HER. Ah! Manuel! thou art elderly and wise, And could'st say much; thou hast dwelt within the castle 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? MANUEL. I speak not Of features or of form, but mind and habits: free, but gay and A warrior and a reveller; he dwelt not Merrier than day; he did not walk the rocks From men and their delights. HIER. 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 them, Herman. HER. Come, be friendly; Relate me some to while away our watch: 'Twas twilight, as it may be now, and such Another evening, yon red cloud, which rests On Eigher's pinnacle, so rested then, So like that it might be the same; the wind Enter the ABBOT. ABBOT. Where is your master? MANUEL. "Tis impossible; He is most private, and must not he thus Intruded on. ABBOT. Upon myself I take The forfeit of my fault, if fault there be Knock, and apprize the Count of my approach! SCENE IV. Interior of the Tower. MANFRED alone. MAN. The stars are forth, the moon above the tops Of the snow - shining mountains. Beautiful! I linger yet with Nature, for the night Hath been to me a more familiar face Than that of man; and in her starry shade I learn'd the language of another world. Midst the chief relics of almighty Rome; The trees which grew along the broken arches Begun and died upon the gentle wind. Some cypresses beyond the time-worn breach Within a bowshot – where the Caesars dwelt, - And thou didst shine, thou rolling moon, upon Of rugged desolation, and fill'd up, The dead, but sceptred sovereigns, who still rule 'Twas such a night! "Tis strange that I recall it at this time; But I have found our thoughts take wildest flight |