1.-PARACELSUS es lightly SCENE.-Würzburg-a garderial arm 28. 1512. Par. Come close to me, dear friends; still closer; thus! Close to the heart which, though long time roll by Ere it again beat quicker, pressed to yours, As now it beats-perchance a long, long timeAt least henceforth your memories shall make Quiet and fragrant as befits their home. Nor shall my memory want a home in yours― Alas, that it requires too well such free Forgiving love as shall embalm it there! Mich. Aureole! Par. Drop by drop!-she is weeping like a child! Not so! I am content-more than content Nay, Autumn win Appeal to sym Look up, swe Your stained an best by this its mute s decay! r esteem the less ng vines their grapes bow down Nor blame those creaking trees bent with their fruit, . That apple-tree with a rare after-birth Of peeping blooms sprinkled its wealth among! Alone by one old populous green wall, Gray crickets, and shy lizards, and quick spiders, Which, look through, near, this way, and it appears A stubble-field, or a canebrake-a marsh Of bulrush whitening in the sun: laugh now! Mich. In truth we have lived carelessly and well! Par. And shall, my perfect pair-each, trust me, born For the other; nay, your very hair, when mixed, Is of one hue. For where save in this nook Shall you two walk, when I am far away, And wish me prosperous fortune? Stay! Whene'er Which scatters crowns among her lovers, you Shall be reminded to predict to me Some great success! Ah, see! the sun sinks broad Fest. Now, Aureole, stay those wandering eyes awhile! As if, where'er you gazed, there stood a star! How far was Würzburg, with its church and spire, And garden-walls, and all things they contain, From that look's far alighting? Par. I but spoke And looked alike from simple joy, to see Encroaching trouble may have reached them too, Affects me as himself; that I have just As varied appetites for joy derived From common things; a stake in life, in short, Like his; a stake which rash pursuit of aims I shall act well advised: and last, because, Though heaven and earth, and all things, were at stake, Sweet Michal must not weep, our parting eve!) Fest. True and the eve is deepening, and we sit As little anxious to begin our talk As though to-morrow I could open it As we paced arm in arm the cheerful town At sun-dawn; and continue it by fits (Old Tritheim busied with his class the while) In that dim chamber where the noon-streaks peer From even-blush to midnight: but, to-morrow! Par. Oh, say on! Devise some test of love-some arduous feat To be performed for you-say on! If night Be spent the while, the better! Recall how oft as I My wondrous plans, and dreams, and hopes, and fears, Your true affection, born when Einsiedeln |