With the blood of a million he'll answer my care, Second Voice, without. The ship sail'd on, the ship sail'd fast, But I left not a sail, and I left not a mast; There is not a plank of the hull or the deck; And there is not a wretch to lament o'er his wreck, But I sav'd him to wreak further havoc for me. FIRST DESTINY, answering. The city lies sleeping; The morn, to deplore it, May dawn on it weeping: The black plague flew o'er it— Tens of thousands shall perish, And evil and dread, Envelope a nation— The blest are the dead, Of their own desolation This work of a night This wreck of a realm-this deed of my doing For ages I've done, and shall still be renewing! 30 40 50 Enter the SECOND and THIRD DESTINIES. The Three. Our hands contain the hearts of men, The spirits of our slaves! First Des. Welcome!-Where's Nemesis? Second Des. At some great work: 60 But what I know not, for my hands were full. First Des. Enter NEMESIS. Say, where hast thou been? My sisters and thyself are slow to-night. Nem. I was detain'd repairing shatter'd thrones, Marrying fools, restoring dynasties, Avenging men upon their enemies, And making them repent their own revenge; We have outstay'd the hour-mount we our clouds ! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.—The Hall of Arimanes—ARIMANES on his throne, a Globe of Fire, surrounded by the SPIRITS. Hymn of the SPIRITS. Hail to our master!-Prince of Earth and Air! The sceptre of the elements, which tear Themselves to chaos at his high command! He breatheth-and a tempest shakes the sea: He speaketh-and the clouds reply in thunder; His shadow is the Pestilence; his path To him Death pays his tribute; Life is his, And his the spirit of whatever is! Enter the DESTINIES and NEMESIS. First Des. Glory to Arimanes! on the earth Second Des. Glory to Arimanes! we who bow ΙΟ 20 A Spirit. Enter MANFRED. What is here? A mortal.-Thou most rash and fatal wretch, Bow down and worship! Second Spirit. I do know the man A Magian of great power, and fearful skill! Third Spirit. Bow down and worship, slave! What, know'st thou not Thine and our Sovereign ?—Tremble, and obey! All the Spirits. Prostrate thyself, and thy condemned clay, Child of the Earth! or dread the worst. Man. I know it; And yet ye see I kneel not. Fourth Spirit. 'Twill be taught thee. Man. 'Tis taught already ;—many a night on the earth, On the bare ground, have I bow'd down my face, And strew'd my head with ashes; I have known I sunk before my vain despair, and knelt To my own desolation. Fifth Spirit. Dost thou dare Refuse to Arimanes on his throne What the whole earth accords, beholding not The terror of his glory? Crouch! I say. Man. Bid him bow down to that which is above him, The overruling Infinite-the Maker Who made him not for worship—let him kneel, 40 And we will kneel together. The Spirits. Tear him in pieces!— Crush the worm! 50 First Des. Hence! Avaunt!-he's mine. Prince of the Powers Invisible! this man Is of no common order, as his port And presence here denote; his sufferings Our own; his knowledge, and his powers and will, Which clogs the ethereal essence, have been such This is not all-the passions, attributes Of earth and heaven, from which no power, nor being, 60 Have pierced his heart; and in their consequence, First Des. 70 Let him answer that. Man. Ye know what I have known; and without power I could not be amongst ye; but there are Powers deeper still beyond-I come in quest Of such, to answer unto what I seek. Nem. What wouldst thou? Thou canst not reply to me. 80 Call up the dead-my question is for them. Shadow! or Spirit! Whatever thou art, The whole or a part Of the form of thy birth, Re-appear to the day! The heart and the form, Redeem from the worm. Appear!—appear!—appear! Who sent thee there requires thee here! 90 |