And steadfastly;-now tell me what thou seest?

ABBOT. That which should shake me,-but I fear

it not

I see a dusk and awful figure rise

Like an infernal god from out the earth;

His face wrapt in a mantle, and his form

Robed as with angry clouds; he stands between
Thyself and me-but I do fear him not.

MAN. Thou hast no cause-he shall not harm

thee-but

His sight may shock thine old limbs into palsy.
I say to thee-Retire!

Аввот.

And I reply

Never-till I have battled with this fiend

What doth he here?

MAN.

Why-ay-what doth he here?

I did not send for him,—he is unbidden.

ABBOT. Alas! lost mortal! what with guests like

these

Hast thou to do? I tremble for thy sake;
Why doth he gaze on thee, and thou on him?
Ah! he unveils his aspect; on his brow
The thunder-scars are graven; from his eye
Glares forth the immortality of hell—

Avaunt!

ΜΑΝ.

SPIRIT.

Pronounce-what is thy mission?

Come !

ABBOT. What art thou, unknown being? answer!

-speak!

SPIRIT. The genius of this mortal.-Come! 'tis

time.

MAN. I am prepared for all things, but deny

The power which summons me. Who sent thee here? SPIRIT. Thou'lt know anon-Come! come!

MAN.

I have commanded

Things of an essence greater far than thine,
And striven with thy masters.

Get thee hence !

SPIRIT. Mortal! thine hour is come-Away! I say.

MAN. I knew, and know my hour is come, but not To render up my soul to such as thee:

Away! I'll die as I have lived-alone.

SPIRIT. Then I must summon up my brethren.

Rise!

[Other Spirits rise up.

ABBOT. Avaunt! ye evil ones!-Avaunt! I say,Ye have no power where piety hath power,

And I do charge ye in the name

SPIRIT.

Old man !

We know ourselves, our mission, and thine order ;

VOL. VI.

M

Waste not thy holy words on idle uses,
It were in vain; this man is forfeited.
Once more I summon him-Away! away!
MAN. I do defy ye,-though I feel my soul
Is ebbing from me, yet I do defy ye;

Nor will I hence, while I have earthly breath
To breathe my scorn upon ye-earthly strength
To wrestle, though with spirits; what ye take
Shall be ta'en limb by limb.

SPIRIT.

Reluctant mortal!

Is this the Magian who would so pervade
The world invisible, and make himself
Almost our equal?—Can it be that thou
Art thus in love with life? the very life
Which made thee wretched!

ΜΑΝ.

Thou false fiend, thou liest!

My life is in its last hour,-that I know,
Nor would redeem a moment of that hour;

I do not combat against death, but thee
And thy surrounding angels; my past power
Was purchased by no compact with thy crew,
But by superior science-penance-daring-
And length of watching-strength of mind-and skill
In knowledge of our fathers-when the earth
Saw men and spirits walking side by side,
And gave ye no supremacy: I stand

Upon my strength-I do defy-deny

Spurn back, and scorn ye!—

SPIRIT.

Have made thee

ΜΑΝ.

But thy many crimes

What are they to such as thee?

Must crimes be punish'd but by other crimes,

And greater criminals?-Back to thy hell!

Thou hast no power upon me, that I feel;
Thou never shalt possess me, that I know:
What I have done is done; I bear within