With Nuremberg, and hoping and despairing, Have your will, rabble! while we fight the prize, About to perish for your sport . . . Behold! V.—PARACELSUS ATTAINS. Scene.—A cell in the Hospital of St. Sebastian, at Salzburg. 1541. Festus, Paracelsus. Fest. No change! The weary night is well nigh spent, The lamp burns low, and through the casement-bars The grey morn glimmers feebly—yet no change! Another night, and still no sigh has stirr'd That fall'n discolour'd mouth, no pang relit Those fixed eyes, quench'd by the decaying body, Like torch-flame choked in dust: while all beside Was breaking, to the last they held out bright, As a strong-hold where life intrench'd itself; But they are dead now—very blind and dead. He will drowse into death without a groan! My Aureole; my forgotten, ruin'd Aureole! The days are gone, are gone! How grand thou wert : And now not one of those who struck thee down— Poor, glorious spirit—concerns him even to stay Could turn God's image to a livid thing. Another night, and yet no change! 'Tis much From the dying man: my brain swam and my throat In truth, they told me how he seem'd at first At once his features fell—an hour made white As though it recognized the tomb-like place; Ay, here: Here is earth's noblest nobly garlanded— Her bravest champion, with his well-won meed— For countless generations, fleeting fast Other provision is for him you seek. Behold earth's paragon! Now, raise thee, clay! God! Thou art Love! I build my faith on that: How has he sinn'd—how else should he have done ? Surely he sought thy praise—thy praise, for all As to forget awhile its proper end ... Dost thou well, Lord? Thou canst not but prefer Thy glory forth? Hadst Thou but granted him Success, thy honour would have crown'd his triumph— A halo round a star... Or say he err'd: Save him, dear God; it will be like thee: bathe him In light and life! Thou art not made like us : We should be wrath Wilt smile on him. in such a case; but Thou Forgive these passionate thoughts, It were too strange that I should doubt thy love: That way the quiet place beside thy feet |