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 A herd, though to be leader-and of wolves. 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, And revels o'er their wild and arid waves, 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 withered, or of broken hearts; VOL. VI. L More than are numbered in the lists of Fate, Taking all shapes, and bearing many names. 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; 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 yet he must not; I will try once more, [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. MAN. I will look on him. Doth he so? [MANFRED advances to the Window of the Hall. Of early nature, and the vigorous race Of the embrace of angels, with a sex Most glorious orb! that wert a worship, ere 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 |