All in a new world, which does homage to you,
And which, wer't only by its novelty,

Delights your eye.

THEKLA.

Yes; I confess to you

That many things delight me here: this camp,
This motley stage of warriors, which renews
So manifold the image of my fancy,

And binds to life, binds to reality,

What hitherto had but been present to me

As a sweet dream!

MAX.

Alas! not so to me.

It makes a dream of my reality.

Upon some island in the ethereal heights

I've lived for these last days. This mass of men
Forces me down to earth. It is a bridge

That, reconducting to my former life,

Divides me and my heaven.

THEKLA.

The game of life

Looks cheerful, when one carries in one's heart

The unalienable treasure.

'Tis a game,

Which having once reviewed, I turn more joyous

Back to my deeper and appropriate bliss.

[breaking off, and in a sportive tone.

In this short time that I've been present here,

What new unheard-of things have I not seen!
And yet they all must give place to the wonder
Which this mysterious castle guards.

COUNTESS (recollecting).

And what

Can this be then; Methought I was acquainted
With all the dusky corners of this house.
THEKLA (smiling).

Ay, but the road thereto is watched by spirits.
Two griffins still stand sentry at the door.
COUNTESS (laughs).

The astrological tower!-How happens it
That this same sanctuary, whose access
Is to all others so impracticable,

Opens before you even at your approach?
THEKLA.

A dwarfish old man with a friendly face
And snow-white hairs, whose gracious services
Were mine at first sight, opened me the doors.
MAX.

That is the Duke's astrologer, old Seni.

THEKLA.

He questioned me on many points; for instance, When I was born, what month, and on what day, Whether by day or in the night.

COUNTESS.

He wished

To erect a figure for your horoscope.

THEKLA.

My hand too he examined, shook his head

With much sad meaning, and the lines methought, Did not square over truly with his wishes.

COUNTESS.

Well, Princess, and what found you in this tower? My highest privilege has been to snatch

A side-glance, and away!

THEKLA,

It was a strange

Sensation that came o'er me, when at first
From the broad sunshine I stepped in; and now
The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after
The closing door, was gone; and all about me
'Twas pale and dusky night, with many shadows
Fantastically cast. Here six or seven

Colossal statues, and all kings, stood round me
In a half-circle. Each one in his hand

A sceptre bore, and on his head a star;

And in the tower no other light was there

But from these stars: all seemed to come from them.

These are the planets,' said that low old man,

<

They govern worldly fates and for that cause

Are imaged here as kings. He farthest from you, 'Spiteful, and cold, an old man melancholy,

With bent and yellow forehead, he is SATURN.
'He opposite, the king with the red light,
'An arm'd man for the battle, that is MARS:
' And both these bring but little luck to man.'
But at his side a lovely lady stood,

The star upon her head was soft and bright,
And that was VENUS, the bright star of joy,
On the left hand, lo! MERCURY, with wings.
Quite in the middle glittered silver bright
A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien ;
And this was JUPITER, my father's star:
And at his side I saw the SUN and MOON.
MAX.

O never rudely will I blame his faith

In the might of stars and angels! 'Tis not merely
The human being's PRIDE that peoples space
With life and mystical predominance;

Since likewise for the stricken heart of LOVE
This visible nature, and this common world,
Is all too narrow: yea, a deeper import
Lurks in the legend told my infant years
Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn.

For fable is Love's world, his home, his birth-place :

VOL. III.

H

Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talismans,
And spirits; and delightedly believes
Divinities, being himself divine.

The intelligible forms of ancient poets,
The fair humanities of old religion,

The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty,

That had her haunts in dale, or piny mountain,
Or forest by slow stream, or pebbly spring,

Or chasms and wat'ry depths; all these have vanished.

They live no longer in the faith of reason!

But still the heart doth need a language, still
Doth the old instinct bring back the old names,
And to yon starry world they now are gone,
*Spirits or gods, that used to share this earth
With man as with their friend; and to the lover
Yonder they move, from yonder visible sky
Shoot influence down: and even at this day
'Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great,
And Venus who brings every thing that's fair.!
THEKLA.

And if this be the science of the stars
I too, with glad and zealous industry,

* No more of talk, where god or angel guest
With man, as with his friend familiar, used
To sit indulgent.
PARADISE LOST, B. IX.