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more unholy loathsomeness！ Its heavy eyes are dim and bleared with
blood； Its jaws； by strong convulsions fiercely worked； Are clogged and
clotted with mixed gore and foam！ A nauseous stench its filthy shape
exhales； And through its heaving bosom you may mark The constant
preying of a quenchless flame That gnaws its heartstrings！ while a harsh
quick moan Of mingled wrath； and madness； and despair； Perpetually
issues from its lips； And with unequal but unceasing steps； It chases
through the hot； sulphureous gloom； A mocking phantom；fair as it is foul！
With naked arms； white breast； and ebon locks； And big black eyes that
dart the humid flame Which sets the heart ablaze； and red moist lips； And
checks as spotless as the falling flake Ere it has touched the earth； and
supple form Wherein is knit each grace of womanhood In its perfection！
and with wanton looks That speak the burning language of desire； It seems
to woo its loathsome follower； Yet ever from his foul embraces flies。 And
on his brow his name is written； 〃Lust！〃 Dismiss the spectre； for it
blasts my sight； And sears my brain with its dark hideousness！
Spirit。
'Tis gone； look up and see what next appears。
Werner。
A frame which may be that of Hercules； It hath such giant members！
and its port Is martial as e'er marked a Caesar's moving。 Its sandals are of
brass； its massive brow Is helmeted in steel； and in its hand It bears a
sword with which； in idle strokes； It vainly beats the unresisting air； As if
in battle with some phantom foe； And at each blow it deals； a strong
fatality Turns back its sword's keen point on its own breast； Which deep it
gashes；then in mournful tone； It mutters o'er and o'er again these words；…
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… 〃I fought for fame and won unending wo。〃 His agonies seem like himself；
immortal。
Spirit。
Justice is blameless of his sufferings： For many years his busy；
plotting brain； Made discord out of union； strife from peace； And set the
nations warring till the earth Was crimson with the blood poured out for
him！ He bears what he inflicted；let him pass And mark what follows
him。
Werner。
A goodly shape； More fit to string and strike Apollo's lyre； Than bear
the shield or wield the sword of Mars！ A broken harp； suspended at his
side； A faded garland； wreathed about his brow； Tell what he was； and still
employ his care。 With thin white hand； that trembles at its task； In vain he
strives to bind the broken chords； And to their primal melody attune
them； In vain；for to his efforts still replies A boding strain of harsh；
discordant sound。 And then； with hot tears coursing down his cheeks； He
lifts his faded wreath from his pale brow； And gazing on its withered
leaves； exclaims； 〃For earthly fame I sung the songs of earth； Forgetful
of all higher； holier themes； 'Tis meet the meed I won should perish
thus。〃 Is not the justice which confines him here Akin to cruelty？ for his
sad heart Seems； as his earthly strains were； full of softness。
Spirit。
Each thought； and word； and deed of mortal man； Is but a moral
seed； which； in due season； Must bring forth fruit according to its kind。
The soil wherein those seeds are sown is Time；
Death is the reaper of the ripened harvest； The fruits are garnered in
Eternity； To be； or good or bad； the spirit's food！ If then our thoughts； and
words； and deeds have been Of corrupt tendency； or evil nature； What
marvel if we feed on bitterness？ What shadow next appears？
Werner。
An aged man； Lean…framed and haggard…visaged； bowed beneath The
weight of years； or worldly cares that press Still heavier than the iron hand
of time。 His tottering form is fearful to behold！ If the fierce scourge which
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men on earth call famine； Could incarnate itself； methinks 'twould choose
Just such a shape； so worn and grim and gaunt； And wo…begone of aspect。
Groping round He gathers from the burning floor of hell Some shining
pebbles； which his fond conceit Transmutes to gold； and these with
constant care He watches； counting and recounting them； Till suddenly a
whirlwind； sweeping by； Bears with it all his fancied hoards away；
Leaving him to renew his bootless task； Which ever he renews with this
complaint； 〃Alas！ how speedily may wealth take wing。〃 And on his front
his name is written； 〃Avarice。〃
Spirit。
There yet is； in this shadowy land of shades； One form which I
would have thee look upon。 Behold it cometh！ mark and scan it well。
Werner。
Never before in all my wanderings Through earth； or other regions；
where abide Things now no more of earth； have I beheld Aught so
profoundly mournful or so lone！ So dark a cloud o'erhangs his haggard
brow； That where he turns a dunner； murkier gloom Prevails along hell's
blasting atmosphere！ Surrounded by some goodly forms he moves；
Forms bright as his is dark； who each in turn Woo his acceptance of the
gifts they proffer。 Love stretches out his dimpled band； wherein He holds
his emblematic rose； and Hope； Bright Hope； that might renew again the
pulse Of life within the frozen veins of Death！ Beckons him to the future；…
…and calm Faith Kindles beneath his eye her beacon blaze； Yet； with such
anguish as hell only holds； He turns him from all these； and will not take
Love's proffered rose； lest 'neath its blushing leaves Should lurk the
stinging thorn of sly deceit。
Hope's smile to him is disappointment's signal； And the bright
beacon Faith so kindly lights To guide us o'er the treacherous sea of life；
To him is but a cheat； a mockery； An ignis fatuus； kindled to mislead。
And yet he seems as one who in his life Had nursed bright dreams； and
cherished lofty aims； Had dreamed of love； or wooed Ambition's smiles；
Or to the sway of empires had aspired； Or； higher still； the sway of human
hearts！ Why gazest thou on me and not on him？
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Spirit。
To mark if in thine aspect I might not Detect a consciousness that I
thy own soul Claimed brotherhood with his！ Thou too hast scoffed At
human love； and hope； and faith； and truth； Nursing within thy bosom
pride； and scorn； And rankling hate； I till these at length became Fiends
which thou could'st not master！ Thou art warned； Be wise and heed the
warning。 Let us now Return unto thy far off； native orb； O'er which the
rosy smile of morn is breaking； Waking its teeming millions to renew
Their daily rounds of toil and strife and crime。
＇Exeunt。
ACT IV。
Scene I。 A peak of the Alps。 Werner alone。 Time； morning。
Werner。
How gloriously beautiful is earth！ In these her quiet； unfrequented
haunts； To which； except the timid chamois' foot； Or venturous hunter's； or
the eagle's wing； Naught from beneath ascends。 As yet the sun But darts
his earliest rays of golden light Upon the summits of the tallest peaks；
Which robed in clouds and capped with glittering ice； Soar proudly up；
and beam and blaze aloft； As if they would claim kindred with the stars！
And they may claim such kindred； for there is Within； around； and over
them； the same Supreme； eternal； all…creating spirit Which glows and
burns in every beaming orb That circles in immeasurable space！ Far as
the eye can trace the mountain's crest On either hand； a gorgeous； varied
mass Of glowing； cloud…formed ranges are at rest； Reflecting back in
every hue and tint；
Purple and crimson； orange and bright gold； The sunny smile with
which Morn hails the world。 Beneath