by the earth
Which will be strangled by the ocean!
Which will be strangled by the ocean!
Byron
and canst thou-- [_He pauses_.
[_A rushing sound from the cavern is heard, and shouts
of laughter--afterwards a Spirit passes_.
_Japh. _ In the name
Of the Most High, what art thou?
_Spirit_ (_laughs_). Ha! ha! ha! [146]
_Japh. _ By all that earth holds holiest, speak!
_Spirit_ (_laughs_). Ha! ha!
_Japh. _ By the approaching deluge!
by the earth
Which will be strangled by the ocean! by
The deep which will lay open all her fountains! 60
The heaven which will convert her clouds to seas,
And the Omnipotent who makes and crushes!
Thou unknown, terrible, and indistinct,
Yet awful Thing of Shadows, speak to me!
Why dost thou laugh that horrid laugh?
_Spirit_. Why weep'st thou?
_Japh. _ For earth and all her children.
_Spirit_. Ha! ha! ha!
[_Spirit vanishes_.
_Japh. _ How the fiend mocks the tortures of a world,
The coming desolation of an orb,
On which the sun shall rise and warm no life!
[_A rushing sound from the cavern is heard, and shouts
of laughter--afterwards a Spirit passes_.
_Japh. _ In the name
Of the Most High, what art thou?
_Spirit_ (_laughs_). Ha! ha! ha! [146]
_Japh. _ By all that earth holds holiest, speak!
_Spirit_ (_laughs_). Ha! ha!
_Japh. _ By the approaching deluge!
by the earth
Which will be strangled by the ocean! by
The deep which will lay open all her fountains! 60
The heaven which will convert her clouds to seas,
And the Omnipotent who makes and crushes!
Thou unknown, terrible, and indistinct,
Yet awful Thing of Shadows, speak to me!
Why dost thou laugh that horrid laugh?
_Spirit_. Why weep'st thou?
_Japh. _ For earth and all her children.
_Spirit_. Ha! ha! ha!
[_Spirit vanishes_.
_Japh. _ How the fiend mocks the tortures of a world,
The coming desolation of an orb,
On which the sun shall rise and warm no life!
