path). Ha!

STRANGER (to the Second Voice). Who are you? I seem to know your
face.

SECOND VOICE. I'm Erik--your son!

STRANGER. Erik! You here?

SECOND VOICE. Yes. I'm here.

STRANGER. God have mercy! And you, my boy, forgive me!

SECOND VOICE. Never! You showed us the way to the sulphur springs!
Is it far to the lake?

(The STRANGER falls to the ground.)

TEMPTER. Ha! Jubilate, temptatores!

VENUS WORSHIPPERS. Sulphur! Sulphur! Sulphur! Mercury!

TEMPTER (coming forward and touching the STRANGER with his foot).
The worm! You can make him believe whatever you like. That comes
from his unbelievable pride. Does he think he's the mainspring of
the universe, the originator of all evil? This foolish man believes
he taught youth to go in search of Venus; as if youth hadn't done
that long before he was born! His pride's insupportable, and he's
been rash enough to try to botch my work for me. Give him another
greeting, lying Erik! (The SECOND VOICE--that is the youth--bends