Festus

endows his chosen with,
Of His own uncreated glory⁠—His
Before all worlds, all ages, and reserved
Till after all for those He loves and saves.
As when the eye first views some Andean chain
Of shadowy rolling mountains, based on air,
Height upon height, aspiring to the last,
Even to Heaven, in sunny snow sheen, up
Stretching the angel’s pinions, nor can tell
Which be the loftiest nor the loveliest;
As when an army, wakening with the sun,
Starts to its feet all hope, spear after spear
And line on line reundulating light,
While night’s dull watchfires reek themselves away,
So feels the spirit when it first receives
The bright and mountainous mysteries of God,
Containing Heaven, moving themselves towards us,
In their free greatness, as by ships at sea
Come icebergs, pure and pointed as a star
Afar off glittering, of invisible
Depth, and dissolving in the light above. Festus

My prayer shall be that thy prayer be fulfilled.
I must to earth again. Farewell, sweet soul!

Angela

Farewell! I love thee, and will oft be with thee.

Lucifer

I like earth more than this: I rather love
A splendid failing than a petty good;
Even as the thunderbolt, whose course is downwards,
Is nobler far than any fire which soars.

Festus

I am determined to be good again⁠—
Again? When was I otherwise than ill?
Does not sin pour from my soul like dew from earth,
And, vapouring up before the face of God,
Congregate there in clouds between Heaven and me?
What wonder that I lack delight of life?
For it is thus⁠—when amid the world’s delights,
How warm so’er we feel a moment among them⁠—
We find ourselves, when the hot blast hath blown,
Prostrate, and weak, and wretched, even as I am.
I wish that I could leap from off this star,
And dash my soul to atoms like a glass.

Lucifer

I have done nothing for thee yet. Thou shalt
See Heaven, and Hell, and all the sights of space,
When’er thou choosest.

Festus

Not then now.

Lucifer

Up! rise!

Festus

No; I’ll be good: and will see none of them.
Earth draws us like a loadstone. We are coming.

XV

Scene⁠—A large party and entertainment.

	Festus, Ladies, and others.
Festus	My Helen! let us rest awhile, For most I love thy calmer smile; We’ll not be missed from this gay throng, They dance so eagerly and long; And were one half to go away, I’ll bet the rest would scarce perceive it.
Helen	With thee I either go or stay, Prepared, the same, to like or leave it. These two, perhaps, will take our places. They seem to stand with longing faces.
Festus	Then sit we, love, and sip with me And I will teach thyself to thee. Thy nature is so pure and fine, ’Tis most like wine; Thy blood, which blushes through each vein, Rosy champagne; And the fair skin which o’er it grows, Bright as its snows. Thy wit, which thou dost work so well, Is like cool moselle; Like madeira, bright and warm, Is thy smile’s charm; Claret’s glory hath thine eye, Or mine must lie; But nought can like thy lips possess Deliciousness; And now that thou’rt divinely merry, I’ll kiss and call thee sparkling sherry.
Helen	I sometimes dream that thou wilt leave me Without thy love, even me, lonely; And oft I think, though oft it grieve me, That I am not thy one love only: But I shall always love thee till This heart, like earth in death, stand still.
Festus	I love thee, and will leave thee never, Until my soul leave life for ever. If earth can from her children run, And leave the seasons⁠—leave the sun⁠— If yonder stars can leave the sky, Bright truants from their home in heaven⁠— Immortals who deserve to die, Were death not too good to be given⁠— If Heaven can leave and live from God, And man tread off his cradle clod⁠— If God can leave the world He sowed, Right in the heart of space to fade⁠— Soul, earth, star, Heaven, man, world, and God May part⁠—not I from thee, sweet maid. Ah! see again my favourite dance, See the wavelike line advance; And now in circles break, Lake raindrops on a lake: Now it opens, now it closes, Like a wreath dropping into roses.
Helen	It is a lovely scene, Fair as aught on earth; And we feel, when it hath been, At heart a dearth; As from the breaking up of some bright dream⁠— The failing of a fountain’s spray-topt stream.
Will	Ladies⁠—your leave⁠—we’ll choose a Queen To rule this fair and festive scene.
Charles	And it were best to choose by lot, So none can hold herself forgot. They draw lots: it falls to Helen.
Festus	I knew, my love, how this would be; I knew that Fate must favour thee.
All	Lady fair! we throne thee Queen! Be thy sway as thou last been⁠— Light, and lovely, and serene.
Festus	Here⁠—wear this wreath! No ruder crown Should deck that dazzling brow; Or ask yon halo from the moon⁠— ’Twould well beseem thee now. I crown thee, love; I crown thee, love; I crown thee Queen of me! And oh! but I am a happy land, And a loyal land to thee. I crown thee, love; I crown thee, love; Thou art Queen in thine own right! Feel! my heart is as full as a town of joy: Look! I’ve crowded mine eyes with light. I crown thee, love; I crown thee, love; Thou art Queen by right divine! And thy love shall set neither night nor day O’er this subject heart of mine. I crown thee, love; I crown thee, love; Thou art Queen by the right of the strong! And thou didst but win where thou mightst have slain, Or have bounden in thraldom long. I crown thee, love; I crown thee, love; Thou art my Queen for aye! Ab the moon doth Queen the night, my love; As the night doth crown the day; I crown thee, love; I crown thee, love; Queen of the brave and free! For I’m brave to all beauty but thine, my love; And free to all beauty by thee.
Helen	Here in this court of pleasure, blest to reign, If not the loveliest, where all are fair, We still, one hour, our royalty retain, To out-queen all in kindness and in care. Love, beauty, honour, bravery, and wit⁠— Was ever Queen served by such noble slaves? The peerage of the heart⁠—for Heaven’s court fit: We’ll dream no more that earth hath ills or graves. With mirth, and melody, and love we reign: Begin we, then, our sweet