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ACT III
SCENE II
Another Chamber.
MANFRED and HERMAN.
HERMAN.
My Lord, you bade me wait on you at
sunset:
He sinks beyond the mountain.
MANFRED.
Doth he so?
I will look on him.
(MANFRED advances to the Window of the Hall.)
Glorious Orb! the idol
Of
early nature, and the vigorous race
Of
undiseased mankind the
giant sons
Of
the embrace of angels, with a sex
More beautiful than they, which did draw down
The
erring spirits who can ne'er return;
Most glorious orb! that wert a worship, ere 180
The mystery of thy making was reveal'd!
Thou earliest minister of the Almighty,
Which gladden'd, on their mountain tops, the hearts
Of the
Chaldean shepherds, till they pour'd
Themselves in
orisons! Thou
material God!
And representative of
the Unknown,
Who chose thee for his
shadow! Thou chief star!
Centre of many stars! which mak'st our earth
Endurable, and temperest the hues
And hearts of all who walk within thy rays! 190
Sire of the seasons! Monarch of the climes
And those who dwell in them! for near or far
Our inborn spirits have a tint of thee,
Even as our outward aspects;-- thou dost rise,
And shine, and set in glory. Fare thee well!
I ne'er shall see thee more. As my first glance
Of love and wonder was for thee, then take
My latest look: thou wilt not beam on one
To whom the gifts of life and warmth have been
Of a more
fatal nature. He is gone; 200
I follow.
(Exit MANFRED.)
CST Approved