Festus

me, are sacred that have been.
And, though earth, like a river, streaked with blood,
Which tells a long and silent tale of death,
May blush her history and hide her eyes,
The past is sacred⁠—it is God’s: not ours.
Let her and us do better if we can. Festus

There are whole veins of diamonds in thine eyes,
Might furnish crowns for all the Queens of earth.
Oh! I could sooner set a price on the sun,
My love, than on thy lightest look. Look on me!
Speak! if it only be to say thou wilt not.
Look! I would rather look on thee one minute,
Than paradise for a whole day⁠—such days
As are in Heaven. I love thee more and more.

Elissa

To love, and say we love⁠—to suck the sting
Out of the heart, and put its poison on
The tongue.

Festus

Yet it is luxury to feel
Inflamed⁠—to glow within ourselves, like fire-opals.
Now, stay thy pretty little tuneful tongue,
Nor silver o’er thy syllables! They will not
Pass. No, not one more word! I must away;
I have staid too long, already, for my word.

Elissa

I cannot part with thee: nay, sit again!
Parted from thee I feel like one half riven,
And my soul acheth to spring to⁠—as thus!

Festus

There! let me leave love! let me loose these arms.
Another time and, ah! well⁠—never mind!
We shall be happier⁠—I know we shall.
Thou hast been mine⁠—thou art mine⁠—and thou shalt be!

Elissa

My life is one long loving thought of thee.
If any ask me what I do, I could say
I love, and that is all.

Festus

It is enough.
One kiss! another! one more⁠—there! farewell! Goes.

Elissa

And he is gone! and the world seems gone with him.
Shine on, ye Heavens! why can ye not impart
Light to my heart? Have ye no feeling in ye?
Why are ye bright when I am so unhappy?
But oh! I would not change my woes for thrice
The bliss of others, since they are for thee, love.
Our very wretchedness grows dear to us
When suffering for one we love. Sweet stars!
I cannot look upon your loveliness
Without sadness, for ye are too beautiful;
And beauty makes unhappy: so men say.
Ye stars! it is true⁠—we read our fate in ye.
Bright through all ages, are ye not happy there?
With years, many as your light-rays are ye not
Immortal? Space-pervading, oh! ye most be,
Spirit-like, infinite. All-being God!
Who art in all things, and in whom all are!⁠—
And it is thus we worship Thee the most;
When heart to heart with one we love we are gods;⁠—
Let us believe that if Thou gavest earth
For our bodies, then the stars were for our souls;
For perfect beauty and unbounded love!
Let us believe they look upon us here
As their inheritors, and save themselves
For us, as we for Thee, and Thou for all!

XXVII

Scene⁠—Garden and bower by the sea.

Elissa	Alone. Come, Festus, let me think on thee, my love! And fold the thought of thee unto my soul, Until it fills it, and is one with it. Ah! these poor arms are far from where they should be; And this heart farther still. Mine only love! Why art thou thus so long away from me? I have whispered it unto the southern wind And charged it with my love: why should it not Carry that love to thee as air bears light? And thou hast said I was all light to thee. The stars grow bright together, and for aye, Lover-like, watch each other; and though apart, Like us, they fill each other’s eyes with love And beauty: and mine only fill with tears. Oh! life is less than nothing without love! And what is love without the embrace of love? I would give worlds for one more ere I die. Festus! come to me. I do think I am dying. Let me bequeath my life to thee, that so, In doubling thine, I may live alway with thee. I know that I am dying. It is my heart Which makes me live that kills me. But I want To see him ere I do die. Oh! he will come! He must know how I love him. It is long⁠— Long since I saw him: I am ill with waiting. And I will fancy him coming to me now⁠— Now he is thinking of me, loving me⁠— He sees me⁠—flies to me, half out of breath⁠— His hand is on my arm⁠—he looks on me⁠— And puts my long locks backwards⁠—God! Thy ban Lies upon waking dreams. To weep and sleep⁠— Dream⁠—wake, and find one’s only one hope false⁠— Is what we can bear, for we do endure it, And bear with Heaven still. Just one year ago, I watched that large bright star where it is now:⁠— Time hath not touched its everlasting lightning, Nor dimmed the glorious glances of its eye⁠— Nor passion clouded it⁠—nor any star Eclipsed⁠—it is the leader still of Heaven. And I who loved it then can love it now; But am not what I was, in one degree. Calm star! who was it named thee Lucifer, From him who drew the third of Heaven down with him? Oh! it was but the tradition of thy beauty! For if the sun hath one part, and the moon one, Thou hast the third part of the host of Heaven⁠— Which is its power⁠—which power is its beauty!
Lucifer	It was no tradition, lady, but of truth!
Elissa	I thought we parted last to meet no more.
Lucifer	It was so lady; but it is not so.
Elissa	Am I to leave, or thou, then?
Lucifer	Neither, yet. I mean that thou shouldst fear me and obey.
Elissa	And who art thou that I should fear and serve?
Lucifer	I am the morning and the evening star, The star thou lovest and thy lover too; I am that star! as once before I told thee, Though thou wouldst not believe me, but I am A spirit, and a star⁠—a power⁠—an ill Which doth outbalance being. Look at me! Am I not more than mortal in my form? Millions of years have circled round my brow Like worlds upon their centres;⁠—still I live; And age but presses with a halo’s weight. This single arm hath dashed the light of Heaven; This one hand dragged the angels from their thrones:⁠— Am I not worthy to have loved thee, lady? Thou mortal model of all Heavenliness! And yet