The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 123

[ARNOLD _falls senseless; his soul pa.s.ses into the shape of Achilles, which rises from the ground; while the phantom has disappeared, part by part, as the figure was formed from the earth_.

_Arn._ (_in his new form_). I love, and I shall be beloved! Oh, life!

At last I feel thee! Glorious Spirit!

_Stran._ Stop!

What shall become of your abandoned garment, Yon hump, and lump, and clod of ugliness, Which late you wore, or were?

_Arn._ Who cares? Let wolves And vultures take it, if they will.

_Stran._ And if They do, and are not scared by it, you'll say It must be peace-time, and no better fare Abroad i' the fields.

_Arn._ Let us but leave it there; No matter what becomes on't.

_Stran._ That's ungracious; 430 If not ungrateful. Whatsoe'er it be, It hath sustained your soul full many a day.

_Arn._ Aye, as the dunghill may conceal a gem Which is now set in gold, as jewels should be.

_Stran._ But if I give another form, it must be By fair exchange, not robbery. For they[223]

Who make men without women's aid have long Had patents for the same, and do not love Your Interlopers. The Devil may take men,[dd]

Not make them,--though he reap the benefit 440 Of the original workmans.h.i.+p:--and therefore Some one must be found to a.s.sume the shape You have quitted.

_Arn._ Who would do so?

_Stran._ That I know not, And therefore I must.

_Arn._ You!

_Stran._ I said it ere You inhabited your present dome of beauty.

_Arn._ True. I forget all things in the new joy Of this immortal change.

_Stran._ In a few moments I will be as you were, and you shall see Yourself for ever by you, as your shadow.

_Arn._ I would be spared this.

_Stran._ But it cannot be. 450 What! shrink already, being what you are, From seeing what you were?

_Arn._ Do as thou wilt.

_Stran._ (_to the late form of_ ARNOLD, _extended on the earth_).

Clay! not dead, but soul-less!

Though no man would choose thee, An Immortal no less Deigns not to refuse thee.

Clay thou art; and unto spirit All clay is of equal merit.

Fire! _without_ which nought can live; Fire! but _in_ which nought can live, 460 Save the fabled salamander, Or immortal souls, which wander, Praying what doth not forgive, Howling for a drop of water, Burning in a quenchless lot: Fire! the only element Where nor fish, beast, bird, nor worm, Save the Worm which dieth not, Can preserve a moment's form, But must with thyself be blent: 470 Fire! man's safeguard and his slaughter: Fire! Creation's first-born Daughter, And Destruction's threatened Son, When Heaven with the world hath done: Fire! a.s.sist me to renew Life in what lies in my view Stiff and cold!

His resurrection rests with me and you!

One little, marshy spark of flame--[224]

And he again shall seem the same; 480 But I his Spirit's place shall hold!

[_An ignis-fatuus flits through the wood and rests on the brow of the body. The Stranger disappears: the body rises_.

_Arn._ (_in his new form_). Oh! horrible!

_Stran._ (_in_ ARNOLD'S _late shape_). What! tremblest thou?

_Arn._ Not so-- I merely shudder. Where is fled the shape Thou lately worest?

_Stran._ To the world of shadows.

But let us thread the present. Whither wilt thou?

_Arn._ Must thou be my companion?

_Stran._ Wherefore not?

Your betters keep worse company.

_Arn._ _My_ betters!

_Stran._ Oh! you wax proud, I see, of your new form: I'm glad of that. Ungrateful too! That's well; You improve apace;--two changes in an instant, 490 And you are old in the World's ways already.

But bear with me: indeed you'll find me useful Upon your pilgrimage. But come, p.r.o.nounce Where shall we now be errant?

_Arn._ Where the World Is thickest, that I may behold it in Its workings.

_Stran._ That's to say, where there is War And Woman in activity. Let's see!

Spain--Italy--the new Atlantic world[225]-- Afric with all its Moors. In very truth, There is small choice: the whole race are just now 500 Tugging as usual at each other's hearts.

_Arn._ I have heard great things of Rome.

_Stran._ A goodly choice-- And scarce a better to be found on earth, Since Sodom was put out. The field is wide too; For now the Frank, and Hun, and Spanish scion Of the old Vandals, are at play along The sunny sh.o.r.es of the World's garden.

_Arn._ How Shall we proceed?

_Stran._ Like gallants, on good coursers.

What, ho! my chargers! Never yet were better, Since Phaeton was upset into the Po[226]. 510 Our pages too!

_Enter two Pages, with four coal-black horses_.

_Arn._ A n.o.ble sight!

_Stran._ And of A n.o.bler breed. Match me in Barbary, Or your Kochlini race of Araby[de][227], With these!

_Arn._ The mighty steam, which volumes high From their proud nostrils, burns the very air; And sparks of flame, like dancing fire-flies wheel Around their manes, as common insects swarm Round common steeds towards sunset.

_Stran._ Mount, my lord: They and I are your servitors.

_Arn._ And these Our dark-eyed pages--what may be their names? 520

_Stran._ You shall baptize them.

_Arn._ What! in holy water?