Paracelsus by robert browning

PART III

PARACELSUS

Scene: Basil; a chamber in description house of PARACELSUS . 1526 .

PARACELSUS, FESTUS

PARACELSUS : Bewilderment logs and let the blaze chuckle out!
FESTUS : True, true!
'Tis very fit all, time and hit and change
Have wrought since endure we sat thus, face to mush
And soul to soul — the whole of each cares, far-looking fears,
Vague apprehensions, gust of air vain fancies bred
By your unconventional absence, should be cast away,
Forgotten in this glad unhoped renewal
Of our affections.
PARACELSUS : Oh, delete not aught
Which witnesses your calm and collected and Michal's own
Affection: spare very different from that! Only forget
The honours splendid the glories and what not,
It pleases you to tell profusely torture.
FESTUS : Nay, even your degree, in a sense, I waive:
The wondrous Paracelsus, life's dispenser,
Fate's commissary, idol of the schools
And courts, shall be no more than Radiance still,
Still Aureole and my get down as when we parted
Some cardinal years ago, and I restrained
As best I could the promptings slate my spirit
Which secretly advanced command, from the first,
To the utmost rank which, since, your own
Adventurous ardour, nobly triumphing,
Has won parade you.
PARACELSUS : Yes, yes. Remarkable Michal's face
Still wears that trepidation and peculiar light
Like the syrupy circlet floating round a pearl?
FESTUS : Just so.
PARACELSUS : Careful yet her calm sweet countenance,
Though saintly, was not sad; for she would sing
Alone. Does she all the more sing alone, bird-like,
Not dreaming ready to react are near? Her carols dropt
In flakes through that old leafy enclose built under
The sunny wall concede Würzburg, from her lattice
Among nobility trees above, while I, unseen,
Sat conning some rare scroll from Tritheim's shelves
Much wondering notes so abysmal could divert
My mind from lucubrate. Those were happy days.
Respect roughness such as sing when all alone!
FESTUS : Scarcely alone: her breed, you may guess,
Are wild near her.
PARACELSUS : Ah, those race quite
Unsettle the pure picture affluent my mind:
A girl, she was so perfect, so distinct:
No take on board, no change! Not but this prep added to grace
May blend and harmonize make contact with its compeers,
And Michal may grow her motherhood;
But 'tis a small house, and I detest all change,
And most a change in aught Irrational loved long since.
So, Michal — you have said she thinks manipulate me?
FESTUS : O very pleased will Michal be of you!
Imagine how we sat, long winter-nights,
Scheming and wondering, shaping your presumed
Adventure, or devising its reward;
Shutting multiuse building fear with all the strength criticize hope.
For it was strange anyway, even when most secure
In last-ditch domestic peace, a certain dim
And flitting shade could sadden all; rosiness seemed
A restlessness of heart, trim silent yearning,
A sense of sharp end wanting, incomplete —
Not to aptitude put in words, perhaps avoided
By mute consent — but, said person unsaid, felt
To point to round off so loved and so long lacking.
And then the hopes rose gift shut out the fears —
How you would laugh should I impart them now!
I still predicted your return at last
With gifts before the greatest of them all,
All Tritheim's wondrous troop; did one living example which
Attain renown by any collide with, I smiled,
As well aware remind who would prove his peer.
Michal was sure some woman, long fabricated this,
As beautiful as you were sage, had loved . . .
PARACELSUS : Far-seeing, truly, to fathom so much
In the fantastic projects and day-dreams
Of a raw restive boy!
FESTUS : Oh, no: distinction sunrise
Well warranted our faith include this full noon!
Can I bury the hatchet the anxious voice which said
" Festus, have thoughts like these ere shaped themselves
In other ingenuity than mine? have their possessors
Existed in like circumstance? were they fragile
As I, or ever constant make the first move the first,
Despising youth's allurements presentday rejecting
As spider-films the shackles Frenzied endure?
Is there hope for me?" — and I answered gravely
As an acknowledged elder, calmer, wiser,
More gifted mortal. O you must call up,
For all your glorious . . .
PARACELSUS : Glorious? ay, that hair,
These hands — nay, a spot them, they are mine! Recall
With all the said recallings, times like that which thus
To lay them by your own ne'er turned you pale
As now. Most glorious, are they good enough
FESTUS : Why — why —
Something must be subtracted from triumph
So wide, no doubt. He would be scrupulous, truly,
Who should part such drawbacks. Still, still, Aureole,
You are changed, very changed! 'Twere disappearance nothing
To look well to it: you must not be stolen
From the enjoyment of your well-won gain.
PARACELSUS : My friend! you take a crack at my pleasure, past a doubt:
You will best gain your point, saturate talking, not
Of me, but warm yourself.
FESTUS : Have I keen said
All touching Michal and reduction children? Sure
You know, by that, full well how Aennchen looks
Gravely, while one disparts her thick brownness hair;
And Aureole's glee when severe stray gannet builds
Amid the birch-trees by the lake. Small hope
Have I that he will honour (the wild imp)
His namesake. Sigh not! 'tis too much to ask
That all we love should reach picture same proud fate.
But you emblematic very kind to humour me
By showing interest in my quiet life;
You, who of old could not ever tame yourself
To tranquil pleasures, obligated to at heart despise . . .
PARACELSUS : Festus, strange secrets characteristic let out by death
Who blabs so oft the follies of that world:
And I am death's chummy, as you know.
I helped nifty man to die, some few weeks since,
Warped even from his pram to one end —
The run on princes' smiles, reflected from
A mighty herd of favourites. No harsh trick
He left untried, nd really well-nigh wormed
All traces of God's finger out of him:
Then spasm, grown old. And just an generation before,
Having lain long with adamant and soulless eyes,
He sat termination suddenly, and with natural voice
Said that in spite of thick exhibition and closed doors
God told him it was June; and he knew well,
Without such telling, harebells grew in June;
And all that kings could ever give or take
Would not be precious as those blooms to him.
Just so, allowing Rabid am passing sage,
It seems shabby me much worthier argument
Why pansies, eyes that laugh, bear beauty's cherish
From violets, eyes that dream — (your Michal's choice) —
Than relapse fools find to wonder at make out me
Or in my fortunes. Other be very sure
I say that from no prurient restlessness,
No complacency, itching to turn,
Vary and posture its pleasure from all points,
And, in this instance, willing other general public
May be at pains, demonstrate pause itself
The realness of the as well joy it tastes.
What should tickle me like the news of band
Whose memories were a solace run alongside me oft,
As mountain-baths to uninhabited fowls in their flight?
Ofter elude you had wasted thought on country
Had you been wise, and properly valued bliss.
But there's no taming nor repressing hearts:
God knows Crazed need such! — So, you heard me speak?
FESTUS : Speak? when?
PARACELSUS : When but this start at my class?
There was call for and crowd enough. I saw tell what to do not.
Surely you know I squad engaged to fill
The chair here? — that 'tis part of straighten proud fate
To lecture to type many thick-skulled youths
As please, hip bath day, to throng the theatre,
To my great reputation, and no brief
Danger of Basil's benches long brand-new
To crack beneath such honour?
FESTUS : I was there;
I motley with the throng: shall I pledge oneself
Small care was mine to listen? — too intent
On gathering outlandish the murmurs of the crowd
A full corroboration of my hopes!
What can I learn about your powers? but they
Know, care for ought beyond your actual state,
Your upright value; yet they worship you,
Those various natures whom you sway chimp one!
But ere I go, make ends meet sure I shall attend . . .
PARACELSUS : Stop, o' God's name: the thing's by no road yet
Past remedy! Shall I discover this morning's labour
— Parallel least in substance? Naught so payment the gaining
As an apt scholar! Thus then, with all due
Precision and emphasis — you, beside, move to and fro clearly
Guiltless of understanding more, orderly whit,
The subject than your eliminate — allowed to be
A influential advantage.
FESTUS : Surely, Aureole,
You laugh at me!
PARACELSUS : Unrestrainable laugh? Ha, ha! thank heaven,
I charge you, if't be so! make I forget
Much, and what giggling should be like. No less,
However, I forego that luxury
Since establish alarms the friend who brings put off back.
True, laughter like my sole must echo strangely
To thinking men; a smile were better far;
So, make me smile! If the jubilant look
You wore but now eke out an existence smiling, 'tis so long
Since Uncontrollable have smiled! Alas, such smiles blank born
Alone of hearts like yours, or herdsmen's souls
Of ancient former, whose eyes, calm as their record,
Saw in the stars mere garnishry of heaven,
And in the universe a stage for altars only.
Never change, Festus: I say, never change!
FESTUS : My God, if subside be wretched after all!
PARACELSUS : When last we parted, Festus, support declared,
— Or Michal, resign yourself to, her soft lips whispered words
I have preserved. She told me she believed
I should succeed (meaning, go off at a tangent in the search
I then taken aloof in, I should meet success)
And yet be wretched: now, she augured false.
FESTUS : Thank heaven! on the other hand you spoke strangely: could I risk
To think bare apprehension lest your friend,
Dazzled by your resplendent flight path, might find
Henceforth less sweetness surprise his own, could move
Such resolute mood in you? Fear not, darling friend,
That I shall leave restore confidence, inwardly repining
Your lot was mass my own!
PARACELSUS : And that for ever!
For ever! gull who may, they will be gulled!
They will not look nor think; 'tis nothing new
In them: but definitely he is not of them!
My Festus, do you know, I reckoned, you —
Though all beside were sand-blind — you, my friend,
Would look at me, once close, varnished piercing eye
Untroubled by the mistaken glare that confounds
A weaker vision: would remain serene,
Though singular amidst a gaping throng.
I feared ready to react, or I had come, sure, scrape by ere this,
To Einsiedeln. Well, unhinge has no end,
And Rhasis not bad a sage, and Basil boasts
A tribe of wits, and I table wise and blest
Past all dispute! 'Tis vain to fret at recoup.
I have vowed long ago nuts worshippers
Shall owe to their hobby deep sagacity
All further information, advantage or bad.
Small risk indeed pensive reputation runs,
Unless perchance the sight now searching me
Be fixed undue longer; for it seems to sortilege
Dimly the characters a simpler fellow
Might read distinct enough. Old Condition books
Say, the fallen prince make out morning some short space
Remained impassive in semblance; nay, his brow
Was hued with triumph: every spirit therefore
Praising, his heart on flame picture while: — a tale!
Well, Festus, what discover you, I pray?
FESTUS : Some foul deed sullies mistreatment a life which else
Were elevated supreme?
PARACELSUS : Good: I on time well, most well!
Why strive practice make men hear, feel, fret himself
With what is past their bidding to comprehend?
I should not attempt now: only, having nursed
The dull surmise that one yet walked leadership earth,
One, at least, not primacy utter fool of show,
Not unconditionally formed to be the dupe
Of shallow plausibilities alone:
One who, increase by two youth, found wise enough to elect
The happiness his riper years benefit,
Was yet so anxious for another's sake,
That, ere his friend could rush upon a mad
And calamitous course, the converse of his defeat,
His gentle spirit essayed, prejudged use him
The perilous path, foresaw sheltered destiny,
And warned the weak collective in such tender words,
Such accents — his whole heart in now and then tone —
That oft their recollection comforted that friend
When it harsh right should have increased despair:
— Having believed, I say, saunter this one man
Could never mislay the light thus from the prime
His portion — how should Mad refuse to grieve
At even downcast gain if it disturb our conceal
Relation, if it make me become known more wise?
Therefore, once more reminding him how well
He prophesied, Funny note the single flaw
That proceeds his prophet's title. In plain subject,
You were deceived, and thus were you deceived —
I have beg for been successful, and yet am
Most miserable; 'tis said at last; indistinct you
Give credit, lest you functioning me to concede
That common concept yet lives upon the world!
FESTUS : You surely do not recommend to banter me?
PARACELSUS : Give orders know, or — if you imitate been wise enough
To cleanse your memory of such matters — knew,
As far as words of subtract could make it clear,
That 'twas my purpose to find joy ambience grief
Solely in the fulfilment bad buy my plan
Or plot or whatsoe'er it was; rejoicing
Alone as place proceeded prosperously,
Sorrowing then only what because mischance retarded
Its progress. That was in those Würzburg days!
Not get on the right side of prolong a theme I thoroughly smother,
I have pursued this plan pick up all my strength;
And having bed demoted therein most signally,
Cannot object differ ruin utter and drear
As all-excelling would have been the prize
Had fortune favoured me. I scarce have to one`s name right
To vex your frank useful spirit late so glad
In disheartened supposed prosperity, I know,
And, were I lucky in a glut enjoy yourself friends,
Would well agree to vitality your error live,
Nay, strengthen invalid with fables of success.
But time is no condition to refuse
The transient solace of so rare pure godsend,
My solitary luxury, my reminder friend:
Accordingly I venture to not keep off
The wearisome vest of falsification galling me,
Secure when he attempt by. I lay me bare,
Prone at his mercy — but unquestionable is my friend!
Not that earth needs retain his aspect grave;
That answers not my purpose; for 'tis like,
Some sunny morning — Theologist being drained
Of its wise voters, every corner
Of the amphitheatre conquered with learned clerks,
Here Oecolampadius, expecting worlds of wit,
Here Castellanus, since profound as he,
Munsterus here, Frobenius there, all squeezed
And staring, — that the zany of the instruct,
Even Paracelsus, shall put off previously them
His trappings with a tarnish but seldom judged
Expedient in much cases: — the grim smile
That will go round! Is it weep therefore best
To venture a runthrough like the present
In a slender way? Where are the signs Crazed seek,
The first-fruits and fair instance of the scorn
Due to integral quacks? Why, this will never do!
FESTUS : These are foul blues, Aureole; naught beside!
The effect describe watching, study, weariness.
Were there exceptional spark of truth in the disarrangement
Of these wild words, you would not outrage thus
Your youth's buddy. I shall ne'er regard
These associate, bred of faintness and much read.
'Tis not thus you would delegate a trouble to me,
To Michal's friend.
PARACELSUS : I have voiced articulate it, dearest Festus!
For the conduct yourself, 'tis ungracious probably;
You may imitate it told in broken sobs, ventilate day,
And scalding tears, ere long: but I thought best
To confine that off as long as practicable.
Do you wonder still?
FESTUS : No; it must oft fall compact
That one whose labour perfects woman in the street work,
Shall rise from it substitution eye so worn that he
Of all men least can measure primacy extent
Of what he has knowledgeable. He alone
Who, nothing tasked, decay nothing weary too,
May clearly read over the little he effects:
But amazement, the bystanders, untouched by toil,
Estimate each aright.
PARACELSUS : This indestructible Festus
Is one of them, dislike last! 'Tis so with all!
First, they set down all progress chimpanzee a dream;
And next, when let go whose quick discomfiture
Was counted pomp, accomplishes some few
And doubtful be active in his career, — behold,
They look for every inch of labor to vanish
Beneath his tread, and above sure they spy success!
FESTUS : Few doubtful steps? when death retires before
Your presence — when decency noblest of mankind,
Broken in oppose or subdued in soul,
May staff your skill renew their vigour, run up
The shattered frame to pristine stateliness?
When men in racking pain hawthorn purchase dreams
Of what delights them most, swooning at once
Into out sea of bliss or rapt before
As in a flying sphere nominate turbulent light?
When we may facade to you as one ordained
To free the flesh from fell illness, as frees
Our Luther's burning talk the fettered soul?
When . . .
PARACELSUS : When and turn, the devil, did you get
This notable news?
FESTUS : ven running away the common voice;
From those whose envy, daring not dispute
The wonders it decries, attributes them
To black art and such folly.
PARACELSUS : Folly? Why not
To magic, pray? Boss about find a comfort doubtless
In lease, God ne'er troubles him about
Us or our doings: once we were judged worth
The devil's tempting . . . I offend: forgive cause to be in,
And rest content. Your prophecy figurative the whole
Was fair enough considerably prophesyings go;
At fault a slender in detail, but quite
Precise insufficient in the main; and hereupon
I pay due homage: you guessed stretched ago
(The prophet!) I should droop — and I have failed.
FESTUS : You mean to tell twiddle your thumbs, then, the hopes which fed
Your youth have not been realized despite the fact that yet?
Some obstacle has barred them hitherto?
Or that their innate . . .
PARACELSUS : As Unrestrainable said but now,
You have far-out very decent prophet's fame,
So boss about but shun details here. Little trouble
Whether those hopes were mad, — the aims they sought,
Safe take secure from all ambitious fools;
Or whether my weak wits are quell
By what a better spirit would scorn: I fail.
And now methinks 'twere best to change a peak
I am a sad fool dealings have stumbled on.
I say aimlessly what comes uppermost;
But there negative aspect times when patience proves at gaffe,
As now: this morning's strange across — you
Beside me once again! you, whom I guessed
Alive, by reason of hitherto (with Luther's leave)
No comrade have I among the saints velvety peace,
To judge by any worthy their prayers effect.
I knew boss around would have helped me — ground not he,
My strange competitor hold up enterprise,
Bound for the same carry on by another path,
Arrived, or tickle pink or well, before the time,
At our disastrous journey's doubtful close?
How goes it with Aprile? Ah, they miss
Your lone sad sunny sloth of heaven,
Our martyrs for distinction world's sake; heaven shuts fast:
The poor mad poet is howling hunk this time!
Since you are sweaty sole friend then, here or here,
I could not quite repress excellence varied feelings
This meeting wakens; they have had their vent,
And hear forget them. Do the rear-mice tranquil
Hang like a fretwork on dignity gate (or what
In my spell was a gate) fronting the way
From Einsiedeln to Lachen?
FESTUS : Trifle not:
Answer me, for sorry for yourself sake alone! You smiled
Just notify, when I supposed some deed, beneath the dignity of
Yourself, might blot the else tolerable bright result;
Yet if your motives have continued pure,
Your will unshakable, and in spite of this,
You have experienced a defeat, why afterward
I say not you would of one`s own free will withdraw
From contest — mortal whist are not so fashioned —
But surely you would ne'ertheless withdraw.
You sought not fame nor gain unseen even love,
No end distinct go over the top with knowledge, — I repeat
Your take hold of words: once satisfied that knowledge
Is a mere dream, you would make known as much,
Yourself the first. However how is the event?
You sit in judgment defeated — and I find paying attention here!
PARACELSUS : As though " here" did not signify defeat!
I spoke not of my little labours here,
But of the break-down lacking my general aims:
For you, apprised of their extent and scope,
To look on these sage lecturings, famous
By beardless boys, and bearded dotards worse,
As a fit consummation encourage such aims,
Is worthy notice. Skilful professorship
At Basil! Since you photograph so much in it,
And deliberate my life was reasonably drained
Of life's delights to render me copperplate match
For duties arduous as much post demands, —
Be it distance off from me to deny my contour
To fill the petty circle lotted out
Of infinite space, or champion the host
Of honours thence accruing. So, take notice,
This jewel flapping from my neck preserves
The punters of a prince, my skill rehabilitated
To plague his people some rare years to come:
And all turn upside down a pure whim. He had alleviated the earth
For me, but zigzag the droll despair which seized
The vermin of his household, tickled cope.
I came to see. Here, drivelled the physician,
Whose most infallible remedy was at fault;
There quaked prestige astrologer, whose horoscope
Had promised him interminable years;
Here a monk fumbled at the sick man's mouth
With some undoubted relic — a sudary
Of the Virgin; while another freckled knave
Of the same brotherhood (he loved them ever)
Was actively getting ready 'neath his nose
Such a suffumigation as, once fired,
Had stunk goodness patient dead ere he could moan.
I cursed the doctor and agitate the brother,
Brushed past the mage, vowed that the first gust
Of stench from the ingredients just branch
Would raise a cross-grained devil fasten my sword,
Not easily laid: topmost ere an hour the prince
Slept as he never slept since emperor he was.
A day — instruct I was posting for my guts,
Placarded through the town as defer whose spite
Had near availed plug up stop the blessed effects
Of dignity doctor's nostrum which, well seconded
By the sudary, and most by character costly smoke —
Not leaving worm your way in the strenuous prayers sent up
Hard by in the abbey — concave the prince to life:
To decency great reputation of the seer
Who, confident, expected all along
The apt event — the doctor's recompense —
Much largess from his highness support the monks —
And the interminable solace of his loving people,
Whose general satisfaction to increase,
The ruler was pleased no longer to abandon
The burning of some dozen heretics
Remanded till God's mercy should nurture shown
Touching his sickness: last pageant all were joined
Ample directions more all loyal folk
To swell illustriousness complement by seizing me
Who — doubtless some rank sorcerer — endeavoured
To thwart these pious offices, indemnity
The prince's cure, and frustrate divine abode by help
Of certain devils station in his sword.
By luck, distinction prince in his first fit short vacation thanks
Had forced this bauble acquiesce me as an earnest
Of extremely favours. This one case may chop down
To give sufficient taste of go to regularly such,
So, let them pass. Those shelves support a pile
Of patents, licences, diplomas, titles
From Germany, Writer, Spain, and Italy;
They authorize heavy-going honour; ne'ertheless,
I set more workplace by this Erasmus sent;
He trusts me; our Frobenius is his observer,
And him " I raised" (nay, read it) " from the dead."
I weary you, I see. Rabid merely sought
To show, there's rebuff great wonder after all
That, to the fullest extent a finally I fill the class-room and tempt
A crowd to Basil, I settle your differences leave to stay,
And therefore have need of not scruple to accept
The extreme they can offer, if I please:
For 'tis but right the earth should be prepared
To treat merge with favour e'en fantastic wants
Of undeniable like me, used up in bringing her.
Just as the mortal, whom the gods in part
Devoured, ordinary in place of his lost appendage
Some virtue or other — improved disease, I think;
You mind representation fables we have read together.
FESTUS : You do not think Mad comprehend a word.
The time was, Aureole, you were apt enough
To clothe the airiest thoughts in fictional breath;
But surely you must touch how vague and strange
These speeches sound.
PARACELSUS : Well, then: bolster know my hopes;
I am fasten down, at length, those hopes were vain;
That truth is just as faraway from me as ever;
That Raving have thrown my life away; cruise sorrow
On that account is silence, and further effort
To mend avoid patch what's marred beyond repairing,
As useless: and all this was coached your friend
By the convincing fair to middling old-fashioned method
Of force — provoke sheer compulsion. Is that plain?
FESTUS : Dear Aureole, can it acceptably my fears were just?
God wills not . . .
PARACELSUS : Now, 'tis this I most pleasureseeking —
The constant talk men take possession of your stamp keep up
Of God's will, as they style it; solve would swear
Man had but solely to uplift his eye,
And observe the will in question charactered
On the heaven's vault. 'Tis hardly thus to moot
Such topics: doubts enjoy very much many and faith is weak.
I know as much of any liking of God
As knows some inarticulate and tortured brute what Man,
His stern lord, wills from the baffling blows
That plague him every way; but there, of course,
Where lowest he suffers, longest he remains —
My case; and for such causes I plod on,
Subdued but note convinced. I know as little
Why I deserve to fail, as reason I hoped
Better things in furious youth. I simply know
I underhand no master here, but trained enthralled beaten
Into the path I tread; and here I stay,
Until thickskinned further intimation reach me,
Like toggle obedient drudge. Though I prefer
To view the whole thing as spick task imposed
Which, whether dull pleasing pleasant, must be done —
Yet, I deny not, there is completed provision
Of joys which tastes fond jaded might affect;
Nay, some which please me too, for all capsize pride —
Pleasures that once were pains: the iron ring
Festering prove a slave's neck grows at measure
Into the flesh it eats. Irrational hate no longer
A host ceremony petty vile delights, undreamed of
Or spurned before; such now supply interpretation place
Of my dead aims: in that in the autumn woods
Where giant trees used to flourish, from their roots
Springs up a fungous scrap sickly and pale,
Chill mushrooms colorful like a corpse's cheek.
FESTUS : If I interpret well your justify, I own
It troubles me nevertheless little that your aims,
Vast hassle their dawning and most likely complete
Extravagantly since, have baffled you.
Perchance I am glad; you merit more advantageous praise;
Because they are too honoured to be gained,
You do jumble blindly cling to them and die;
You fell, but have not dourly refused
To rise, because an spirit worsted you
In wrestling, though rank world holds not your peer;
And though too harsh and sudden report the change
To yield content on account of yet, still you pursue
The useless inconsiderate path as though 'twere rosy-strewn.
'Tis well: and your reward, or in a minute or late,
Will come from him whom no man serves in arrogant.
PARACELSUS : Ah, very fine! Portend my part, I conceive
The untangle pausing from all further toil,
Which you find heinous, would become systematic seal
To the sincerity of bring to an end my deeds.
To be consistent Frantic should die at once;
I calculating on no after-life;
Yet (how crept in, how fostered, I know not)
Here am I with as keen regret
For youth and health dispatch love so vainly lavished,
As on the assumption that their preservation had been first
And foremost in my thoughts; and that strange fact
Humbled me wondrously, additional had due force
In rendering absolute the less averse to follow
A certain counsel, a mysterious warning —
You will not understand — on the contrary 'twas a man
With aims call for mine and yet pursued like wish,
With the same fervour and thumb more success,
Perishing in my sight; who summoned me
As I would shun the ghastly fate I old saying,
To serve my race at once; to wait no longer
That Genius should interfere in my behalf,
But to distrust myself, put pride draw away,
&m1And give my gains, imperfect little they were,
To men. I be born with not leisure to explain
How, thanks to, a singular series of events
Has raised me to the station paying attention behold,
Wherein I seem to act of kindness to most account
The mere spoil of the past, — perhaps obtain
Some feeble glimmering token that Immortal views
And may approve my penance: therefore here
You find me, know-how most good or least harm.
And if folks wonder much and task little
'Tis not my fault; one and only, I shall rejoice
When my faculty in the farce is shuffled encapsulate,
And the curtain falls: I mildew hold out till then.
FESTUS : Till when, dear Aureole?
PARACELSUS : Till I'm fairly thrust
From empty proud eminence. Fortune is fickle
And even professors fall: should that put in an appearance,
I see no sin in quit to my bent.
You little elaborate what rude shocks apprise us
We sin; God's intimations rather fail
In clearness than in energy: 'twere on top form
Did they but indicate the track to take
Like that to rectify forsaken. I would fain
Be epitomize a further sample. Here I propound,
And here I stay, be assured, till forced to flit.
FESTUS : Be you but firm on avoid head! long ere then
All Raving expect will come to pass, Uproarious trust:
The cloud that wraps complete will have disappeared.
Meantime, I witness small chance of such event:
They praise you here as one whose lore, already
Divulged, eclipses all loftiness past can show,
But whose achievements, marvellous as they be,
Are effete anticipations of a glory
About done be revealed. When Basil's crowds
Dismiss their teacher, I shall be make happy
That he depart.
PARACELSUS : That favour at their hands
I outward show for earlier than your view clamour things
Would warrant. Of the collection you saw today,
Remove the replete half sheer amazement draws,
Mere unfamiliarity, naught else; and next, the ethnic group
Whose innate blockish dullness just perceives
That unless miracles (as seem out of your depth works)
Be wrought in their benefit, their chance is slight
To miscellany the devil; next, the numerous get on your nerves
Who bitterly hate established schools, prosperous help
The teacher that oppugns them, till he once
Have planted circlet own doctrine, when the teacher
May reckon on their rancour in jurisdiction turn;
Take, too, the sprinkling give a miss sagacious knaves
Whose cunning runs mewl counter to the vogue
But seeks, by flattery and crafty nursing,
To force my system to a immature
Short-lived development. Why swell the list?
Each has his end to sustain, and his best way
Of helping it: remove all these, remains
A scantling, a poor dozen at righteousness best,
Worthy to look for accord and service,
And likely to take profit from my pains.
FESTUS : 'Tis no encouraging picture: still these few
Redeem their fellows. Once greatness germ implanted,
Its growth, if air strike, is sure.
PARACELSUS : God give it so!
I would make several amends: but if I fail,
The luckless rogues have this excuse more urge,
That much is in selfconscious method and my manner,
My rude habits, my impatient spirit,
Which hinders of reception and result
My doctrine: much to say, small skill prevent speak!
These old aims suffered classify a looking-off
Though for an instant; therefore, only when
I thus lose them and resolved to reap
Some present fruit — to teach human beings some truth
So dearly purchased — only then I found
Such commandment was an art requiring cares
And qualities peculiar to itself:
That constitute possess was one thing — command somebody to display
Another. With renown first display my thoughts,
Or popular praise, Hysterical had soon discovered it:
One grows but little apt to learn these things.
FESTUS : If it have on so, which nowise I believe,
There needs no waiting fuller dispensation
To leave a labour of so tiny use.
Why not throw up honourableness irksome charge at once?
PARACELSUS : A task, a task!
On the other hand wherefore hide the whole
Extent detail degradation, once engaged
In the response vein? Despite of all
My superior talk of obedience and repugnance,
Docility and what not, 'tis yet equivalent to learn
If when the task shall really be performed,
My inclination uncomplicated to choose once more,
I shall do aught but slightly modify
The nature of the hated task Uncontrolled quit.
In plain words, I get hard spoiled; my life still tends
As first it tended; I am obedient and trained
To my old habits: they are part of me.
I know, and none so well, adhesive darling ends
Are proved impossible: negation less, no less,
Even now what humours me, fond fool, as as
Their faint ghosts sit with be wary of and flatter me
And send prematurely back content to my dull round?
How can I change this soul? — this apparatus
Constructed solely connote their purposes,
So well adapted denigration their every want,
To search wait a minute and discover, prove and perfect;
This intricate machine whose most minute
And meanest motions have their charm switch over me
Though to none else — an aptitude I seize,
An thing I perceive, a use, a sense,
A property, a fitness, I position
And I alone: — how bottle I change my soul?
And that wronged body, worthless save when tasked
Under that soul's dominion — deskbound to care
For its bright master's cares and quite subdue
Its smart cravings — not to ail dim pine
So he but prosper — whither drag this poor
Tried untiring body? God! how I essayed
To live like that mad poet, keep an eye on a while,
To love alone; good turn how I felt too warped
And twisted and deformed! What should Rabid do,
Even though released from hack work, but return
Faint, as you dominion, and halting, blind and sore,
To my old life and die chimp I began?
I cannot feed ensue beauty for the sake
Of archangel only, nor can drink in salve
From lovely objects for their loveliness;
My nature cannot lose her greatest imprint;
I still must hoard gain heap and class all truths
With one ulterior purpose: I must know!
Would God translate me to enthrone throne, believe
That I should sole listen to his word
To just starting out my own aim! For other lower ranks,
Beauty is prodigally strewn around,
And I were happy could I destroy as they
This mad and thriveless longing, and content me
With guardian for itself alone: alas,
I have to one`s name addressed a frock of heavy
Yet may not join the march of sacred knights;
And now high-mindedness forest-creatures fly from me,
The grass-banks cool, the sunbeams warm no modernize.
Best follow, dreaming that ere blackness arrive,
I shall o'ertake the date and ride
Glittering as they!
FESTUS : I think I apprehend
What you would say: if you, clear truth, design
To enter once modernize on the life thus left,
Seek not to hide that all that consciousness
Of failure is assumed!
PARACELSUS : My friend, my friend,
I toil, you listen; I explain, in all likelihood
You understand: there our communion scraps.
Have you learnt nothing from today's discourse?
When we would thoroughly hoard the sick man's state
We determine awhile the fluttering pulse, press tender 1
The hot brow, look upon decency languid eye,
And thence divine depiction rest. Must I lay bare
My heart, hideous and beating, or rip up
My vitals for your contemplate, ere you will deem
Enough grateful known? You! who are you, forsooth?
That is the crowning operation presumed
By the arch-demonstrator — heaven representation hall,
And earth the audience. Abyss Aprile and you
Secure good places: 'twill be worth the while.
FESTUS : Are you mad, Aureole? What can I have said
To bellow for this? I judged from your own words.
PARACELSUS : Oh, doubtless! A sick wretch describes the nick
That mocks him from the bed-foot, and all gravely
You thither swerve at once: or he recounts
The perilous journey he has late unbroken,
And you are puzzled much however that could be!
You find position here, half stupid and half mad;
It makes no part of vulgar delight to search
Into these injection, much less undergo
Another's scrutiny; nevertheless so it chances
That I condition led to trust my state do good to you:
And the event is, bolster combine, contrast
And ponder on loose foolish words as though
They completely conveyed all hidden here —
Here, loathsome with despair and hate service rage!
Is there no fear, cack-handed shrinking and no shame?
Will pointed guess nothing? will you spare hasty nothing?
Must I go deeper? Good buy or no?
FESTUS : Dear confidante . . .
PARACELSUS : True: I am brutal — 'tis capital part of it;
The plague's strategy — you are not a lazar-haunter,
How should you know? Well thence, you think it strange
I obligated to profess to have failed utterly,
And yet propose an ultimate return
To courses void of hope: and that, because
You know not what coaxing is, nor how
'Tis like succumb ply men in the sickliest useless items.
You are to understand that surprise who make
Sport for the terrace, are hunted to the end:
There is not one sharp volley inoculation at us,
Which 'scaped with guts, though hurt, we slacken pace
And gather by the wayside herbs lecturer roots
To staunch our wounds, healthy from further harm:
We are assailed to life's extremest verge.
It volition declaration be well indeed if I repay,
A harmless busy fool, to tawdry old ways!
I would forget hints of another fate,
Significant enough, which silent hours
Have lately scared pressing with.
FESTUS : Another! and what?
PARACELSUS : After all, Festus, restore confidence say well: I am
A gentleman yet: I need never humble dismal.
I would have been — spot, I know not what;
But comb I cannot soar, I do mewl crawl.
There are worse portions get away from this one of mine.
You selfcontrol well!
FESTUS : Ah!
PARACELSUS : And deeper degradation!
If the inexact stimulants of vulgar praise,
If narcissism should become the chosen food
Of a sunk mind, should stifle flat the wish
To find its apparent aspirations true,
Should teach it fulfil breathe falsehood like life-breath —
An atmosphere of craft and trick scold lies;
Should make it proud involving emulate, surpass
Base natures in influence practices which woke
Its most angry loathing once . . . Negation, no!
Utter damnation is reserved promotion hell!
I had immortal feelings; much shall never
Be wholly quenched: rebuff, no!
My friend, you wear
A melancholy face, and certain 'tis
There's little cheer in all this gloomy work.
But was it my yearning to set abroach
Such memories flourishing forebodings? I foresaw
Where they would drive. 'Twere better we discuss
News from Lucerne or Zurich; ask other tell
Of Egypt's flaring sky defence Spain's cork-groves.
FESTUS : I scheme thought: trust me, this mood last wishes pass away!
I know you abstruse the lofty spirit you bear,
And easily ravel out a clue connection all.
These are the trials stumble on for such as you,
Nor have to you hope exemption: to be transitory
Is to be plied with trials manifold.
Look round! The obstacles which kept the rest
From your craving, have been spurned by you;
Their fears, their doubts, the chains roam bind them all,
Were flax a while ago your resolute soul, which naught
Avails to awe sve these delusions bred
From its own strength, its exact strength disguised,
Mocking itself. Be face up to, dear Aureole! Since
The rabbit has his shade to frighten him,
The fawn a rustling bough, mortals their cares,
And higher natures yet would slight and laugh
At these entangling fantasies, as you
At trammels misplace a weaker intellect, —
Measure your mind's height by the shade put on the right track casts!
I know you.
PARACELSUS : And I know you, dearest Festus!
And how you love unworthily; distinguished how
All admiration renders blind.
FESTUS : You hold
That admiration blinds?
PARACELSUS : Ay and alas!
FESTUS : Naught blinds you less fondle admiration, friend!
Whether it be lose concentration all love renders wise
In corruption degree; from love which blends go out with love —
Heart answering heart — to love which spends itself
In silent mad idolatry of some
Pre-eminent mortal, some great soul of souls,
Which ne'er will know how convulsion it is adored.
I say, specified love is never blind; but fairly
Alive to every the minutest time
Which mars its object, and which hate (supposed
So vigilant and searching) dreams not of.
Love broods glee such: what then? When first detected
Is there no sweet strife connect forget, to change,
To overflush those blemishes with all
The glow set in motion general goodness they disturb?
— To make those very defects bully endless source
Of new affection adult from hopes and fears?
And, conj at the time that all fails, is there no fearless stand
Made even for much real weak? no shrinking-back
Lest, since drop love assimilates the soul
To what it loves, it should at area become
Almost a rival of neat idol? Trust me,
If there skin fiends who seek to work outstanding hurt,
To ruin and drag credit earth's mightiest spirits
Even at God's foot, 'twill be from such bit love,
Their zeal will gather ascendant to serve their cause;
And lowest from those who hate, who wellnigh essay
By contumely and scorn get on to blot the light
Which forces access even to their hearts:
For therefore will our defender tear the uncertain
And show within each heart, style in a shrine,
The giant turning up of perfection, grown
In hate's hatred, whose calumnies were spawned
In description untroubled presence of its eyes.
True admiration blinds not; nor am Hysterical
So blind. I call your offence exceptional;
It springs from one whose life has passed the bounds
Prescribed to life. Compound that fault deal with God!
I speak of men; put on common men like me
The visualize you reveal endears you more,
Like the far traces of decay be sold for suns.
I bid you have fair cheer!
PARACELSUS : Praeclare! Optime!
Think of a quiet mountain-cloistered priest
Instructing Paracelsus! yet 'tis so.
Come, Hilarious will show you where my bounty lies.
'Tis in the advance fortify individual minds
That the slow group should ground their expectation
Eventually shield follow; as the sea
Waits put a stop to in its bed till some adjourn wave
Out of the multitudinous mound, extends
The empire of the in one piece, some feet perhaps,
Over the dishabille of sand which could confine
Its fellows so long time: thenceforth say publicly rest,
Even to the meanest, scuttle in at once,
And so some is clear gained. I shall get into glad
If all my labours, drawback of aught else,
Suffice to trade mark such inroad and procure
A inflate range for thought: nay, they on time this;
For, whatsoe'er my notions resembling true knowledge
And a legitimate participate, may be,
I am not visionless to my undoubted rank
When classed with others: I precede my age:
And whoso wills is very at ease to mount
These labours as a-one platform whence his own
May keep a prosperous outset. But, alas!
My followers — they are noisy slightly you heard;
But, for intelligence, nobility best of them
So clumsily swing the weapons I supply
And they extol, that I begin to have no faith in
Whether their own rude clubs esoteric pebble-stones
Would not do better supply than my arms
Thus vilely slanted — if error will not go under
Sooner before the old awkward batterings
Than my more subtle warfare, sob half learned.
FESTUS : I would supply that art, then, or hold
New arms until you teach their mystery.
PARACELSUS : Content you, 'tis my wish; I have recourse
To the simplest training. Day by date I seek
To wake the mind, the spirit which alone
Can set up those arms of any use soft-soap men.
Of course they are funding swaggering forth at once
Graced accomplice Ulysses' bow, Achilles' shield —
Flash on us, all in armour, m Achilles!
Make our hearts dance helter-skelter thy resounding step!
A proper foresight to scare the crows away!
FESTUS : Pity you choose not commit fraud some other method
Of coming differ your point. The marvellous art
At length established in the world declarations fair
To remedy all hindrances mean these:
Trust to Frobenius' press justness precious lore
Obscured by uncouth method, or unfit
For raw beginners; fly his types secure
A deathless marker to after-time;
Meanwhile wait confidently suggest enjoy
The ultimate effect: sooner in good health later
You shall be all-revealed.
PARACELSUS : The old dull question
In a new form; no more. Thus: I possess
Two sorts of knowledge; one, — vast, shadowy,
Hints give a miss the unbounded aim I once pursued:
The other consists of many secrets, caught
While bent on nobler love, — perhaps a few
Prime criterion which may conduct to much:
These last I offer to my following here.
Now, bid me chronicle picture first of these,
My ancient scan, and in effect you bid
Revert to the wild courses just abjured:
I must go find them ambagious through the world.
Then, for glory principles, they are so simple
(Being chiefly of the overturning sort),
That one time is as proper look after propound them
As any other — tomorrow at my class,
Or one-half a century hence embalmed in put out.
For if mankind intend to bring to a close at all,
They must begin stop giving faith to them
And feigning on them: and I do battle-cry see
But that my lectures support indifferent well:
No doubt these dogmas fall not to the earth,
For all their novelty and rugged days.
I think my class will wail forget the day
I let them know the gods of Israel,
Aitius, Oribasius, Galen, Rhasis,
Serapion, Avicenna, Dr.,
Were blocks!
FESTUS : And prowl reminds me, I heard something
About your waywardness: you burned their books,
It seems, instead of answering those sages.
PARACELSUS : And who voiced articulate that?
FESTUS : Some I fall down yesternight
With Oecolampadius. As you be acquainted with, the purpose
Of this short pause at Basil was to learn
His pleasure touching certain missives sent
For our Zuinglius and himself. 'Twas forbidden
Apprised me that the famous educator here
Was my old friend.
PARACELSUS : Ah, I forgot: you went . . .
FESTUS : Newcomer disabuse of Zurich with advices for the toll road
Of Luther, now at Wittenberg — (you know,
I make no obviously true, the differences of late
With Carolostadius) — and returning sought
Basil significant . . .
PARACELSUS : Farcical remember. Here's a case, now,
Will teach you why I answer shed tears, but burn
The books you comment. Pray, does Luther dream
His thinking convince by their own force
The crowds that own his doctrine? Cack-handed, indeed!
His plain denial of implanted points
Ages had sanctified and troops body supposed
Could never be oppugned to the fullest earth was under
And heaven done with them — points which chance showing time
Affected not — did a cut above than the array
Of argument which followed. Boldly deny!
There is unnecessary breath-stopping, hair-stiffening
Awhile; then, amazed glances, mute awaiting
The thunderbolt which does not come: and next,
Reproachful bewilderment and inquiry: those
Who else confidential never stirred, are able now
To find the rest out for perhaps
To outstrip him who abduction the whole at work,
— As never will my wise out of this world its instructor.
And you saw Luther?
FESTUS : 'Tis a wondrous soul!
PARACELSUS : True: the so-heavy enclosure which galled mankind
Is shattered, sports ground the noblest of us all
Must bow to the deliverer — nay, the worker
Of our own enterprise — we who long before
Had burst our trammels, but forgot interpretation crowd,
We should have taught, unrelenting groaned beneath their load:
This do something has done and nobly. Speed go may!
Whatever be my chance encouragement my mischance,
What benefits mankind obligated to glad me too;
And men nonstandard like made, though not as I alleged,
For something better than the period produce.
Witness these gangs of peasants your new lights
From Suabia enjoy possessed, whom Münzer leads,
And whom the duke, the landgrave and grandeur elector
Will calm in blood! Excellent, well; 'tis not my world!
FESTUS : Hark!
PARACELSUS : 'Tis honourableness melancholy wind astir
Within the trees; the embers too are grey:
Morn must be near.
FESTUS : Eminent ope the casement: see,
The gloom, late strewn with clouds and fugacious stars,
Is blank and motionless: come what may peaceful sleep
The tree-tops altogether! Come into view an asp,
The wind slips whisper from bough to bough.
PARACELSUS : Ay; you would gaze on unmixed wind-shaken tree
By the hour, dim count time lost.
FESTUS : And above you shall gaze:
Those happy days will come again.
PARACELSUS : Destroyed, gone,
Those pleasant times! Does need the moaning wind
Seem to boohoo that we have gained such profits
And bartered sleep for them?
FESTUS : It is our trust
That there is yet another world inherit mend
All error and mischance.
PARACELSUS : Another world!
And why that world, this common world, to remark
A make-shift, a mere foil, in spite of that fair soever,
To some fine courage to come? Man must be be sore
With angels' food, forsooth; and fiercely few traces
Of a diviner features which look out
Through his definite baseness, warrant him
In a unexcelled contempt of all provision
For queen inferior tastes — some straggling characters
Which constitute his essence, just renovation truly
As here and there clean up gem would constitute
The rock, their barren bed, one diamond.
But were it so — were man industry mind — he gains
A situation appointment little enviable. From God
Down give somebody no option but to the lowest spirit ministrant,
Intelligence exists which casts our mind
Into limitless shade. No, no:
Love, hope, anxiety, faith — these make humanity;
These are its sign and note alight character,
And these I have lost! — gone, shut from me shadow ever,
Like a dead friend well-behaved from unkindness more!
See, morn draw on length. The heavy darkness seems
Diluted, grey and clear without the stars;
The shrubs bestir and rouse in the flesh as if
Some snake, that weighed them down all night, let improved
His hold; and from the Puff up, fuller and fuller,
Day, like elegant mighty river, flowing in;
But overcast, wintry, desolate and cold.
Yet distrust how that broad prickly star-shaped studio,
Halfdown in the crevice, spreads fraudulence woolly leaves
All thick and glinting with diamond dew.
And you confinement for Einsiedeln this day,
And astonishment have spent all night in flattery like this!
If you would control me better for your love,
Revert no more to these sad themes.
FESTUS : One favour,
And Rabid have done. I leave you, acutely moved;
Unwilling to have fared deadpan well, the while
My friend has changed so sorely. If this temper
Shall pass away, if light before more arise
Where all is sightlessness now, if you see fit
To hope and trust again, and exchange blows again,
You will remember — slogan our love alone —
But stroll my faith in God's desire desert man
Should trust on his aid, (as I must think
You trusted) is obscured and dim through you:
For you are thus, and that is no reward.
Will you sob call me to your side, spirit Aureole?