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But now I see it is no living hue,

But a strange hectic-like the unnatural red
Which Autumn piants upon the perish'd leaf.
It is the same! Oh! God! that I should dread
To look upon the same-Astarte!—No,
I cannot speak to her-but bid her speak—
Forgive me or condemn me.

NEMESIS.

By the power which hath broken
grave which enthrall'd thee,

The

Speak to him who hath spoken,
Or those who have call'd thee!

MANFRED.

She is silent,

And in that silence I am more than answered.

NEMESIS.

My power extends no further. Prince of air! It rests with thee alone-command her voice.

ARIMANES.

Spirit-obey this sceptre!

NEMESIS.

Silent still!

She is not of our order, but belongs

To the other powers. Mortal! thy quest is vain, And we are baffled also.

MANFRED.

Hear me, hear me

Astarte !

my beloved! speak to me :

I have so much endured-so much endure

Look on me! the grave hath not changed thee more
Than I am changed for thee. Thou lovedst me
Too much, as I loved thee: we were not made
To torture thus each other, though it were
The deadliest sin to love as we have loved.
Say that thou loath'st me not—that I do bear
This punishment for both-that thou wilt be
One of the blessed—and that I shall die;
For hitherto all hateful things conspire
To bind me in existence-in a life
Which makes me shrink from immortality—
A future like the past. I cannot rest.
I know not what I ask, nor what I seek :
I feel but what thou art-and what I am;
And I would hear yet once before I perish
The voice which was my music-Speak to me!
For I have call'd on thee in the still night,

Startled the slumbering birds from the hush'd boughs,
And woke the mountain wolves, and made the caves
Acquainted with thy vainly echoed name,
Which answered me-many things answered me-
Spirits and men-but thou wert silent all.
Yet speak to me! I have outwatch'd the stars,
And gazed o'er heaven in vain in search of thee.
Speak to me! I have wandered o'er the earth,
And never found thy likeness--Speak to me!
Look on the fiends around-they feel for me:
I fear them not, and feel for thee alone-
Speak to me! though it be in wrath;-but say-
I reck not what-but let me hear thee once-
This once-once more!

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I live but in the sound it is thy voice!

PHANTOM OF ASTARTE.

Manfred! To-morrow ends thine earthly ills.
Farewell!

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Manfred!

MANFRED.

One word for mercy! Say, thou lovest me.

PHANTOM OF ASTARTE.

(The Spirit of ASTARTE disappears.)

NEMESIS.

She's gone, and will not be recall'd;

Her words will be fulfill'd. Return to the earth.

A SPIRIT.

He is convulsed-This is to be a mortal,
And seek the things beyond mortality.

ANOTHER SPIRIT.

Yet, see, he mastereth himself, and makes
His torture tributary to his will.

Had he been one of us, he would have made
An awful spirit.

NEMESIS.

Hast thou further question

Of our great sovereign, or his worshippers?

None.

MANFRED.

NEMESIS.

Then for a time farewell.

MANFRED.

We meet then! Where? On the earth?

Even as thou wilt and for the grace accorded

I now depart a debtor. Fare ye well!

( Exit MANFRED.)

(Scene closes.).

END OF ACT SECOND.

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All, my lord, are ready;

Here is the key and casket.

MANFRED.

It is well :

Thou may'st retire.

(Exit HERMAN.)

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