force MANFRED alone. One chamber where none enter; I would give Man Why would this fool break in on me, and The fee of what I have to come these three years, My art to pranks fantastical ?-no matter, Re-enter HERMAN. How many years is't? Manuel. Ere Count Manfred's birth. I served his father, whom he nought resembles. Her. There be more sons in like predicament But wherein do they differ? Of features or of form, but mind and habits: Her My lord, you bade me wait on you at sunset: A warrior and a reveller; he dwelt not Man. I will look on him. Doth he so? With books and solitude, nor made the night [MANFRED advances to the window of the hall. And forests like a wolf, nor turn aside Glorious orb!* the idol Of early nature, and the vigorous race Who chose thee for his shadow! thou chief star! And hearts of all who walk within thy rays! SCENE [I. From men and their delights. Her. Beshrew the hour, But those were jocund times! I would that such Would visit the old walls again; they look As if they had forgotten them. Manuel. These walls Must change their chieftain first. Oh! I have seen Some strange things in these few years.* Her. So like it that it might be the same; the wind Her. Look-look-the tower[Exit MANFRED. The tower's on fire. Oh, heavens and earth! what The Mountains.-The Castle of Manfred at some distance.-A Terrace before a Tower.-Time, Twilight. HERMAN, MANUEL, and other Dependants of MANFRED. sound, What dreadful sound is that? [A crash like thunder. Manuel. Help, help, there!-to the rescue of the Count, The Count's in danger,-what ho! there! approach: [The Servants, Vassals, and Peasantry ap proach, stupified with terror. If there be any of you who have heart Her. "Tis strange enough; night after night, for And love of human kind, and will to aid [HERMAN inclining his head and listening. I hear a word Or two-but indistinctly-what is next? What's to be done? let's bear him to the castle. [MANFRED motions with his hand not to remove him. Manuel. He disapproves-and 'twere of no avail Her. (within.) Not so-even now methought he He changes rapidly. moved; But it is dark-so bear him gently out Softly-how cold he is! take care of his temples In winding down the staircase. "Twill soon be over. Her. To shake my gray hairs over the last chief Ro-enter MANUEL and HERMAN, bearing MANFRED Alone we know not how-unshrived-untended— in their arms. Manuel. Hie to the castle, some of ye, and bring What aid you can. Saddle the barb, and speed For the leech to the city-quick! some water there! Her. His cheek is black-but there is a faint beat. Still lingering about the heart. Some water. [They sprinkle MANFRED with water: after a pause, he gives some signs of life. With strange accompaniments and fearful signs- [MANFRED having said this expires. Her. His eyes are fix'd and lifeless.-He is gone. Manuel. Close them.-My old hand quivers.He departs Whither? I dread to think-but he is gone! }) son answana-"I, Ben Jonson, lay wh your wife." Sylvester anI allude not to our friend Landor's hero, the traitor Count Julian, but to svered, That is not rhyme."-"No," said Ben Jonson, "but it is true."Gibbon's hero, vulgarly yclept "The Apostate." Brave men were living before Agamemnon,' A good deal like him too, though quite the same none, Most epic poets plunge in "medias res," (Horace makes this the heroic turnpike road,) And then your hero tells, whene'er you please, What went before-by way of episode, While seated after dinner at his ease, Beside his mistress in some soft abode, Palace or garden, paradise or cavern, That is the usual method, but not mine- Forbids all wanderings as the worst of sinning, And therefore I shall open with a line, (Although it cost me half an hour in spinning ` Narrating somewhat of Don Juan's father, And also of his mother, if you'd rather. VIII. In Seville was he born, a pleasant city, So says the proverb-and I quite agree; IX. His father's name was Jose-Don, of course Or, being mounted, e'er got down again, X. His mother was a learned lady, famed For every branch of every science knownIn every Christian language ever named, With virtues equall'd by her wit alone, She made the cleverest people quite ashamed, And even the good with inward envy groan, Finding themselves so very much exceeded In their own way by all the things that she did. XI. Her memory was a mine: she knew by heart So that if any actor miss'd his part, She could have served him for the prompter's copy For her Feinagle's were an useless art, And he himself obliged to shut up shop-he XII. Her favorite science was the mathematical, XIII. She knew the Latin-that is, "the Lords prayer," |