MANFRED. ACT I. SCENE I. MANFRED alone-Scene, a Gothic gallery-Time, Midnight. MAN. THE lamp must be replenish'd, but even then It will not burn so long as I must watch: Which then I can resist not in my heart And none have baffled, many fallen before me- Have been to me as rain unto the sands, Since that all-nameless hour. I have no dread, Nor fluttering throb, that beats with hopes or wishes, Now to my task.— Mysterious Agency! Ye spirits of the unbounded Universe! Whom I have sought in darkness and in light Ye, who do compass earth about, and dwell In subtler essence-ye, to whom the tops Of mountains inaccessible are haunts, And earth's and ocean's caves familiar things- Which gives me power upon you -Rise! appear! [A pause. They come not yet.-Now by the voice of him Which makes you tremble-by the claims of him Who is undying,-Rise! appear!-Appear! If it be so.- -Spirits of earth and air, [A pause. Ye shall not thus elude me: by a power, By the strong curse which is upon my soul, [A star is seen at the darker end of the gallery; it FIRST SPIRIT. Mortal! to thy bidding bow'd, From my mansion in the cloud, Which the breath of twilight builds, And the summer's sun-set gilds With the azure and vermilion, Which is mix'd for my pavilion ; To thine adjuration bow'd, Mortal-be thy wish avow'd! Voice of the SECOND SPIRIT. Mont Blanc is the monarch of mountains, They crowned him long ago On a throne of rocks, in a robe of clouds, With a diadem of snow. Around his waist are forests braced, The Avalanche in his hand; But ere it fall, that thundering ball Must pause for my command. |