SCENE III. The Mountains-The Castle of Manfred at some distance -A Terrace before a Tower.-Time, Twilight. HERMAN, MANUEL, and other Dependants of Manfred. HER. "Tis strange enough; night after night, for years, He hath pursued long vigils in this tower, Without a witness. I have been within it, So have we all been oft-times; but from it, Or its contents, it were impossible His studies tend to. To be sure, there is One chamber where none enter; I would give To pore upon its mysteries. MANUEL. "Twere dangerous; Content thyself with what thou knowest already. HER. Ah! Manuel! thou art elderly and wise, And couldst say much; thou hast dwelt within the castleHow many years is't? MANUEL. Ere Count Manfred's birth, I served his father, whom he nought resembles. HER. There be more sons in like predicament. But wherein do they differ? MANUEL. I speak not Of features or of form, but mind and habits: Count Sigismund was proud,-but gay and free,— A warrior and a reveller; he dwelt not With books and solitude, nor made the night Merrier than day; he did not walk the rocks From men and their delights. HER. Beshrew the hour, But those were jocund times! I would that such Would visit the old walls again; they look As if they had forgotten them. MANUEL. Must change their chieftain first. These walls Oh! I have seen Some strange things in them, Herman. HER. Come, be friendly; Relate me some to while away our watch: I've heard thee darkly speak of an event F 2 MANUEL. That was a night indeed; I do remember 'Twas twilight, as it may be now, and such Another evening;-yon red cloud, which rests On Eigher's pinnacle, so rested then,— Count Manfred was, as now, within his tower,- And watchings-her, whom of all earthly things The lady Astarte, his Hush! who comes here? Enter the ABBOT. ABBOT. Where is your master? HER. Yonder, in the tower. ABBOT. I must speak with him. MANUEL. 'Tis impossible; He is most private, and must not be thus Intruded on. Аввот. Upon myself I take The forfeit of my fault, if fault there be― Knock, and apprize the Count of my approach. MAN. The stars are forth, the moon above the tops Of the snow-shining mountains.-Beautiful! I linger yet with Nature, for the night Hath been to me a more familiar face Than that of man; and in her starry shade I learn'd the language of another world. I do remember me, that in my youth, Of distant sentinels the fitful song But the gladiators' bloody Circus stands, |