The Works of Lord Byron Volume IV Part 19

_Nem_. I was detained repairing shattered thrones-- Marrying fools, restoring dynasties-- Avenging men upon their enemies, And making them repent their own revenge; Goading the wise to madness; from the dull Shaping out oracles to rule the world Afresh--for they were waxing out of date, And mortals dared to ponder for themselves, To weigh kings in the balance--and to speak 70 Of Freedom, the forbidden fruit.--Away!

We have outstayed the hour--mount we our clouds!

[_Exeunt._

SCENE IV.--_The Hall of Arimanes._[144]--_Arimanes on his Throne, a Globe of Fire,[145] surrounded by the Spirits._

_Hymn of the_ SPIRITS.

Hail to our Master!--Prince of Earth and Air!

Who walks the clouds and waters--in his hand 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; He gazeth--from his glance the sunbeams flee; He moveth--Earthquakes rend the world asunder.

Beneath his footsteps the Volcanoes rise; His shadow is the Pestilence: his path 10 The comets herald through the crackling skies;[bb]

And Planets turn to ashes at his wrath.

To him War offers daily sacrifice; To him Death pays his tribute; Life is his, With all its Infinite of agonies-- And his the Spirit of whatever is!

_Enter the_ DESTINIES _and_ NEMESIS.

_First Des_. Glory to Arimanes! on the earth His power increaseth--both my sisters did His bidding, nor did I neglect my duty!

_Second Des_. Glory to Arimanes! we who bow 20 The necks of men, bow down before his throne!

_Third Des_. Glory to Arimanes! we await His nod!

_Nem_. Sovereign of Sovereigns! we are thine, And all that liveth, more or less, is ours, And most things wholly so; still to increase Our power, increasing thine, demands our care, And we are vigilant. Thy late commands Have been fulfilled to the utmost.

_Enter_ MANFRED.

_A Spirit_. What is here?

A mortal!--Thou most rash and fatal wretch, Bow down and wors.h.i.+p!

_Second Spirit_. I do know the man-- 30 A Magian of great power, and fearful skill!

_Third Spirit_. Bow down and wors.h.i.+p, 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 bowed down my face, And strewed my head with ashes; I have known The fulness of humiliation--for 40 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 wors.h.i.+p--let him kneel, And we will kneel together.

_The Spirits_. Crush the worm!

Tear him in pieces!--

_First Des_. Hence! Avaunt!--he's mine. 50 Prince of the Powers invisible! This man Is of no common order, as his port And presence here denote: his sufferings Have been of an immortal nature--like Our own; his knowledge, and his powers and will, As far as is compatible with clay, Which clogs the ethereal essence, have been such As clay hath seldom borne; his aspirations Have been beyond the dwellers of the earth, And they have only taught him what we know-- 60 That knowledge is not happiness, and science[146]

But an exchange of ignorance for that Which is another kind of ignorance.

This is not all--the pa.s.sions, attributes Of Earth and Heaven, from which no power, nor being, Nor breath from the worm upwards is exempt, Have pierced his heart; and in their consequence Made him a thing--which--I who pity not, Yet pardon those who pity. He is mine-- And thine it may be; be it so, or not-- 70 No other Spirit in this region hath A soul like his--or power upon his soul.

_Nem_. What doth he here then?

_First Des_. 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 would'st thou?

_Man_. _Thou_ canst not reply to me.

Call up the dead--my question is for them.

_Nem_. Great Arimanes, doth thy will avouch 80 The wishes of this mortal?

_Ari_. Yea.

_Nem_. Whom wouldst thou Uncharnel?

_Man_. One without a tomb--call up Astarte.[147]

NEMESIS.

Shadow! or Spirit!

Whatever thou art, Which still doth inherit[bc]

The whole or a part Of the form of thy birth, Of the mould of thy clay, Which returned to the earth, 90 Re-appear to the day!

Bear what thou borest, The heart and the form, And the aspect thou worest Redeem from the worm.

Appear!--Appear!--Appear!

Who sent thee there requires thee here!

[_The Phantom of_ ASTARTE _rises and stands in the midst_.

_Man_. Can this be death? there's bloom upon her cheek; But now I see it is no living hue, But a strange hectic--like the unnatural red 100 Which Autumn plants upon the perished leaf.[148]

It is the same! Oh, G.o.d! that I should dread To look upon the same--Astarte!--No, I cannot speak to her--but bid her speak-- Forgive me or condemn me.

NEMESIS.

By the Power which hath broken The grave which enthralled thee, Speak to him who hath spoken.

Or those who have called thee!

_Man_. She is silent, And in that silence I am more than answered. 110

_Nem_. My power extends no further. Prince of Air!

It rests with thee alone--command her voice.

_Ari_. Spirit--obey this sceptre!