按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
chanting；
Spirit Wherever be thy home； In earth or air； My message hear； And
fear it。 By the power which I have earned； To which thy knee has knelt；
By the spell which I have learned； A spell which thou； hast felt； I
bid thee hither come ！
＇A white cloud appears in the distance； floating up the glen； and a
voice is heard； singing as it approaches；
ACT Ii
I。
I saw from port a vessel steer； The skies were clear； the winds were
fair； More swiftly than the hunted deer； Upon her snowy wings of air； She
flew along the silv'ry water； As fearlessly as if some sprite； Familiar with
the deep； had taught her； A spell by which to rule the might Of winds and
waves； when met to try Their strength； up midway in the sky。
II。
Along her trackless watery way； With unabated speed she flew； Still
gay and careless； till the day Waned past： night came： the heavens grew
Black； dread and threat'ning。 Then the storm Came forth in its devouring
wrath； Before it fled Fear's pallid form； Destruction followed in its path； It
passed： the morning came： in vain； I look for that lost bark again。
III。
Far down beneath the deep blue waves； Within some merman's coral
hall； Her fated crew have found their graves； Above them； for their burial
pall； The mermaids spread their flowing tresses； The waters chant their
requiem； From many an eyelid； Pity presses Her tender； dewy tears for
them： The natives of the ocean weep； To view them sleeping death's pale
sleep。
27
… Page 28…
Mazelli； and Other Poems
IV。
Thou； mortal； wast the bark I saw； The waters； were the sea of life；
And thou； alas！ too well dost know； What storms were imaged in the strife
Of winds and waves。 The hopes of youth； Thou； in that bark's lost crew；
may'st see； All buried now within that smooth； Vast； boundless deep；
eternity： And I； a spirit though I be； Can pity still； and weep for thee。
＇The cloud settles near the fountain； and； unclosing； discovers a
beautiful form looking steadily at Werner。
WERNER （addressing it）。
How beautiful！ If intercourse between all living worlds； Had not been
barr'd by Him who gave them life； I should believe thou wert the guardian
spirit； Of that which men have named the Queen of Night。 Like her； thou
art majestic； pale and sad； And of a tender beauty： those bright curls That
press thy brow； and cling about thy neck； Seem made of sunbeams； caught
upon their way To earth； by some creative hand； and woven Into a fairy
web； of light and life； Conscious of its high source； and proud to be A part
of aught so beautiful as thou。 I have seen many full； bright mortal eyes；
That were a labyrinth of witching charms； In which the heart of him who
looked was lost； But none like thine； their light is not of earth； Their
loveliness not like what man calls lovely。 Beside the smoothness of thy
brow and cheek； The lily's lip were rough； each of thy limbs； Is； in itself； a
being and a beauty。 If that the orb thou didst inhabit； ere Thou wert a
portion of eternity； Was worthy of such dwellers； oh！ how fair And
glorious； must have been its fields and bow'rs！ How clear its streams！ how
pure and fresh its airs！ How mellow were its fruits！ how bright its flow'rs！
How strong and brave the beings； fit to share It with thee！ 'Tis most
strange that He； whose hand Fashions such wondrous things； should take
delight In striking them to nothingness again！ Perchance the author of all
evil had Invaded it； and made it quite unfit To be a part of God's great
universe。 And yet thou lookest as if thou wert beyond The power of
temptation to assail。 Hast thou too sinned？
Spirit。
I have lived as thou livest； died as thou Wilt have to die； and am what
28
… Page 29…
Mazelli； and Other Poems
thou shalt be。
Werner
I have not questioned thee of life or death； Nor of the state which
shall succeed them both； I care not for the first； nor fear the second； The
last I leave to Him who gave to man Eternity for his inheritance。 But I
would know if the unceasing war； Which good and evil wage upon the
earth； Has reached beyond； its confines。
Spirit。
Have I not answered thee？ The Begetter of worlds； stars； suns； and
systems！ The Father of Creation！ the Bridegroom Of the Spirit！ hath He
not written that Death has dominion only over sin？ And thou would'st
know if other worlds have felt The curse that fell upon； and blighted thine。
Poor simple child of clay！ no doubt thou know'st The story of the Eden of
thy sire； And think'st that there； in its fresh； stainless breast； The baleful
seeds of evil first were sown； Which since have spread so fearfully
abroad； When the sad doom； that came on him and his； Was but the spray；
cast from the wave of fate； Which just then reached thy newly finished orb。
Where it first startedwhither tends its course Where it shall stophow
many wrecks of worlds Once fairer far than thine was at its birth Shall
strew its desolate way；is not for things Brought forth from dust to know。
What wouldst thou of me？
Werner。
The sole remaining good； if good it be； That yet is mine to share。 I
have tried all That earthly hope holds out to satisfy The longings of man's
nature。 I have loved； And made an idol of the thing I loved； And
worshipped it with all my soul's intensity； And； for awhile； the frenzy of
my dream Shut out all other thoughts。 But it was short； Death plucked my
lovely flower from my grasp； And then； the icy chill of desolation Came；
like a snowy avalanche； upon My heart； and froze the fountains of its
feeling。 I was ambitious。 I have striven for； And worn； the gaudiest
wreath of fame； and when I would have placed it on my brow； it grew A
mountain in its weight。 I courted much The notice of the world； and when
men praised； The very breath that bore their praise to me； Seemed clogged
29
… Page 30…
Mazelli； and Other Poems
with pestilence。
Wealth； too； I coveted； And heaped its shining dust in hoards around
me； And yet it was but dust； as barren of Enjoyment as the ground we
tread upon。 I clad myself in purpleheaped my board With all the fairest；
sweetest fruits of earth； And filled my golden goblets with bright juice；
Pressed from the goodliest grapes； and made my couch Of down； and yet；
I was most wretched still。 My garments were but cumbersome； my couch
Could give no rest； and e'en my generous wines Could not remove the
crushing weight that sat； Nightmare…like； on my heart； until it grew A
palpable and keenly aching pang。 There is； one path which yet remains
untrod； To be my guide in it； I called thee hither； 'Tis that of knowledge。
Spirit。
The same In which the mother of thy race was lost； With e'en a wiser；
mightier guide than I。 She thirsted； too； for knowledge； and she gave Her
innocenceher home in Paradise The happiness of himwho shared her
lot To knowwhat？ That her wn rebellious hand Had raised the flood…
gates of a sea of crime； Which would for ever pour its bitter waves Upon
the helpless unprotected race； Which her rash deed had ruined。 Think of
the sighsthe groansthe floods of tears The woestoo deep for these
which have no end； Save but in heart…breaks！ Think upon the toil The
sweatthe painthe strifethe crimethe blood The myriads of souls
with which this one Sad lesson was obtained！ whose price is yet Not fully
paid； nor shall be so； until The last poor son of earth mingles with dust！
Dost thou not fear to tread a path like this？
Werner。
I have no fear； It is so long since I have felt its thrill That 'twere a
pleasure now to feel it。
Spirit。
What wouldst thou know？ Thou art f