Bethink thee, is there then no other gift Which we can make not worthless in thine eyes? Man. No, none: yet stay-one moment, ere we part I would behold ye face to face. I hear The steady aspect of a clear large star; Spirit. We have no forms, beyond the elements Man. I have no choice; there is no form on earth Hideous or beautiful to me. Let him, Who is most powerful of ye, take such aspect Man. Oh God! if it be thus, and thou I yet might be most happy. And we again will be I will clasp thee, [The figure vanishes. My heart is crush'd! [MANFRED falls senseless. (A Voice is heard in the Incantation which follows.) (') When the moon is on the wave, And the glow-worm in the grass, " As (1) [These verses were written in Switzerland, in 1816, and transmitted to England for publication, with the third canto of Childe Harold. they were written," says Mr. Moore, " immediately after the last fruitless And the meteor on the grave, And the wisp on the morass ;(1) With a power and with a sign. Though thy slumber may be deep, Yet thy spirit shall not sleep; There are shades which will not vanish, Thou canst never be alone; Thou art wrapt as with a shroud, Thou art gather'd in a cloud; And for ever shalt thou dwell attempt at reconciliation, it is needless to say who was in the poet's thoughts while he penned some of the opening stanzas."— "_E.] (1) [" And the wisp on the morass."- Hearing, in February, 1818, of a menaced version of Manfred by some Italian, Lord Byron wrote to his friend Mr. Hoppner-" If you have any means of communicating with the man, would you permit me to convey to him the offer of any price he may obtain, or think to obtain, for his project, provided he will throw his translation into the fire, and promise not to undertake any other of that, or any other of my things? I will send him-his money immediately, on this condition." A negotiation was accordingly set on foot, and the translator, on receiving two hundred francs, delivered up his manuscript, and engaged never to translate any other of the poet's works. Of his qualifications for the task some notion may be formed from the fact, that he had turned the word "wisp," in this line, into " a bundle of straw."— E.] Though thou seest me not pass by, As thy shadow on the spot, And a magic voice and verse Hath begirt thee with a snare ; From thy false tears I did distil An essence which hath strength to kill; I found the strongest was thine own. By thy cold breast and serpent smile, Which pass'd for human thine own heart; And on thy head I pour the vial Shall be in thy destiny; Though thy death shall still seem near To thy wish, but as a fear; Lo! the spell now works around thee, And the clankless chain hath bound thee; Hath the word been pass'd-now wither! SCENE II. The Mountain of the Jungfrau.-Time, Morning.- Man. The spirits I have raised abandon me (1) [MS." I do adjure thee to this spell."-E] The future, till the past be gulf'd in darkness, It is not of my search. -My mother Earth! And thou fresh breaking Day, and you, ye Mountains, Art a delight-thou shin'st not on my heart. And my brain reels-and yet my foot is firm: If it be life to wear within myself Thou winged and cloud-cleaving minister, [An eagle passes. Whose happy flight is highest into heaven, |