"Be happy, my good soldier; I am by thee,
"Be sure, even to the end!"-I answered not,
Knowing Him. As He spoke, I was endued
With comprehension and a steadfast will;
And when He ceased, my brow was sealed His own.
If there took place no special change in me,
How comes it all things wore a different hue
Thenceforward?—pregnant with vast consequence—
Teeming with grand results-loaded with fate;
So that when quailing at the mighty range
Of secret truths which yearn for birth, I haste
To contemplate undazzled some one truth,
Its bearings and effects alone at once
What was a speck expands into a star,
Asking a life to pass exploring thus,
Till I near craze. I go to prove my soul!
I see my way as birds their trackless way—
I shall arrive! what time, what circuit first,
I ask not: but unless God send his hail
Or blinding fire-balls, sleet, or stifling snow,
In some time-his good time—I shall arrive :
He guides me and the bird. In his good time!
Mich. Vex him no further, Festus; it is so!
Fest. Just thus you help me ever. This would hold
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Were it the trackless air, and not a path
Inviting you, distinct with footprints yet
Of many a mighty spirit gone that way.
You may have purer views than theirs, perhaps,
But they were famous in their day—the proofs
Remain. At least accept the light they lend.
Par. Their light! the sum of all is briefly this:
They laboured, and grew famous; and the fruits
Are best seen in a dark and groaning earth,
Given over to a blind and endless strife
With evils, which of all your Gods abates?
No; I reject and spurn them utterly,
And all they teach.. Shall I still sit beside
Their dry wells, with a white lip and filmed eye,
While in the distance heaven is blue above
Mountains where sleep the unsunned tarns?
As strong delusions have prevailed ere now:
Men have set out as gallantly to seek
Their ruin; I have heard of such-yourself
Avow all hitherto have failed and fallen.
Mich. Nay, Festus, when but as the pilgrims faint Through the drear way, do you expect to see
Their city dawn afar amid the clouds?
Par. Ay, sounds it not like some old well-known tale?
I estimate their works and them
For me,
So rightly, that at times I almost dream
I too have spent a life the sages' way,
And tread once more familiar paths.
I perished in an arrogant self-reliance
An age ago; and in that act, a prayer
For one more chance went up so earnest, so
Instinct with better light let in by Death,
That life was blotted out-not so completely
But scattered wrecks enough of it remain,
Dim memories; as now, when seems once more
The goal in sight again: all which, indeed,
Is foolish, and only means—the flesh I wear,
The earth I tread, are not more clear to me
Than my belief, explained to you or no.
Fest. And who am I to challenge and dispute
That clear belief? I put away all fear.
Mich. Then Aureole is God's commissary! he shall
Be great and grand-and all for us!
No, sweet!
Not great and grand. If I can serve mankind
'Tis well-but there our intercourse must end:
I never will be served by those I serve.
Fest. Look well to this; here is a plague-spot, here,
Disguise it how you may! 'Tis true, you utter
This scorn while by our side and loving us;
'Tis but a spot as yet; but it will break
Into a hideous blotch if overlooked.
(IIow can that course be safe which from the first
Produces carelessness to human love?
It seems you have abjured the helps which men
Who overpass their kind, as you would do,
Have humbly sought-I dare not thoroughly probe
This matter, lest I learn too much let be,
That popular praise would little instigate
Your efforts, nor particular approval
Reward you; put reward aside; alone
You shall go forth upon your arduous task,
None shall assist you, none partake your toil,
None share your triumph-still you must retain
Some one to cast your glory on, to share
Your rapture with. Were I elect like you,
I would encircle me with love, and raise
A rampart of my fellows; it should seem
Impossible for me to fail, so watched
By gentle friends who made my cause their own
They should ward off Fate's envy-the great gift,
Extravagant when claimed by me alone,
Being so a gift to them as well as me.
If danger daunted me or ease seduced,
How calmly their sad eyes should gaze reproach!
Mich. O Aureole, can I sing when all alone, Without first calling, in my fancy, both
To listen by my side-even I!
Do you not feel this ?-say that you feel this!
Par. I feel 'tis pleasant that my aims, at length
Allowed their weight, should be supposed to need
A further strengthening in these goodly helps!
My course allures for its own sake-its sole
Intrinsic worth; and ne'er shall boat of mine
Adventure forth for gold and apes at once.
Your sages say,
"if human, therefore weak :"
If weak, more need to give myself entire
To my pursuit; and by its side, all else . .
No matter! I deny myself but little
In waiving all assistance save its own—
Would there were some real sacrifice to make
Your friends the sages threw their joys away
While I must be content with keeping mine
Fest. But do not cut yourself from human weal? You cannot thrive-a man that dares affect
To spend his life in service to his kind,
For no reward of theirs, nor bound to them
By any tie; nor do so, Aurcole! No-
There are strange punishments for such.
(Although no visible good flow thence) some part
Of the glory to another; hiding thus,
Even from yourself, that all is for yourself.
Say, say almost to God-"I have done all
"For her—not for myself!"
Was to rejoice in my success like you?
Whom should I love but both of you?
But know this, you, that 'tis no wish of mine
You should abjure the lofty claims you make;
Although I can no longer seek, indeed,
To overlook the truth, that there will be
A monstrous spectacle upon the earth,
Beneath the pleasant sun, among the trees:
-A being knowing not what love is. Hear me !
You are endowed with faculties which bear
Annexed to them as 'twere a dispensation
To summon meaner spirits to do their will,
And gather round them at their need; inspiring
Such with a love themselves can never feel-
Passionless 'mid their passionate votaries..
I know not if you joy in this or no,
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