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to meddle with； How must they laugh to hear him； in his pride； Baptize his
vices； virtues； making use Of holy names to designate his crimes； Giving
his lust the sacred name of love； Calling his avarice a goodly sin； Care for
his household； naming his deceit Praiseworthy caution； boasting of his
hate； When be no more can cloak it； as a proof Of strength of mind and
honesty of heart。 For all of goodness that remains on earth； The name of
virtue might be banished from it。 Fathers； who waste in shameful riotings
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The bread for which their children cry at home； Mothers； who put aside th'
unconscious babe That they may wrong its father； children； who Grow old
in crime ere they have spent their youth； These are its habitants。 I cannot
brook the thought； that I belong To their vile race。 My sufferings have
been great； And keen enough to prove my immortality； For dust could not
have borne what I have suffered。 My mind has pierced far； far beyond the
length Of mortal vision； and discovered things Of which men scarcely
dream； and paid in pain； The price of what it learned and bought with
pangs By which a thousand ages were compressed Into one hour of agony：
a power Which is a terror to possess； and yet This one thought only irks
me。 Methinks the peaceful earth will scarcely give My dust a resting…place
within its bosom； But cast it forth as if too vile； to mingle With clay that
ne'er has been the slave of sin。 What！ other watchers here at this lone
hour？
＇An evil spirit enters； singing。 The world is half hidden；
By midnight's dark shadow； The filly； witch…ridden； Skims
over the meadow； The house…dog is barking； The night…owl
is hooting； The glow…worm is sparkling； The meteor is
shooting； And forms； which lie So stiff and still； In
their shrouds so chill； Through the live…long day； Now burst
their clay； And flit through the sky； On their dusky pinions：
Hell's dominions Keep holiday。 Sisters； sisters； wherever your
watches Are kept； fleet hither to me； Fleet hither； fleet hither； and leave
earth's wretches Alone to their misery。
＇A chorus of evil spirits answer as they enter from different parts of the
mountain。 We come！ Vice needs no assistance； She
meets no resistance； Virtue's existence Is only in name；
Drinking and eating； Intriguing and cheating； Carousing；
completing Their ruin and shame； Old age unrepenting；
Manhood unrelenting； Youth sighing and winning；
Deceiving and sinning； Deserting； repining； All men are
the same。 Ho！ ho！ Earth quakes with the weight of the anguish
she bears； Her plains and her valleys are deluged with tears； And her sighs；
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if united； were deeper by far； Than the thunderbolt's peal； when the clouds
are at war。 There is； not a bosom； that bears not within Its chambers； the
blot and the burden of sin； Not a mind； but in many an hour bath felt The
curse of its nature； the pangs of its guilt。
These earth…worms！ whose sire would have had us to bow To his dust…
moulded Godship！ whatwhat are they now？ In the scale of true goodness；
they sink far below The poor； patient ox； that they yoke to the plough。 Let
them revel awhile； in the false glaring light Of deception； that blindness
but seems to make bright； Let them gather awhile of time's perishing
flowers； The revenge of eternity！ This shall be ours！ Ho！ ho！
＇They settle near the fountain。 The first Spirit addresses them。
The night is advancing； Come； let us； dancing In dewy circles deftly
tread； And while we dance round； New schemes shall be found； To ruin
the living； and trouble the dead。
＇They form a circle on the margin of the stream； and dance round
singing。
I。
Life is but a fleeting day； Half of which man dreams away； Night！ we
follow in thy train Sleep！ supreme o'er thee we reign； Ours the dreams
that come when thou Sit'st upon the unconscious brow； Reason then
deserts her throne； We then reign； and we alone。
II。
Then seek we； for the maiden's pillow； Far beyond the Atlantic's billow；
Love's apple； and when we have found it； Draw the magic circle round
it；（1） Fearless pluck it； then no charm That it bears may do us harm； Place
it near the sleeper's head； It will bring love's visions nigh； And when
the pleasing； dreams are fled； The waking； pensive maid will sigh； Till
her bosom has possessed； The form that made her dreams so blest。 And
when a maiden finds a lover； Her happy days are nearly over： Nature hath
unchaste desires； Love awakes her slumbering fires； And the bosom that is
true in Love is ever near its ruin； Passion's pleading melts the frost Of
chilliest hearts； and all is lost： For； once vice blots a maiden's name； She
soon forgets her maiden shame。
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III。
Haunt the debauchee with dreams； Of the victim of his schemes； Paint
her with dishevelled hair； Streaming eyes； and bosom bare； And with
aspect pale and sad； As a spectre's from the dead； Weeping o'er her new…
born； child； Her name reproached； her fame despoiled： Let her groanings
reach his ear； Pierce his heart； and rouse his fear Of the retribution given；
To such deeds as his； by Heaven。
IV。
Around the drunkard's tattered couch； Let pale…faced want and misery
crouch； His children shivering o'er the hearth； Cheered by no sound of
social mirth； Upbraiding； with their timid glances； The author of their sad
mischances； And she to whom the holy vow Of the altar bound him； now
With sunken eye； and beauty faded； Tresses silvered； brow o'ershaded；
Clinging to him fondly still； With a love that mocks each ill； Which would
vainly strive to tear Her soul from one who once was dear。 Now haste
we； each our task to do； Ere the starry hours wane through！
＇They fly off； singing as they disappear。
Ere the Morning's rosy wing； Has brushed the damp night…shades
away； Ere the birds their matins sing； Choiring to the new…born day；
Though its bright birth…hour be near； Many a sigh； and many a tear； Shall
attest the mystic might； Of those who walk the world by night。
Werner （solus）。
The ruin of the living！ if that be Your only task； you have a poor
employ。 Give man his three score years； and he will make A wreck； the
skill of hell might show forth as A sample of its handiwork； and then；
Exult at the completeness of its ruin。 The troubling of the dead！if
memory lives In that far world； to which the spirit hastens； When she casts
off the clay that clogs her wings； E'en there ye are forestalled； for man will
need No curse； to make his second life a hell； If be retains the memory of
his first。 Had the clear waters of this gurgling brook； The pow'r to wash
time's blots from th' mind's page； And all earth's mountains were compact
of gold； Her rivers nectar； and her oceans wine； Her hills all fruitful； and
her valleys fresh； And full of loveliness as Eden was； Ere sin's sad blight
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fell on its living bow'rs； And all were mine； I'd give them but to lay My
weary limbs along this streamlet's bed； And sleep in full forgetfulness
awhile。 But； I forget my tasknow let me to it！
＇He takes a vial from his bosom； and flings its contents into the air；
chanting；
Spirit Wherever