Scene IV.

WALTER.

Sunset is burning like the seal of God Upon the close of day.--This very hour Night mounts her chariot in the eastern glooms To chase the flying Sun, whose flight has left Footprints of glory in the clouded west: Swift is she haled by wingèd swimming steeds, Whose cloudy manes are wet with heavy dews, And dews are drizzling from her chariot wheels. Soft in her lap lies drowsy-lidded Sleep, Brainful of dreams, as summer hive with bees; And round her in the pale and spectral light Flock bats and grisly owls on noiseless wings. The flying sun goes down the burning west, Vast night comes noiseless up the eastern slope, And so the eternal chase goes round the world.

Unrest! unrest! The passion-panting sea Watches the unveiled beauty of the stars Like a great hungry soul. The unquiet clouds Break and dissolve, then gather in a mass, And float like mighty icebergs through the blue. Summers, like blushes, sweep the face of earth; Heaven yearns in stars. Down comes the frantic rain; We hear the wail of the remorseful winds In their strange penance. And this wretched orb Knows not the taste of rest; a maniac world, Homeless and sobbing through the deep she goes. [_A Child runs past;_ WALTER _looks after her._ O thou bright thing, fresh from the hand of God, The motions of thy dancing limbs are swayed By the unceasing music of thy being! Nearer I seem to God when looking on thee. 'Tis ages since he made his younger star. His hand was on thee as 'twere yesterday, Thou later Revelation! Silver Stream, Breaking with laughter from the lake divine Whence all things flow! O bright and singing babe! What wilt thou be hereafter?--Why should man Perpetuate this round of misery When he has in his hand the power to close it? Let there be no warm hearts, no love on earth. No Love! No Love! Love bringeth wretchedness. No holy marriage. No sweet infant smiles. No mother's bending o'er the innocent sleep With unvoiced prayers and with happy tears. Let the whole race die out, and with a stroke, A master-stroke, at once cheat Death and Hell Of half of their enormous revenues. [WALTER _approaches a cottage; a peasant sitting at the door._ One of my peasants. 'Tis a fair eve.

PEASANT.

Ay, Master! How sweet the smell of beans upon the air; The wheat is earing fairly. We have reason For thankfulness to God.

WALTER (_looking upward_).

We _have_ great reason; For He provides a balm for all our woes. He has made Death. Thrice blessed be His name!

PEASANT.

He has made Heaven----

WALTER.

To yawn eternities. Did I say death? O God! there is no death. When our eyes close, we only pass one stage Of our long being.--Dost thou wish to die?

PEASANT.

I trust in God to live for many years, Although with a worn frame and with a heart Somewhat the worse for wear.

WALTER.

O fool! fool! fool! These hands are brown with toil; that brow is seamed, Still must you sweat and swelter in the sun, And trudge, with feet benumbed, the winter's snow, Nor intermission have until the end. Thou canst not draw down fame upon thy head, And yet would cling to life! I'll not believe it; The faces of all things belie their hearts, Each man's as weary of his life as I. This anguish'd earth shines on the moon--a moon. The moon hides with a cloak of tender light A scarr'd heart fed upon by hungry fires. Black is this world, but blacker is the next; There is no rest for any living soul: We are immortals--and must bear with us Through all eternity this hateful being; Restlessly flitting from pure star to star, The memory of our sins, deceits, and crimes, Eating into us like a poisoned robe. Yet thou canst wear content upon thy face And talk of thankfulness! O die, man, die! Get underneath the earth for very shame. [_During this speech the Child draws near; at its close her Father presents her to_ WALTER. Is this thy answer? [_Looks at her earnestly._ O my worthy friend, I lost a world to-day and shed no tear; Now I could weep for _thee_. Sweet sinless one! My heart is weak as a great globe, all sea. It finds no shore to break on but thyself: So let it break. [_He hides his face in his hands, the Child looking fearfully up at him._