There is a calm upon me--
Inexplicable stillness!
Inexplicable stillness!
Byron
--_A Hall in the Castle of Manfred_.
[150]
MANFRED _and_ HERMAN.
_Man_. What is the hour?
_Her_. It wants but one till sunset,
And promises a lovely twilight.
_Man_. Say,
Are all things so disposed of in the tower
As I directed?
_Her_. All, my Lord, are ready:
Here is the key and casket. [151]
_Man_. It is well:
Thou mayst retire. [_Exit_ HERMAN.
_Man_. (_alone_).
There is a calm upon me--
Inexplicable stillness! which till now
Did not belong to what I knew of life.
If that I did not know Philosophy
To be of all our vanities the motliest, 10
The merest word that ever fooled the ear
From out the schoolman's jargon, I should deem
The golden secret, the sought "Kalon," found,[152]
And seated in my soul. It will not last,
But it is well to have known it, though but once:
It hath enlarged my thoughts with a new sense,
And I within my tablets would note down
That there is such a feeling. Who is there?
_Re-enter_ HERMAN.
_Her_. My Lord, the Abbot of St. Maurice craves[153]
To greet your presence.
_Enter the_ ABBOT OF ST. MAURICE.
_Abbot_. Peace be with Count Manfred! 20
_Man_. Thanks, holy father! welcome to these walls;
Thy presence honours them, and blesseth those
Who dwell within them.
MANFRED _and_ HERMAN.
_Man_. What is the hour?
_Her_. It wants but one till sunset,
And promises a lovely twilight.
_Man_. Say,
Are all things so disposed of in the tower
As I directed?
_Her_. All, my Lord, are ready:
Here is the key and casket. [151]
_Man_. It is well:
Thou mayst retire. [_Exit_ HERMAN.
_Man_. (_alone_).
There is a calm upon me--
Inexplicable stillness! which till now
Did not belong to what I knew of life.
If that I did not know Philosophy
To be of all our vanities the motliest, 10
The merest word that ever fooled the ear
From out the schoolman's jargon, I should deem
The golden secret, the sought "Kalon," found,[152]
And seated in my soul. It will not last,
But it is well to have known it, though but once:
It hath enlarged my thoughts with a new sense,
And I within my tablets would note down
That there is such a feeling. Who is there?
_Re-enter_ HERMAN.
_Her_. My Lord, the Abbot of St. Maurice craves[153]
To greet your presence.
_Enter the_ ABBOT OF ST. MAURICE.
_Abbot_. Peace be with Count Manfred! 20
_Man_. Thanks, holy father! welcome to these walls;
Thy presence honours them, and blesseth those
Who dwell within them.
