And that is nothing;—if they answer not— And feel a strange cold thaw upon my heart. And champion human fears.-The night approaches. [Exit. ASTARTE. (MANFRED, Act ii. Scene 4.) The Hall of Arimanes—Arimanes on his Throne, Enter the DESTINIES and NEMESIS; then MANFRED. A Spirit. What is here? A mortal!-Thou most rash and fatal wretch ! Bow down and worship! Second Spirit. I do know the man A Magian of great power, and fearful skill! Third Spirit. Bow down and worship, slave !—What, know'st thou not Thine and our Sovereign ?—Tremble, and obey! All the Spirits. Prostrate thyself, and thy condemned clay, Child of the Earth! or dread the worst. Man. And yet ye see I kneel not. Fourth Spirit. I know it; 'Twill be taught thee. Man. 'Tis taught already;-many a night on the earth, On the bare ground, have I bow'd down my face, And strew'd my head with ashes; I have known The fulness of humiliation, for I sunk before my vain despair, and knelt To my own desolation. Fifth Spirit. Dost thou dare Refuse to Arimanes on his throne What the whole earth accords, beholding not The terror of his Glory ?-Crouch! I say. Man. Bid him bow down to that which is above him, The overruling Infinite-the Maker Who made him not for worship—let him kneel, And we will kneel together. The Spirits. Tear him in pieces!— First Destiny. Crush the worm ! Hence! Avaunt!-he's mine. Prince of the Powers invisible ! This man Is of no common order, as his port And presence here denote; his sufferings Our own; his knowledge, and his powers and will, Which clogs the ethereal essence, have been such This is not all—the passions, attributes Of earth and heaven, from which no power, nor being, 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? Shadow! or Spirit! Whatever thou art, Which still doth inherit The whole or a part The heart and the form, Redeem from the worm. Appear!—Appear !—Appear! Who sent thee there requires thee here! [The Phantom of ASTARTE rises and stands in the midst. 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 Which Autumn plants upon the perish'd leaf. I cannot speak to her-but bid her speak— NEMESIS. By the power which hath broken She is silent, Prince of air! Man. She is not of our order, but belongs Silent still! To the other powers. Mortal! thy quest is vain, And we are baffled also. Man. 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 Too much, as I loved thee: we were not made |