Perhaps _his_
Who slew him, that of Paris: or--still higher--
The Poet's God, clothed in such limbs as are
Themselves a poetry.
Who slew him, that of Paris: or--still higher--
The Poet's God, clothed in such limbs as are
Themselves a poetry.
Byron
But even thus--the lowest,
Ugliest, and meanest of mankind--what courage 350
And perseverance could have done, perchance
Had made me something--as it has made heroes
Of the same mould as mine. You lately saw me
Master of my own life, and quick to quit it;
And he who is so is the master of
Whatever dreads to die.
_Stran. _ Decide between
What you have been, or will be.
_Arn. _ I have done so.
You have opened brighter prospects to my eyes,
And sweeter to my heart. As I am now,
I might be feared--admired--respected--loved 360
Of all save those next to me, of whom I
Would be beloved. As thou showest me
A choice of forms, I take the one I view.
Haste! haste!
_Stran. _ And what shall _I_ wear?
_Arn. _ Surely, he
Who can command all forms will choose the highest,
Something superior even to that which was
Pelides now before us.
Perhaps _his_
Who slew him, that of Paris: or--still higher--
The Poet's God, clothed in such limbs as are
Themselves a poetry.
_Stran. _ Less will content me; 370
For I, too, love a change.
_Arn. _ Your aspect is
Dusky, but not uncomely. [221]
_Stran. _ If I chose,
I might be whiter; but I have a _penchant_
For black--it is so honest, and, besides,
Can neither blush with shame nor pale with fear;
But I have worn it long enough of late,
And now I'll take your figure.
_Arn. _ Mine!
_Stran. _ Yes. You
Shall change with Thetis' son, and I with Bertha,
Your mother's offspring. People have their tastes;
You have yours--I mine.
_Arn. _ Despatch! despatch!
Ugliest, and meanest of mankind--what courage 350
And perseverance could have done, perchance
Had made me something--as it has made heroes
Of the same mould as mine. You lately saw me
Master of my own life, and quick to quit it;
And he who is so is the master of
Whatever dreads to die.
_Stran. _ Decide between
What you have been, or will be.
_Arn. _ I have done so.
You have opened brighter prospects to my eyes,
And sweeter to my heart. As I am now,
I might be feared--admired--respected--loved 360
Of all save those next to me, of whom I
Would be beloved. As thou showest me
A choice of forms, I take the one I view.
Haste! haste!
_Stran. _ And what shall _I_ wear?
_Arn. _ Surely, he
Who can command all forms will choose the highest,
Something superior even to that which was
Pelides now before us.
Perhaps _his_
Who slew him, that of Paris: or--still higher--
The Poet's God, clothed in such limbs as are
Themselves a poetry.
_Stran. _ Less will content me; 370
For I, too, love a change.
_Arn. _ Your aspect is
Dusky, but not uncomely. [221]
_Stran. _ If I chose,
I might be whiter; but I have a _penchant_
For black--it is so honest, and, besides,
Can neither blush with shame nor pale with fear;
But I have worn it long enough of late,
And now I'll take your figure.
_Arn. _ Mine!
_Stran. _ Yes. You
Shall change with Thetis' son, and I with Bertha,
Your mother's offspring. People have their tastes;
You have yours--I mine.
_Arn. _ Despatch! despatch!
