This only is distinctly plain:
Never mind, let's both agree
That I am you and you are me!
* They crown Him with rays of the sun.
GAUTAMA: I must beg that you will listen for a little moment, while I point out that this is Buddha (though debased and poor in style); I was tempted; He was tempted; other men have been so too, And there was not much in common in the struggles we went through; Then His Mother was a virgin, mine was married, so you see There's no difference between us . . . like as peas in pod are we.
* He giveth Him the emblems of Buddha.
MITHRA (solemnly):
The Lord of fire!
No man knoweth
My mystical rite,
Though many aspire.
When the Sun showeth
His forehead crowned with light
I am there, wonderful!
And the groaning, death-stricken bull
Bleeds for my sacrament.
* He throweth a bull's hide about Christ.
Many a hidden thing
To my mysteries went.
My priests are fallen,
Fallen and slain . . .
O I the sorrowful King!
So 'tis befallen.
* Briskly, with a change of tone.
Whatever rites were practised at my shrine,
His must be imitations based on mine.
PRIEST OF THE GROVE OF NEMI: "The priest who slew the slayer and shall himself be slain,"
* He giveth Him a knife.
GREEN PERSON: The spirit of vegetation that renews the crops of grain,
* He giveth Him a garland and sickle.
BACCHAE:
The orgies of Eleusis . . .
* They give Him the Phallic cones and emblems.
BALDER:
Balder struck dead . . .
PROMETHEUS:
Prometheus bringing fire from Heaven . . .
* He giveth Him a torch.
ADONIS:
Adonis' sacred Bread.
* He giveth a wafer.
ALL (dancing):
We're not alike to look at, but you may be satisfied
That we're each and all the one
unmistakeable
unadulterated
primitive
unsophisticated
admirable
rational
spiritual
proved
accredited
and thoroughly homogeneous original of Jesus crucified!
