Which having leapt from its more dazzling height,
Even in the foaming strength of its abyss,
(Which casts up misty columns that become
Clouds raining from the re-ascended skies,)
Lies low but mighty still.-But this is past,
My thoughts mistook themselves.

Аввот.

And wherefore so?

MAN. I could not tame my nature down; for he
Must serve who fain would sway-and soothe and sue—
And watch all time-and pry into all place-
And be a living lie-who would become

A mighty thing amongst the mean, and such
The mass are; I disdain'd to mingle with

A herd, though to be leader-and of wolves.
The lion is alone, and so am I.

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,

But find a desolation:-like the wind,

The red-hot breath of the most lone Simoom,
Which dwells but in the desert, 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.

I 'gin to fear that thou art past all aid

Alas!

From me and from my calling; yet so young,

I still would

MAN.

Look on me! there is an order

Of mortals on the earth, who do become

Old in their youth, and die ere middle age,
Without the violence of warlike death;

Some perishing of pleasure-some of study—
Some worn with toil-some of mere weariness-

Some of disease-and some insanity—

And some of wither'd, or of broken hearts;
For this last is a malady which slays

More than are number'd 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.

ABBOT. Yet, hear me still

MAN.

Old man! I do respect

Thine order, and revere thine years;

Thy purpose płous, but it is in vain :

I deem

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,

It is an awful chaos-light and darkness—

And mind and dust-and passions and pure thoughts,
Mix'd, and contending without end or order,
All dormant or destructive: he will perish,
And yet he must not; I will try once more,
For such are worth redemption; and my duty
Is to dare all things for a righteous end.
I'll follow him—but cautiously, though surely.

[Exit ABBOT.

SCENE II.

Another Chamber.

MANFRED and HERMAN.

HER. My Lord, you bade me wait on you at sunset: He sinks behind the mountain.

ΜΑΝ.

I will look on him.

Doth he so?

[MANFRED advances to the Window of the Hall.

Glorious Orb! the idol

Of early nature, and the vigorous race

Of undiseased mankind, the giant sons (4)

Of the embrace of angels, with a sex

More beautiful than they, which did draw down
The erring spirits who can ne'er return.—

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;-thou dost rise,
And shine, and set in glory. 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 one

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

gone:

I follow.

[Exit MANFRED.'

F