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pleasure now to feel it。
Spirit。
What wouldst thou know？ Thou art familiar with all earthly lore。 More：
Thou hast gained； and wield'st a power； to which The rulers of the
elements do bow； The hurricane； at thy command goes forth； Walking
where'er thou bid'st it； and the storm Ceases to howl when thou hast said；
〃Be still！〃 Thine anger stirs the ocean； and thy wrath Finds out the deep
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foundations of the mountains； And shakes them with its strength； the
subtle fire； That lights the tempest on its gloomy way； Starts from its
cloud…rocked slumber； at thy call； To be thy messenger。 Canst thou not be
content when thou art feared By those who rule a world？ What is there yet
Which thy insatiate mind desires to know？ Would'st learn immortal
mysteries？ Reflect Thou art but mortal。
Werner。
Spirit； why dost thou Taunt me with my mortality？ 〃Weak things；
Brought forth from earth；〃〃Poor simple child of clay；〃 These are thy
words； when well thou knows't that I； Though bound to earth by bonds
made of its mire； Am mightier than thou。 Were it not so； Thou would'st not
now be face to face with one Of mortal birth。 Thou； too； canst feel revenge；
And knowest how to wreak it； but； take heed； The power which brought
thee hither； can； and may Deal harshly with thee。 If thou knowest aught
Worthy of an immortal mind to know； To which I have not pierced； reveal
thy knowledge。
Spirit。
We may not tell the secrets of eternity； But I can show thee things thou
hast not seen； And they may profit thee； although 'twill shake Even thy
proud heart to look upon them。 Would'st see them？
Werner。
It is my wish。
Spirit。
Come then。
Werner。
Lead on； Although thy path be through hell's gloomy gate； I too will
pass its portals at thy back。 Thou canst not enter where I dare not pass。
＇The cloud closes around them； and moves away； and a voice sings as
it disappears。
To the region of shadow； The region of death； Where dust is a stranger；
And life has no breath； Where darkness and silence Their dim shrouds
have cast Round the phantoms of worlds That belong to the past； Spirits
who sit on The thrones of the air； Guide ye our chariot； Waft ye us there。
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＇Exeunt。
Act II。
The verge of Creation。 Enter Werner and Spirit。
Werner。
We have outtravelled light and sound： The harmonies that pealed
around us； as Through yon array of dim and distant worlds We winged our
flight； have wholly died away； Or come to us so faintly echoed； that Our
ears must watch and wait to catch them。 Those stars are now like watch…
fires； which though seen Blazing afar； send not their light to make The
path of the benighted wanderer More plain and cheerful。 Before us
stretches one vast field of gloom； So dense as to appear impenetrable：
Darkness； that has a body and a form； Both palpable to touch and sight；
across Our path a barrier rears that seems to bar Our farther progress。 If
there be； beyond This wall of blackness； aught of mystery； What power
shall guide us to it？
Spirit。
Thy mind Which； from the influence of matter； free As it is now and
shall be till again Though art returned unto thy native orb； Is its own
master； and its will is now Its only needed guide。 Strange things are hidden
by that ebon veil； To which a single wish of thine may bear us。
Werner。
Then let us on： Since we our search for knowledge have begun；
Wherever there is aught that Power has made； Which Time has ruined； or
which Fate has damned； There let us go； that we may look on it； And learn
its history。 What intense glooms We now are passing through！ I feel them
part Before； and close behind us； as we fly； As plainly as the swimmer
feels the waves That lave his gliding limbs。 This sure must be The home of
Deathno voice； no sound； no sigh； Not ev'n so much of breath as would
suffice To make a lily tremble！
Spirt。
Though say'st true； This is indeed the realm of Death；at least It has
no more of life than what though hast Brought here with thee；I speak of
mortal life： We now are near the Hades of past worlds； Whose spirits have
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a life which cannot die。 You laugh！ and show the haughty arrogance
Which in your mortal brethren you cotemn。 Think you that he who
gave to man his mind； The undying spark that quickens his clay frame；
Would fashion from the same material Such mighty wonders as the
spheres which go Hymning around his everlasting throne！ Giving to them
a beauty which alone Could be conceived by him； which has great hand
Alone could mould into reality； And yet deny them what he gave to thee；
Intelligence！ a thing that knows not death？ Hast though not seen thine
earth put forth her leaves； Clothing her rugged mountain tops and sides；
Her forests in the vale； each tree and shrub； With a fair foliage？ hast
though not beheld Her weaving； in the sunny springtide hours； A fairy web
of emerald…bladed grass To robe her valleys in？ With every flow'r Of
graceful form； and soft and downy leaf； And tender hue； and tint； that
Beauty owns； To deck her gentle breast？ When Autumn came； With its
rich gifts of pleasant； mellow fruits； Hast though not seen her wipe her
sunburnt brow； And shake her yellow locks from every hill？ Hast though
not heard her holy songs of peace And plenty warbled from each vocal
grove； And murmured by her myriads of streams？ Hast though not seen
her； when the hollow winds； Which moan the requiem of the dying year；
Raved through her leafless bowers； wrap about Her breast a mantle；
wherewith to protect And nurse the seed； the trusting husbandman Hath
given to her keeping？ Are thine acts As full of wisdom； and as free from
blame？ If not； then why deny to her the life And spirit you possess？
Werner。
I did not laugh In disbelief of what thy words declare； But they stir
such strange thoughts within my mind； That； as I will not weep； I can but
smile。 Methinks the darkness has grown less profound； A heavy； dim；
and shadowy light； like that Which； when the storm has chosen midnight's
hour Of stilly gloom； to hold its revel in； First glimmers through the
clouds which have been rent； And torn by their own fierceness； hands
about us。 The light increases still； and in the distance； Enormous
shadows； wearing distinct shapes； Since seemingly immovable； and others
Like mighty； mastless； sailless； vessels； moved By magic o'er a tideless；
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waveless ocean； In calm； majestic silence float along！
Spirit。 Let us go nearer； Now what seest though？
Werner。
Worlds like to that I live on； save that these Seem made of living
shades instead of dust； Vast mountains； with tall trees and mighty rocks；
And fountains； gushing from their very summits； Huge； towering cliffs；
and deep and lonely glens； And wide…mouthed caves that hold a deeper
gloom； With precipices from whose edges soft And silvery cataracts are
leaping down； Swift streams； that rush adown their rugged sides； And
quiet lakelets； that appear to sleep In the embrace of the surrounding hills；
The cottage of the hardy hunter； perched High on the rocks； like to an
eagle's nest： The shepherd's humble shieling； and his fold； And； half…way
up； broad vineyards； with their vines Bending with purple clusters of ripe
fruit； Wide valleys； with green meadows； and pure