The Deformed Transformed, A DRAMA. ADVERTISEMENT. This production is founded partly on the story of a Novel, called «The Three Brothers,» published many years ago, from which M. G. Lewis's « Wood Demon>> was also taken—and partly on the «< Faust >> of the great Goethe. The present publication contains the first two Parts only, and the opening chorus of the third. The rest may perhaps appear hereafter. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. MEN. STRANGER, afterwards CESAR. ARNOLD. BOURBON. PHILIBERT. CELLINI. WOMEN. BERTHA. OLIMPIA. As is the hedgehog's, Which sucks at midnight from the wholesome dam Of the young bull, until the milkmaid finds The nipple next day sore and udder dry. Call not thy brothers brethren! Call me not Mother; for if I brought thee forth, it was As foolish hens at times hatch vipers, by Sitting upon strange eggs. Out, urchin, out! [Exit BERTHA ARNOLD (solus). Oh mother!--She is gone, and I must do A kind word in return. What shall I do? [ARNOLD begins to cut wood: in doing this he wounds one of his hands. My labour for the day is over now. Accursed be this blood that flows so fast; For double curses will be my meed now At home. What home? I have no home, no kin, To share their sports or pleasures. Must I bleed too [ARNOLD goes to a spring and stoops to wash his hand: he starts back. They are right; and Nature's mirror shows me And shall I live on, [He pauses. A burthen to the earth, myself, and shame And make a world for myriads of new worms! The green bough from the forest. Were I to taunt a buffalo with this [ARNOLD places the knife in the ground, with With thy sublime of humps, the animals the point upwards. Now 't is set, And I can fall upon it. Yet one glance On the fair day, which sees no foul thing like Myself, and the sweet sun, which warm'd me, but In vain. The birds--how joyously they sing! So let them, for I would not be lamented: But let their merriest notes be Arnold's knell; The falling leaves my monument; the murmur Of the near fountain my sole elegy. Now, knife, stand firmly, as I fain would fall! [As he rushes to throw himself upon the knife, his eye is suddenly caught by the fountain, which seems in motion. The fountain moves without a wind: but shall [4 cloud comes from the fountain. He stands ARNOLD. Would revel in the compliment. And yet Both beings are more swift, more strong, more mighty Not I. Why should I mock STRANGER. As man is both, why not Spirit or man? Say both in one? Thou canst not yet speak mine), the forester To petty burghers, who leave once a-year ARNOLD. Then waste not Thy time on me: I seek thee not. STRANGER. Your thoughts Are not far from me. Do not send me back: I am not so easily recall'd to do Good service. ARNOLD. What wilt thou do for me? STRANGER. Change Shapes with you, if you will, since yours so irks you; Or form you to your wish in any shape. ARNOLD. Oh! then you are indeed the demon, for Nought else would wittingly wear mine. ! |