Chapter 15

distance_--_A Terrace before a Tower_.--_Time, Twilight_.

HERMAN, MANUEL, _and other dependants of_ MANFRED.

_Her_. 'Tis strange enough! night after night, for years, He hath pursued long vigils in this tower, Without a witness. I have been within it,-- So have we all been oft-times; but from it, Or its contents, it were impossible To draw conclusions absolute, of aught His studies tend to. To be sure, there is One chamber where none enter: I would give The fee of what I have to come these three years, To pore upon its mysteries.

_Manuel_. 'Twere dangerous; 10 Content thyself with what thou know'st already.

_Her_. Ah! Manuel! thou art elderly and wise, And couldst say much; thou hast dwelt within the castle-- How many years is't?

_Manuel_. Ere Count Manfred's birth, I served his father, whom he nought resembles.

_Her_. There be more sons in like predicament! But wherein do they differ?

_Manuel_. I speak not Of features or of form, but mind and habits; Count Sigismund was proud, but gay and free,-- A warrior and a reveller; he dwelt not 20 With books and solitude, nor made the night A gloomy vigil, but a festal time, Merrier than day; he did not walk the rocks And forests like a wolf, nor turn aside From men and their delights.

_Her_. Beshrew the hour, But those were jocund times! I would that such Would visit the old walls again; they look As if they had forgotten them.

_Manuel_. These walls Must change their chieftain first. Oh! I have seen Some strange things in them, Herman.[be]

_Her_. Come, be friendly; 30 Relate me some to while away our watch: I've heard thee darkly speak of an event Which happened hereabouts, by this same tower.

_Manuel_. That was a night indeed! I do remember 'Twas twilight, as it may be now, and such Another evening:--yon red cloud, which rests On Eigher's pinnacle,[163] so rested then,-- So like that it might be the same; the wind Was faint and gusty, and the mountain snows Began to glitter with the climbing moon; 40 Count Manfred was, as now, within his tower,-- How occupied, we knew not, but with him The sole companion of his wanderings And watchings--her, whom of all earthly things That lived, the only thing he seemed to love,-- As he, indeed, by blood was bound to do, The Lady Astarte, his----[164] Hush! who comes here?

_Enter the_ ABBOT.

_Abbot_. Where is your master?

_Her_. Yonder in the tower.

_Abbot_. I must speak with him.

_Manuel_. 'Tis impossible; He is most private, and must not be thus 50 Intruded on.

_Abbot_. Upon myself I take The forfeit of my fault, if fault there be-- But I must see him.

_Her_. Thou hast seen him once his eve already.

_Abbot_. Herman! I command thee,[bf] Knock, and apprize the Count of my approach.

_Her_. We dare not.

_Abbot_. Then it seems I must be herald Of my own purpose.

_Manuel_. Reverend father, stop-- I pray you pause.

_Abbot_. Why so?

_Manuel_. But step this way, And I will tell you further. [_Exeunt_.