isen
Some mighty masters of the invisible world,
And these have summoned us.

GRYLLUS
With what design?

CIRCE
That they themselves must tell. Behold they come,
Carrying a mystic table, around which
They work their magic spells. Stand by, and mark.

[Three spirit-rappers appeared, carrying a table, which they
placed on one side of the stage:]

1. Carefully the table place,
Let our gifted brother trace
A ring around the enchanted space

2. Let him tow'rd the table point
With his first fore-finger joint,
And with mesmerised beginning
Set the sentient oak-slab spinning.

3. Now it spins around, around,
Sending forth a murmuring sound,
By the initiate understood

As of spirits in the wood.

ALL.
Once more Circe we invoke.

CIRCE
Here: not bound in ribs of oak,
Nor, from wooden disk revolving,
In strange sounds strange riddles solving,
But in native form appearing,
Plain to sight, as clear to heating.

THE THREE
Thee with wonder we behold.
By thy hair of burning gold,
By thy face with radiance bright,
By thine eyes of beaming light,
We confess thee, mighty one,
For the daughter of the Sun.
On thy form we gaze appalled.

CIRCE
Cryllus, loo, your summons called.

THE THREE
Hira of yore thy powerful spell
Doomed in swinish shape to dwell;
Vet such life he reckoned then
Happier than the life of men,
Now, when carefully he ponders
All our scientific wonders,
Steam-driven myriads, all in motion,
On the land and on the ocean,
Going, for the sake of going,
Wheresoever waves are flowing,
Wheresoever winds are blowing;
Converse through the sea transmitted,
Swift as ever thought has flitted;
All the glories of our time,
Past the praise of loftiest rhyme;
Will he, seeing these, indeed,
Still retain his ancient creed,
Ranking, in his mental plan,
Life of beast o'er life of man?

CIRCE
Speak, Gryllus.