n and died upon the gentle wind.

cypresses beyond the time-worn breach ar'd to skirt the horizon, yet they stood n a bowshot-where the Cæsars dwelt, well the tuneless birds of night, amidst ve which springs through levell'd battlements, wines its roots with the imperial hearths, surps the laurel's place of growth;he gladiators' bloody Circus stands, ble wreck in ruinous perfection!

e Cæsar's chambers, and the Augustan halls, el on earth in indistinct decay.

thou didst shine, thou rolling moon, upon nis, and cast a wide and tender light,

h soften'd down the hoar austerity gged desolation, and fill'd up,

were, anew, the gaps of centuries;
ing that beautiful which still was so,

making that which was not, till the place
me religion, and the heart ran o'er
silent worship of the great of old!-

dead, but sceptred sovereigns, who still rule
spirits from their urns.-

strange that I recall it at this time;

I have found our thoughts take wildest flight

Even at the moment when they should array
Themselves in pensive order.

Аввот.

Enter the ABBOT.

My good lord!

I crave a second grace for this approach;
But yet let not my humble zeal offend
By its abruptness-all it hath of ill

Recoils on me; its good in the effect

May light upon your head-could I say heartCould I touch that, with words or prayers, I should Recall a noble spirit which hath wander'd;

But is not yet all lost.

MAN.

Thou know'st me not;

My days are number'd, and my deeds recorded:
Retire, or 'twill be dangerous-Away!

ABBOт. Thou dost not mean to menace me?
MAN.

I simply tell thee peril is at hand,

And would preserve thee.

Not I;

And steadfastly;-now tell me what thou seest?

ABBOT.

MAN.

d not send for him, he is unbidden.

ABBOT. Alas! lost mortal! what with guests like these

st thou to do? I tremble for thy sake;
y doth he gaze on thee, and thou on him?
! he unveils his aspect; on his brow
thunder-scars are graven; from his eye
res forth the immortality of hell-
unt!-

MAN. SPIRIT.

ABBOT. What art thou, unknown being? answer!—

SPIRIT. The genius of this mortal.-Come! 'tis time.

MAN. I am prepared for all things, but deny

The power which summons me. Who sent thee here?
SPIRIT. Thou'lt know anon-Come! come!
MAN.
I have commanded
Things of an essence greater far than thine,
And striven with thy masters. Get thee hence!
SPIRIT. Mortal! thine hour is come-Away! I say.
MAN. I knew, and know my hour is come, but not
To render up my soul to such as thee :
Away! I'll die as I have lived-alone.

Rise!

SPIRIT. Then I must summon up my brethren.[Other Spirits rise up. ABBOT. Avaunt! ye evil ones!-Avaunt! I say,— Ye have no power where piety hath power,

And I do charge ye in the name

SPIRIT.

Old man!

We know ourselves, our mission, and thine order;
Waste not thy holy words on idle uses,

It were in vain; this man is forfeited.
Once more I summon him-Away! away!
MAN. I do defy ye,-though I feel my soul

Obing from me, yet I do defy ye;

will I hence, while I have earthly breath breathe my scorn upon ye-earthly strength ba wrestle, though with spirits; what ye take Ill be ta'en limb by limb.

PIRIT.

is the Magian who would so pervade world invisible, and make himself ost our equal?-Can it be that thou thus in love with life? the very ich made thee wretched! MAN.

Thou false fiend, thou liest!

life is in its last hour,-that I know,
would redeem a moment of that hour;
not combat against death, but thee
lthy surrounding angels; my past power
s purchased by no compact with thy crew,
by superior science-penance daring

1 length of watching-strength of mind-and skill knowledge of our fathers-when the earth

v men and spirits walking side by side, band s

1

gave ye no supremacy: I stand

on my strength-I do defy-deny

rn back, and scorn ye!

ve made thee