STREPHON. Thats better.
THE NEWLY BORN. Much better.
THE SHE-ANCIENT [_handling the Female Automaton in the same manner_]
Which of you shall we kill?
THE FEMALE FIGURE. Kill us both. How could either of us live without the
other?
ECRASIA. The woman is more sensible than the man.
_The Ancients release the Automata._
THE MALE FIGURE [_sinking to the ground_] I am discouraged. Life is too
heavy a burden.
THE FEMALE FIGURE [_collapsing_] I am dying. I am glad. I am afraid to
live.
THE NEWLY BORN. I think it would be nice to give the poor things a
little music.
ARJILLAX. Why?
THE NEWLY BORN. I don't know. But it would.
_The Musicians play._
THE FEMALE FIGURE. Ozymandias: do you hear that? [_She rises on her
knees and looks raptly into space_] Queen of queens! [_She dies_].
THE MALE FIGURE [_crawling feebly towards her until he reaches her
hand_] I knew I was really a king of kings. [_To the others_] Illusions,
farewell: we are going to our thrones. [_He dies_].
_The music stops. There is dead silence for a moment._
THE NEWLY BORN.
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