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, Man. Prince of air! Nem. My power extends no further. 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 Which makes me shrink from immortality— Startled the slumbering birds from the hush'd boughs, Which answer'd me—many things answer'd me— Phantom of Astarte. Manfred ! Man. Say on, say on— To-morrow ends thine earthly ills. I live but in the sound-it is thy voice! Phan. Manfred! 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 ! Nem. [The Spirit of ASTARTE disappears. 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. P 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 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 ! 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 |