Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

A mighty thing amongst the mean, and such
The mass are; I disdained to mingle with
A herd, though to be leader

The lion is alone, and so am I.

and of wolves.

ABBot. And why not live and act with other men?

MAN, Because my nature was averse from life; And yet not cruel; for I would not make,

[ocr errors]

But find a desolation: - like the wind,

The red-hot breath of the most lone Simoom,
Which dwells but in the desart, and sweeps o'er
The barren sands which bear no shrubs to blast,
And revels o'er their wild and arid waves,
And seeketh not, so that it is not sought,
But being met is deadly; such hath been
The course of my existence; but there came
Things in my path which are no more.

Аввот.

Alas!

I 'gin to fear that thou art past all aid
From me and from my calling; yet so young,
I still would

ΜΑΝ.

Look on me! there is an order

Of mortals on the earth. who do become

Old in their youth, and died ere middle age,

Without the violence of warlike death;

Some perishing of pleasure

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

some of study

[ocr errors]

some of mere weariness

and some insanity

And some of withered, or of broken hearts;
For this last is à malady which slays
More than are numbered in the lists of Fate,
Taking all shapes, and bearing many names.
Look upon me! for even of all these things
Have I partaken; and of all these things,
One were enough; then wonder not that I
Am what I am, but that I ever was,
Or having been, that I am still on earth.
ALBOT. Yet, hear me still
ΜΑΝ.

-

Old man! I do respect

Thine order, and revere thine

years; I deem

Thy purpose pious, but it is in vain;

[ocr errors]

Think me not churlish; I would spare thyself, Far more than me, in shunning at this time

All further colloquy and so

farewell!

[Exit MANFRED.

ABBOT. This should have been a noble creature: he

Hath all the energy which would have made

A goodly frame of glorious elements,

Had they been wisely mingled; as it is,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

SCENE III.

The Mountains.· The Castle of Manfred at some

-

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

HERMAN, MANUEL, and other Dependants of MANFRED.

HER. 'Tis strange enough: night after night,

for years,

He hath pursued long vigils in this tower,
Without a witness. I have been within it,
So have we all been oft-times; but from it,
Or its contents, it were impossible

To draw conclusions absolute, of aught
His studies tend to. To be sure, there is
One chamber where none enter; I would give
The fee of what I have to come these three years,
To póre upon its mysteries.

MANUEL.

"Twere dangerous;

Content thyself with what thou knowest already.

́Most glorious orb! that wert a worship, ere
The mystery of thy making was reveal'd!
Thou earliest minister of the Almighty,

Which gladden'd, on their mountain tops, the

hearts

Of the Chaldean shepherds, till they pour'd
Themselves in orisons! Thou material God!
And representative of the Unknown →→→

Who chose thee for his shadow! Thou chief star!
Centre of many stars! which mak'st our earth
Endurable, and temperest the hues

And hearts of all who walk within thy rays! Sire of the seasons! Monarch of the climes, And those who dwell in them! for near or far, Our inborn spirits have a tint of thee,

Even as our outward aspects;

And shine, and set in glory.

thou dost rise,

Fare thee well!

I ne'er shall see thee more. As my first glance Of love and wonder was for thee, then take

My latest look: thou wilt not beam on onc

To whom the gifts of life and warmth have been Of a more fatal nature. He is gone:

I follow.

[Exit MANFRED.

SCENE III.

The Mountains. - Th Castle of Manfred at some

[blocks in formation]

HERMAN, MANUEL, and other Dependants of MANFRED.

HER. 'Tis strange enough: night after night,

for years,

He hath pursued long vigils in this tower,
Without a witness. I have been within it,/
So have we all been oft-times; but from it,
Or its contents, it were impossible
To draw conclusions absolute, of aught
His studies tend to. To be sure, there is
One chamber where none enter; I would give
The fee of what I have to come these three years,
To pore upon its mysteries.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »