The Works of Lord Byron Volume IV Part 15

For the text of Goethe's review of _Manfred_, and Hoppner's translation of that review, and an account of Goethe's relation with Byron, drawn from Professor A. Brandl's _Goethes Verhaltniss zu Byron (Goethe-Jahrbuch, Zwanzigster Band_, 1899), and other sources, see _Letters_, 1901, v. Appendix II. pp. 503-521.

For contemporary and other notices of _Manfred_, in addition to those already mentioned, see _Eclectic Review_, July, 1817, New Series, vol.

viii. pp. 62-66; _Gentleman's Magazine_, July, 1817, vol. 87, pp. 45-47; _Monthly Review_, July, 1817, Enlarged Series, vol. 83, pp. 300-307; _Dublin University Magazine_, April, 1874, vol. 83, pp. 502-508, etc.

DRAMATIS PERSONae.

Manfred.

Chamois Hunter.

Abbot of St. Maurice.

Manuel.

Herman.

Witch of the Alps.

Arimanes.

Nemesis.

The Destinies.

Spirits, etc.

_The Scene of the Drama is amongst the Higher Alps--partly in the Castle of Manfred, and partly in the Mountains._

MANFRED.[106]

ACT 1.

SCENE 1.--Manfred _alone_.--_Scene, a Gothic Gallery._[107]-- _Time, Midnight._

_Man_. The lamp must be replenished, but even then It will not burn so long as I must watch: My slumbers--if I slumber--are not sleep, But a continuance, of enduring thought, Which then I can resist not: in my heart There is a vigil, and these eyes but close To look within; and yet I live, and bear The aspect and the form of breathing men.

But Grief should be the Instructor of the wise; Sorrow is Knowledge: they who know the most 10 Must mourn the deepest o'er the fatal truth, The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life.

Philosophy and science, and the springs[108]

Of Wonder, and the wisdom of the World, I have essayed, and in my mind there is A power to make these subject to itself-- But they avail not: I have done men good, And I have met with good even among men-- But this availed not: I have had my foes, And none have baffled, many fallen before me-- 20 But this availed not:--Good--or evil--life-- Powers, pa.s.sions--all I see in other beings, Have been to me as rain unto the sands, Since that all-nameless hour. I have no dread, And feel the curse to have no natural fear, Nor fluttering throb, that beats with hopes or wishes, Or lurking love of something on the earth.

Now to my task.-- Mysterious Agency!

Ye Spirits of the unbounded Universe![ap]

Whom I have sought in darkness and in light-- 30 Ye, who do compa.s.s earth about, and dwell In subtler essence--ye, to whom the tops Of mountains inaccessible are haunts,[aq]

And Earth's and Ocean's caves familiar things-- I call upon ye by the written charm[109]

Which gives me power upon you--Rise! Appear!

[A pause.

They come not yet.--Now by the voice of him Who is the first among you[110]--by this sign, Which makes you tremble--by the claims of him Who is undying,--Rise! Appear!----Appear! 40 [A pause.

If it be so.--Spirits of Earth and Air, Ye shall not so elude me! By a power, Deeper than all yet urged, a tyrant-spell, Which had its birthplace in a star condemned, The burning wreck of a demolished world, A wandering h.e.l.l in the eternal s.p.a.ce; By the strong curse which is upon my Soul,[111]

The thought which is within me and around me, I do compel ye to my will.--Appear!

[_A star is seen at the darker end of the gallery: it is stationary; and a voice is heard singing._]

First Spirit.

Mortal! to thy bidding bowed, 50 From my mansion in the cloud, Which the breath of Twilight builds, And the Summer's sunset gilds With the azure and vermilion, Which is mixed for my pavilion;[ar]

Though thy quest may be forbidden, On a star-beam I have ridden, To thine adjuration bowed: Mortal--be thy wish avowed!

_Voice of the_ Second Spirit.

Mont Blanc is the Monarch of mountains; 60 They crowned him long ago On a throne of rocks, in a robe of clouds, With a Diadem of snow.

Around his waist are forests braced, The Avalanche in his hand; But ere it fall, that thundering ball Must pause for my command.

The Glacier's cold and restless ma.s.s Moves onward day by day; But I am he who bids it pa.s.s, 70 Or with its ice delay.[as]

I am the Spirit of the place, Could make the mountain bow And quiver to his caverned base-- And what with me would'st _Thou?_

_Voice of the_ Third Spirit.

In the blue depth of the waters, Where the wave hath no strife, Where the Wind is a stranger, And the Sea-snake hath life, Where the Mermaid is decking 80 Her green hair with sh.e.l.ls, Like the storm on the surface Came the sound of thy spells; O'er my calm Hall of Coral The deep Echo rolled-- To the Spirit of Ocean Thy wishes unfold!

FOURTH SPIRIT.

Where the slumbering Earthquake Lies pillowed on fire, And the lakes of bitumen 90 Rise boilingly higher; Where the roots of the Andes Strike deep in the earth, As their summits to heaven Shoot soaringly forth; I have quitted my birthplace, Thy bidding to bide-- Thy spell hath subdued me, Thy will be my guide!

FIFTH SPIRIT.

I am the Rider of the wind, 100 The Stirrer of the storm; The hurricane I left behind Is yet with lightning warm; To speed to thee, o'er sh.o.r.e and sea I swept upon the blast: The fleet I met sailed well--and yet 'Twill sink ere night be past.

SIXTH SPIRIT.

My dwelling is the shadow of the Night, Why doth thy magic torture me with light?

SEVENTH SPIRIT.

The Star which rules thy destiny no 110 Was ruled, ere earth began, by me: It was a World as fresh and fair As e'er revolved round Sun in air; Its course was free and regular, s.p.a.ce bosomed not a lovelier star.

The Hour arrived--and it became A wandering ma.s.s of shapeless flame, A pathless Comet, and a curse, The menace of the Universe; Still rolling on with innate force, 120 Without a sphere, without a course, A bright deformity on high, The monster of the upper sky!

And Thou! beneath its influence born-- Thou worm! whom I obey and scorn-- Forced by a Power (which is not thine, And lent thee but to make thee mine) For this brief moment to descend, Where these weak Spirits round thee bend And parley with a thing like thee-- 130 What would'st thou, Child of Clay! with me?[112]

_The_ SEVEN SPIRITS.

Earth--ocean--air--night--mountains--winds--thy Star, Are at thy beck and bidding, Child of Clay!

Before thee at thy quest their Spirits are-- What would'st thou with us, Son of mortals--say?

_Man_. Forgetfulness----

_First Spirit_. Of what--of whom--and why?

_Man_. Of that which is within me; read it there-- Ye know it--and I cannot utter it.

_Spirit_. We can but give thee that which we possess: Ask of us subjects, sovereignty, the power 140 O'er earth--the whole, or portion--or a sign Which shall control the elements, whereof We are the dominators,--each and all, These shall be thine.

_Man_. Oblivion--self-oblivion!

Can ye not wring from out the hidden realms Ye offer so profusely--what I ask?