Our Lady of Troy
15
The root wherefrom this universe is blown
A golden flower. Shall I stand because
Time threatens me? Shall I not rather flaunt
My learning in the face of him and say:
"Here see how I make mock of you, how I
Have digged this richest treasure from the soil
Of old forgotten centuries of time;
How I, whom you shall conquer, yet strike down
Your mystery and set this little brain
The worms shall spoil, above your awfulness—
And all with science-ashes and a smoke!"?
Shall mind fear death that knows within itself
All life and all begetting and all end?
[There is a sound of thunder and the rain beats heavily at door and window. Faustus goes to the hearth. The candles have guttered down and are now dead. The students lean over the table watching him. Suddenly he stands erect, flinging a handful of ashes on the fire. The flames sink, then rise in a great flare. Helen of Troy stands on the hearth. She is naked and
