By the day after to-morrow there will be no more earth, no more sky; and I will tell you this, child: If, when Serapis falls, the universe does not crumble to pieces like a ruinous hovel, then the wisdom of the Magians is a lie, the course of the stars has nothing to do with the destinies of the earth and its inhabitants, the planets are mere lamps, the sun is no more than a luminous furnace, the old gods are marsh-fires, emanations from the dark bog of men's minds--and the great Serapis....

But why be angry with him?
There is no doubt--no if nor but....

Give me the diptychon and I will show you our doom.

There--just here--my sight is so dazzled, I cannot make it out .-- And if I could, what matter?
Who can alter here below what has been decided above?
Leave me to sleep now, and I will explain it all to you to-morrow if there is still time.

Poor child, when I think how we have tormented you to learn what you know, and how industrious you have been! And now--to what end?
I ask you, to what end?
The great gulf will swallow up one and all." "So be it, so be it!" cried Gorgo interrupting her.