Requital for its good or evil thoughts- And its own place and time-its innate sense, Born from the knowledge of its own desert. Thou didst not tempt me, and thou couldst not tempt me; [The Demons disappear. Abbot. Alas! how pale thou art-thy lips are white; Man. 'Tis over-my dull eyes can fix thee not; Abbot. [MANFRED expires. Abbot. He's gone-his soul hath ta'en his earthless flightWhither? I dread to think-but he is gone. HEAVEN AND EARTH: A MYSTERY, FOUNDED ON THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN GENESIS, CHAP. VI. "And it came to pass that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose." "And woman wailing for her demon lover."-COLERIDGE. Dramatis Personae. ANGELS. SAMIASA. AZAZIEL. RAPHAEL, the Archangel MEN. NOAH and his SONS IRAD. JAPHET. WOMEN. ANAH. AHOLIBAMAH. Chorus of Spirits of the Earth.-Chorus of Mortals. HEAVEN AND EARTH. PART L SCENE L A woody and mountainous district near Mount Ararat.— Time, Midnight. Enter ANAH and AHOLIBAMAH. Anah. OUR father sleeps: it is the hour when they Who love us are accustom'd to descend Through the deep clouds o'er rocky Ararat : How my heart beats! Aho. Our invocation. Anah. I tremble. Aho. Let us proceed upon But the stars are hidden. So do I, but not with fear My sister, though Of aught save their delay. Anah. I love Azaziel more than-oh, too much! What was I going to say? my heart grows impious. Anah. But, Aholibamah, I love our God less since His angel loved me: Which are not ominous of right. Aho. Then wed thee Unto some son of clay, and toil and spin! There's Japhet loves thee well, hath loved thee long; Anah. I should have loved Azaziel not less, were he mortal; yet I am glad he is not. I can not outlive him. Of the poor child of clay which so adored him, Less terrible: but yet I pity him; His grief will be of ages, or at least Mine would be such for him, were I the Seraph, Rather say, And he the perishable. Anah. Seraph! From thy sphere! Oh! think of her who holds thee dear! Thou canst not tell-and never be Eternity is in thine years, Unborn, undying beauty in thine eyes; Thou walk'st thy many worlds, thou seest Of those cast out from Eden's gate: For thou hast loved me, and I would not die That thou forgett'st in thine eternity Her whose heart death could not keep from o'erflowing For thee, immortal essence as thou art! Great is their love who love in sin and fear; And such, I feel, are waging in my heart A war unworthy; to an Adamite Forgive, my Seraph! that such thoughts appear, Delight An Eden kept afar from sight, Though sometimes with our visions blent. The hour is near Which tells me we are not abandon'd quite Appear! appear! *The archangels, said to be seven in number, and to occupy the eighth rank in the celestial hierarchy. |