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up； broad vineyards； with their vines Bending with purple clusters of ripe
fruit； Wide valleys； with green meadows； and pure streams； And gentle
hills； where ripening harvests stand； Majestic rivers； with their verdant
banks Studded with towns； and rural villages； Motionless lakes； and seas
without a wave； And oceans pulseless as a dead man's heart！ And mighty
cities； standing on their coasts； With vasty walls and gilded palaces； And
giant tow'rs； and tapering spires； that seem The guardians of all they
overlook。 Churchyards； with their pale gravestones； that appear Like
watchers of the dead whose names they bear！ All these are there； but not a
sign of life； No living thing that creeps along the ground； Or flies the air；
or swims the wave； is seen。 It seems as if on all things some strong spell
Had in the twinkling of a star came down And rocked them to an
everlasting sleep！ Spirit！ tell me if what I see is more Than a delusion； if it
be； whence came These shades？
Spirit。
And have I not already said That these things are； that they are quick
with life； Such life as disembodied spirits have； That they are deathless？
Thou need'st not inquire Of me whence they are come； for thou hast seen
One of their number on its journey hither。 The period may not be far
remote When thine own planet； starting from its sphere； Shall fright the
dwellers of the stars that skirt Its destined pathway to these silent realms！
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Thou'st seen the comet rushing through the sky； And； gazing on the
glowing track which it Had branded on the azure breast of space； Thinking
thy words were wisdom； thou hast said； 〃When its full term of years has
been fulfilled； It shall return again。〃 Not knowing that The light thou
sawest was reflected from That sacred fire； which； in the end； shall purge
The spirit essence which pervades creation； From the dull dust with which
a wayward fate Has clogged its being！ Question me no more Remember
what I saidI dare not tell The secrets of Eternity。 Look on And learn
whate'er thou canst。
Werner。
There is one thing which I at last have learned； To feel that with
the increase of our knowledge Our sorrows must increase。 I oft have heard；
But never before have felt the truth of this。 To know that were it not for
this clay mask； I even now might pierce the shadowy veil That wraps in
mystery the things I see； And comprehend their secret principle； Will make
life doubly hard to bear； and tempt Me much to shake it prematurely off；
And snatch wings for my spirit ere its time。 A total ignorance were better
than The flash which from its slumber wakes the mind； And then；
departing； leaves it to itself； In the wide maze of error； darkly groping。
Wisdom is not the medicine to heal A discontented mind。 I now know
more Than when I left the earth； but feel that I Have bought my
knowledge with increase of sorrow。
Spirit。
Did I not tell thee that its path were steep； And hard to climb； and
thick beset with thorns； And that its tempting； longed…for fruit； tho'
bought With a great price； is full of bitterness？ If though art satisfied； let
us retrace Our way to earth again； wert thou to go Yet farther on； thou
might'st regret the more Our coming hither。
Werner。
What！ is there aught still more remote than these From the great
centre of the universe； The fair domain of life and living things？
Spirit。
There is； A kingdom tenanted with such dark shapes； That angels
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shudder when they look on them！ Thou surely dost not wish to visit it。
Werner。
Why not？ There is within my mind a void Whose vacant weight is
harder to be borne Than the keen stingings of more active pangs； When it
has traced the mystic chain of being To its last link； it may perchance
shake off The misery of restless discontent； Its fulness then may sink it
into rest。
Spirit。
I have no power to disobey thy word； If thou wilt on； I must proceed
with thee； Even though in looking on I share the pangs Of those who
suffer。
Werner。
Come； then； I too must see them； tho' it cost Me years of pain to
gaze but for a moment。
Spirit。
'Twere harder now to find Eve's' buried dust； Than to declare who
has inherited The largest portion of her prying spirit。
（Sings。）
Where Pain keepeth vigil With Sorrow and Care； And Horror sits
watching By dull…eyed Despair； Where the Spirit accurst Maketh
moan in its wo； Thy wishes direct us； And thither we go。
＇Exeunt。
ACT III。
Scene I。 Near the place of the damned。 Enter Werner and Spirit。
Werner。
What piercing； stunning sounds assail my ear！ Wild shrieks and
wrathful curses； groans and prayers； A chaos of all cries！ making the space
Through which they penetrate to flutter like The heart of a trapped hare；
are revelling round us。 Unlike the gloomy realm we just have quitted；
Silent and solemn； all is restless here； All wears the ashy hue of agony。
Above us bends a black and starless vault； Which ever echoes back the
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fearful voices That rise from the abodes of wo beneath。 Around us grim…
browed desolation broods； While； far below； a sea of pale gray clouds；
Like to an ocean tempest beaten； boils。 Whither shall we direct our
journey now？
Spirit。
Right down through yon abyss of boiling clouds； If though hast
courage to attempt the plunge； Our pathless way must be。 A moment more
And we shall stand where angels seldom stand； And devils almost pity
when they stand； Behold！
Werner。
Eternal God！ Whose being； is of love； whose band is pow'r； Whose
breath is life； whose noblest attribute； The one most worthy of thyself~…
is mercy！ Were these of thine immortal will conceived？ Has thy hand
shaped them out the forms they wear？ Has thy breath made them quick
with； breathing life？ And is thy mercy to their wailings deaf？ Poor
creatures！ I bad deemed that in my breast Grief had congealed the hidden
fount of tears； But ye have drawn them from their frozen source And I do
weep for you！
Spirit。
What moves thee thus？ I thought thy heart so steeled in hardihood
Of universal hate； and pride； and scorn； That even were the woes； which
thou dost here Behold endured by others； heaped on thee； Thy haughty
soul unmoved would feel them all； Accounting its development of strength
To bear the worst decrees of ruthless fate； Sufficient recompense！
Werner。
Misdeem me not； If I have wept involuntary tears O'er pangs beyond
my pow'r to mitigate； Believe me； 'twas in pity； not in fear。 But tell me；
Spirit！ is all hope extinct In those who here sojourn； or do they look Yet
forward to some blest millennial day； Which shall redeem them from this
horrid place。
Spirit。
Best ask your theologians that question。 Some say that there are places
purgatorial； Where Error pays the price of her transgressions In sufferings
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that efface the effects of sin。 And other some declare that when the soul
And clay are parted； heaven seals the doom Of both； beyond repeal。 Let
thy own mind Sit arbiter 'twixt these； and choose the truth。 Mark what
approaches us； and mark it well。
Werner。
I cannot turn my gaze from it； and yet It makes the warm blood
curdle in my veins。 Than it； hell cannot hold a fouler form A thing of
more unholy loathsomeness！ Its heavy eyes are dim and