FIRST DES. Let him answer that. MAN. Ye know what I have known; and without power I could not be amongst ye: but there are NEM. What would'st thou ? MAN. Thou canst not reply to me. Call up the dead-my question is for them. NEM. Great Arimanes, doth thy will avouch The wishes of this mortal? Bear what thou borest, The heart and the form, Who sent thee there requires thee here! MAN. Can this be death? there's bloom upon her cheek; But now I see it is no living hue, But a strange hectic-like the unnatural red By the The NEMESIS. power which hath broken Speak to him who hath spoken, Or those who have call'd thee! MAN. She is silent, And in that silence I am more than answer'd, 1 NEM. My power extends no further. Prince of air! It rests with thee alone-command her voice. ARI. Spirit-obey this sceptre! NEM. She is not of our order, but belongs Silent still! To the other powers. Mortal! thy quest is vain, And we are baffled also. ΜΑΝ. Hear me, hear me Astarte! my beloved! speak to me: I have so much endured-so much endure Look on me! the grave hath not changed thee more For I have call'd on thee in the still night, Startled the slumbering birds from the hush'd boughs, Which answer'd me-many things answer'd me— Yet speak to me! I have outwatch'd the stars, PHANTOM OF ASTARTE. Manfred! MAN. Say on, say on I live but in the sound-it is thy voice! PHAN. Manfred! To-morrow ends thine earthly ills. Farewell! MAN. Yet one word more-am I forgiven? PHAN. Farewell! MAN. PHAN. Farewell! Say, shall we meet again? MAN. One word for mercy! Say, thou lovest me. PHAN. Manfred! [The Spirit of ASTARTE disappears. NEM. She's gone, and will not be recall'd; Her words will be fulfill'd. Return to the earth. A SPIRIT. He is convulsed-This is to be a mortal And seek the things beyond mortality. ANOTHER SPIRIT. Yet, see, he mastereth himself, and makes His torture tributary to his will. Had he been one of us, he would have made MAN. We meet then! Where? On the earth?— Even as thou wilt: and for the grace accorded I now depart a debtor. Fare ye well! [Exit MANFRED. (Scene closes.) END OF ACT SECOND. |