Pervading, and far-darting as your own, And shall not yield to yours, though coop'd in clay! SPIRIT. We answer as we answered; our reply Is even in thine own words. ΜΑΝ. Why say ye so? SPIRIT. If, as thou say'st, thine essence be as ours, We have replied in telling thee, the thing Mortals call death hath nought to do with us. MAN. I then have call'd ye from your realms in vain; Ye cannot, or ye will not, aid me. What we possess we offer; it is thine: Bethink ere thou dismiss us, ask again Kingdom, and sway, and strength, and length of days MAN. Accursed! what have I to do with days? They are too long already.-Hence—begone! SPIRIT. Yet pause: being here, our will would do thee service; Bethink thee, is there then no other gift Which we can make not worthless in thine eyes? MAN. No, none: yet stay-one moment, ere we part— I would behold ye face to face. I hear Your voices, sweet and melancholy sounds, As music on the waters; and I see The steady aspect of a clear large star; SPIRIT. We have no forms beyond the elements But choose a form-in that we will appear. MAN. I have no choice; there is no form on earth Hideous or beautiful to me. Let him, Who is most powerful of ye, take such aspect As unto him may seem most fitting.-Come! SEVENTH SPIRIT. (Appearing in the shape of a beautiful female figure.) Behold! MAN. Oh God! if it be thus, and thou Art not a madness and a mockery, I yet might be most happy.-I will clasp thee, And we again will be [The figure vanishes. My heart is crush'd! [MANFRED falls senseless. (A voice is heard in the Incantation which follows.) When the moon is on the wave, And the glow-worm in the grass, And the meteor on the grave, And the wisp on the morass; When the falling stars are shooting, And the silent leaves are still In the shadow of the hill, Shall my soul be upon thine, With a power and with a sign. Though thy slumber may be deep, Yet thy spirit shall not sleep, There are shades which will not vanish, There are thoughts thou canst not banish; By a power to thee unknown, Thou canst never be alone; Thou art wrapt as with a shroud, Thou art gathered in a cloud; And for ever shalt thou dwell Though thou seest me not pass by, C Thou shalt marvel I am not As thy shadow on the spot, And the power which thou dost feel And a magic voice and verse Hath baptized thee with a curse; Hath begirt thee with a snare; Shall forbid thee to rejoice; All the quiet of her sky; And the day shall have a sun, Which shall make thee wish it done. From thy false tears I did distil An essence which hath strength to kill; From thy own heart I then did wring The black blood in its blackest spring; From thy own smile I snatch'd the snake, For there it coil'd as in a brake; From thy own lip I drew the charm Which gave all these their chiefest harm; In proving every poison known, I found the strongest was thine own. By thy cold breast and serpent smile, By the perfection of thine art Which pass'd for human thine own heart; By thy delight in others' pain, And by thy brotherhood of Cain, And on thy head I pour the vial Nor to slumber, nor to die, Shall be in thy destiny; Though thy death shall still seem near To thy wish, but as a fear; Lo! the spell now works around thee, And the clankless chain hath bound thee; O'er thy heart and brain together Hath the word been pass'd-now wither! c 2 |