and power cannot prevent from crumbling o'er you,
desert your falling house, and follow me!

THE MAN. O youngest born of Satan's brood!--(_He paces up and down the
hall, speaking to himself_:) Dreams, dreams, beautiful dreams--but their
realization is impossible! Who could achieve them? Adam died in the
desert--the flaming sword still guards the gates--we are never more to
enter Paradise! In vain we dream!

PANCRATIUS (_aside_). I have driven the probe to the core of his heart;
I have struck the electric nerve of Poetry, which quivers through the
very base of his complicated being!

THE MAN. Progress of humanity; universal happiness; I once believed them
possible! There--there--take my head--my life--if that were possi--....
(_He sighs, and is silent for a moment._) It is past! two centuries ago
it might have been--but now.... But now I have seen and know there will
be nothing but assassination and murder--murder on either sid