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jJ '^ g^

PARACELSUS

1835
PART

PARACELSUS

Scene.

ASPIRES

Wiir-zburg;

"

environs.

Paracelsus.

Close

thus

in the

1 2

Michal

to

friends

dear

me,

long

though

time

roll
it

Ere

by
again

beat

now

At

least henceforth

Nor

it beats

and

"

quicker,pressed to yours,
perchance a long, long time

my

memories

your

befits their

fragrantas

shall

I'orgiving love
if you

As

'\ll

was

as

would
born

shall

be, you

fitful,strange and

Which

Only

e'er confused
on

moments

well

such

embalm

must

make

in yours

"

free

it there
me

"

home.

home

remember
to

shall

want

memory

Alas, that it requirestoo

I'or

,^

^^

hisfrien

As

Quiet

Paracelsus

which,

heart

the

to

close

Come

still closer

Paracelsus,

Festus,

garden

aright,
forget

10

waywardness
dwell
better s])irit,
to

moody
my

such

as

these, dear

friends

PARACELSUS

dis

He

My
More

courses

truer, but my words and ways

months
it :
Michal, some
as

no

true

"

to

hence,

au

heart

umn

^.^^

^
^_^^^ ^j^.^autumn

For

Its bleak

time,'
pleasant

sunny

fain be sunny ; I would

nature's truth : and both are

my
both

beloved,for all our

so

is

she

Drop by drop!

content

am

than

more

"

Michal,

Look

up, sweet

Your

stained and
bow

blame

weeping

child !

nor

content

its mute

wins you best by this

Nay, autumn
Appealto sympathyfor its decay :

Nor

frail,
Aureole

Paracelsus.
like

20

frailty.

Michal.

Not

look

would

Autumn

And

days ; and overlook

wind, hankeringafter piningleaves.
few

some

Liker

was

the less

esteem

droopingvines

their grapes

down.
those

bent with their

creakingtrees

fruit.
with a ^X^nfter-birth
apple-tree
its wealth among
peepingblooms sprinkled

That
Of

for the winds

Then

Shall

vex

proudit wears

The

old smile

Tenanted

Grey

old

one

by

wind

that

Ah,

at

both.

length,

lady of this
kingdom, limited

for her, the

this

"

wall

populous
green

ever-busyflies.
and shy lizards and quickspiders,

the

crickets

familyof the silver-threaded moss

this way,
look through near,
Which,
Each

stubble-fieldor

cane-brake,

40

"

appears
A

raved

ever

overlooks you

its berries ?

meet

nest!
Sequestered

by

what

that ash which

So

Alone

"

30

marsh

and

it

PARACELSUS

bulrush

Of

He
!
whiteningin the sun : laughnow
pictures
in his house,
each one
Fancy the crickets,
or
best, f^-|.^
Looking out, wondering at the world
snail with his gay shell of dew,
Yon painted
friends
balls
the
to see
Travelling
glossy
high up
during his
absence
like gold lamps.
Hung by the caterpillar,
"

Michal.

In

truth

carelessly

well.

and

Paracelsus. And

each, trust
For

lived

have

we

shall,my

"

born

me,

other ;

the

perfectpair!
50

your

nay,

hair, when

very

mixed,
Is of

For

hue.

one

Shall you
wish
And

where

walk, when

two
me

prosperous

in this nook

save

far away.
fortune ? Stay: that
I

am

plant
Shall

never

As

arm
languidand imperial
queen's

Which

scatters

Shall

Some

its tangles
and
lightly

wave

crowns

be reminded

great
broad

success

among

to
predict

to

Saint Saviour's:

Behind

Fcslus.

her

Ah,

softly.

but
lovers,

you

me

see,

the

whollygone,

sinks

sun

at

last!

Tjo

Now, Aureole, stay those wandering

eyes awhile !

You

arc

at
to-night,

ours

least ; and while

you

fij)oke
Of

Michal

Could

and

her tears, I
willingleave what he

But that last look

thoughtthat
so

seemed

to

none

love

that look
destroys
my dream
As if,where'er
you ga/cd,there stood a star !
far was
How
Wiirzburgwith itschurch and spire
And
and all thingstheycontain,
garden-walls
that look's far alighting
?
From
"

PARACELSUS

Paracelsus.

and
strives

to

And

I but

alike from

looked

'^^^th"'^^
The

beingsI love

From

all rude

That,

when

simplejoyto

best,shut in
like

chances

see

70

well

so

be my

to

spoke

afar,my

lot,

spirit,disposed
soothingthoughts
pleasantfeatures,looks and

To

weary
in
lose awhile its care

Of

them, their

"

words,
"

Needs

nor
hesitate,
Encroachingtrouble may

apprehend

never

Nor

have

And

fashion

even

too,

busy aid
fancy's

to

recourse

reached them

have

wish

in their behalf

Beyond what they possess alreadyhere ;

But, unobstructed,may at once forget
Itself in them, assured how
well they fare.

80

Beside,this Festus knows he holds me one

Whom
quietand its charms arrest in vain.
One scarce
of all the joysI quit,
aware
Too filledwith airyhopes to make
account
his own
Of soft delights
heart garners up :
Whereas
That

behold

much

how

our

proves alike !

's beauteous

of all

sense

When

I'^stus

learns
That

every

Affects
As

as

himself;

the world

that I have

90

just

for joy derived

appetite
in short.
common
things; a stake in life,
of aims
his ; a stake which rash pursuit
life affords not, would as soon
destroy
;

varied

From
Like

That
He

me

of
pleasure

common

"

I shall

act

Though
at

Sweet

himself that,this in view,

And
well advised.
last,
because,

convince

may

heaven

and

earth

and

all

thingswere

stake.
Michal

must

not

weep,

our

eve.
parting

PARACELSUS

Festus. True
^'

the

is

eve

and
deepening,

^'

Festus

Se"s

'"^

littleanxious

As

and

talk

beginour

to

^j^j^ ^^^^

1 could hint of it

As
As

though to-morrow
we
pacedarm-in-arm

At

sun-dawn

chamber

In that dim

Or

in

some

awful

even-blush

Have

I full leave

to

peer

around

tomes

all

lane unbosom

grassy

From

the noon-streaks

where

by the
Half-frightened

fits

while)

his class the

with

busied
(Trithemius

town

whisperit by

could

or

the cheerful

midnight: but,to-morrow
tell my

to

mind

inmost

no

have been brothers,and henceforth the world

all my freest mind ?
Will rise between
us
:
dear Aureole !
'Tis the last night,

We

"

Oh,

Paracelsus.
Devise
To
Be

My

be

test

some

of

love,some

say

you : say
spent the while, the better !
wondrous
plansand dreams

If

on

feat

arduous

for
performed

on

night

Recall how

oft

hopes and

and

fears
Have

"

Recall,and
Your
And

true

you, oh no!

wearied

never

never

vividly now.
as

when

born
affection,

its green

as

"

liinsiedeln

all the world

hills were

to

us

120

nightwhich ends
My further stay at Wijrzburg. Oh, one day
You shall be very proud! Say on, dear friends

And

stillincreasing
to this

Festus.

'Tis

In truth ?

for my

proper peace,

indeed.
Rather
To
Is
Of

than

stay your

fadingeven
some

far

yours;
course
now,

for vain all jjrojects

seem
:

I said my

latest hope

story tells

to
embassy despatched

win

PARACELSUS

Paracelsus

favour of

The

an

eastern

'X'he gifts
they offered

king,and how
130
provedbut dazzlingdust

protests j.j^^^ ^^^^^ j.j^^^

ore-beds

native

his clime.

to

Just so, the value of repose and love,

I meant
should tempt you, better far than
You

seem

No

whit

Has

comprehend; and yet desist

from projects
where
repose nor love
to

part.

Paracelsus.

To

save

Once

more

Alas !

our

Paracelsus. Dear

Festus,hear

Yet
And

To

bid
how

140

pursuit.
live,

great commission, and

RejectGod's

listen for your true

that love ?
has grown

me

die !

so

love's sake

weak

Informed

aught which

From
men

But

in
you

Taught
And

not

but
first,
out

me

born
shrank

apart from
151

and died their death,

life,
their ranks, eluding
destiny:
firstguidedme throughdoubt and fear.
me

now

That,

marked

was

have lived their

I would
Lost

upon her knees.

and fearless from the

long
spirit
hoped

in

Even

of the self-same
cherishing
patient
would quell
now
; as though a mother
of the child
stay the lustymanhood

Once

is

What

me.

it you wish ?
That I should layaside my heart's
Abandon
the sole ends for which I

You

I foretold.

As

briar the bank puts forth

solitary
swan's nest floating
out to sea.

Festus. A

It

from

to

know

that I
my

am

mankind

and

strong and

soul,I

Save those your earnest

that I touch the
Now

know

full of

myself:
hope.

rejectall aims
words made plain
to me,
brink of my design.
can

PARACELSUS

I would

When

And

Festus

their eyes, i6o He chides

the
Michal weeps,

triumphin

in their voices

gladcheer

have

"

!
pondersgravely

To

^f Festus

When

Festtis.
hear my

purpose

Hear

all this

you

Paracelsus.
Beforehand

deign

it ?

can

conference
evening's

say

'Tis this way, Michal, that he uses : first,

Or he declares,or I, the leading
points
what is man's end
of life,
best scheme
Of our
And
As

what

his with

Faith

will

God's
mine.

two

no

each

Next,

should be acted

best

as

on

faiths e'er
of

us

we

agreed

allows
may

170

I venture
to submit
Accordingly,
My plan,in lack of better,for pursuing
authorise.
to
The
path which God's will seems
Well, he discerns much good in it,avows
This motive worthy,that hope plausible,
A dangerhere to be avoided, there
in fine
An
:
to be repaired
oversight
minds go together all the good
Our two
Approved by him, I gladlyrecognise,
180
All he counts
discard,
bad, I thankfully
And
naught forbids my lookingup at last
"

I'or

some

stray comfort

in his cautious brow.

Wiicn, lo ! I learn that,spiteof all,there lurks

Some

innate and

inex])licable
germ

failure in my scheme ;
this
the
It all amounts
to

Of

"

That

we

devote

ourselves

so

that

at

last

sovereign
jiroof
to God, is seen

living
justas though no God there were ;
A life which, ])rompted
by the sad and lilinl
I'"
100
oilyof man, Festus abhors the most;
these tenets
at once,
liut which
sanctify
In

PARACELSUS

Festus

Though

to

persistsConsider
in his
""

it how

they may.
Is it so, Festus ?
kindly: is it so ?

Mkhal.

He

the same,

less subtle wits it seems

speaksso calmlyand
visions
Paracelsus. Rejectthose glorious
God's
man's

And

of

love

should

that God

design; laughloud

send

Vast

direct

to
longings

Power
The

us

well,and
ambiguous warfare

But this

cry

To

how

to

it.

answer

Wearies

Festus.
That

soon

lust,or gold; I know

satiates these,or

world's

say how

so

200

last leave to your friend

you will grant no
I wish
for his sake, not yours ?
urge it ?
send my soul in good hopes after you ;
"

To

Never

to

that uncertain words

sorrow

creed
a new
Erringlyapprehended,
111 understood,begotrash trust in you,
Had
share in your undoing.
Choose

Paracelsus.
Hold

or

I dare

Because
Nor

renounce

shrink when
where
peril

act

to

own

your

views.

that

to

me

espy

Prove

but that !

"

210

abide

you

their warrant,

labour laid

God's

on

onward, nor
they point
success.
they most ensure

Festus. Prove
Within

but meanwhile

your side.
blame me not

on

presumptuous boast

nor

you

mortal may expect ;

Prove the strange course

prove, all you

of all,

and, most
you

covet

will
affect,

now

lead
To

its attainment

Nay,

count

"

and

the minutes

I bid you

tillyou

speed,

venture

forth !

PARACELSUS

smile

You

slow He

gatheredfrom

had

but

If^f^

thought"
Much
musingon

friend

the fortunes of my
220
could not be urged in vain ;
Matter I deemed
need : in shreds
at my
But it all leaves me
what remains.
And
fragmentsI must venture

Michcil. Ask
should

at

scorn

Festus, wherefore

once,
,

"

he

And

Stay, Michal : Aureole, I speak

guardedly
knowing well,whate'er your error.
gravely,

This

is

Festus.

of yours,

ill-considered choice

no

fancyof

ardent

boy.
words alone
Not from your own
confiding
heart long since 230
I aware
Am
your passionate
birth to, nourished and at lengthmatures
Gave
1 will not speak of Liinsiedeln,
This scheme.
born your elder by some
I was
Where
years
first
from the
:
Only to watch you fully
No

sudden

In all

beside,our

Even

then

As

you

Which
With

had

your own
filledit when,
tumultuous

Of

of
portion
those

Came
To

so

his lore

favoured

condescends
not

one

you

239

to

few

teach

youth
now
despise,

resolved,like you.
you came,
all,and retain all,and deserve
as

Now, this new

I watched, too
one

jointhe

and

wish,

your dearest
left with me

crown

favoured,whom

earnest

grasp

fixed

you in my view
soul and those intents

to

were

have

to

heart, you

home

toil a
15ypatient

In

to

tasks

here, Trithemius

Whom,
A

mutual

'twas mine

"

childhood's

Our

an

matched

wide

ardour
;

'twas
to

his

renown

like his.

the old
sup])lant8
and strange,
significant
soul's content
at length

which

PARACELSUS

lo

traces

rivalsin the search for wisdom's

With

the To

see

growing

p^yni

of Para-

1"'"O"^

celsus To

prize,
250

pause, the total change ;

contest, the transition to repose
onward
as his fellows pressed,
pressing
the sudden

"

blank idleness,
yet
of a
dull stagnation

The

unlike

most

soul,content.

That

to leave betimes a thriveless quest.

foiled,
free from all pretence
careless bearing,

Even

of contempt

Once

it ceased to seek

for what

"

much, yet waiving

praising
Smilinghumility,
so well
What
it professed
to praise though not
"

but

Maintained

that

outbreaks,fierce and

rare

brief,

261

the hidden

Revealed

curbed
quickly

as

scorn,

"

of past defeat.
in contempt,
ready acquiescence

ostentatious show

That
That

I deemed

other

no

shivered sword, of

His

Upon

letting
go

than the

about

one

spring

to

his foe's throat ; but it was

not

thus

broodingpurpose then.
For after-signs
disclosed,what you confirmed,

Not

looked your

that way

preparedto

task

the uttermost

That

you

Your

in furtherance of
strength,

Which

while it bore the

"

Their

most

own

puny

to

270

certain aim

your rivals gave

name

efforts
"

was

so

vast

In scoi)e that it included their best flights,

Combined
them, and desired to gainone prize

placeof

In

Of
"

man,

That

many,
and man's

you,

"

not

the
true

of the world.
and fate.
purpose, path

secret

nursingas

purpose, with

Have

struck upon a way to

be true, which
trust

soul.

mere

vague

dream

the sages of the past.

This

You

this,if all
heart
following,

280

and

PARACELSUS

You, if a

man

Of

dare

may,

to
aspire

and

aims alike in character

"

be, not

Blendingtherewith

an

kind,

to

elsewhere

Devotion

to

sustain you

alien end
fear

or

joy

nor

you, but this pure

move

betray:

Thus

you aspire.
You
Paracelsus.

I should

differfrom

not

speakof.

You

shall not

no
profess

In the selection of my

My ready answer
Who

summons

Whose

290

dreamy crew
share

other

this

lot,than

All

be his organ.

to

me

the will of God

to

innate

the

it thus

state

them

strengthsupports

shall

succeed

No

better than the sages.

Such

Festus.
God

sets

before you

That

he

Than

the desire

With
The

you, the
natural end

And

hold such

appointno

and

the

aim, then,

'tis doubtless need

of

less the way

praise

though I liold 300

praise
; for,
be
forth such ])raisc
to
setting

Attains the

to

and

service of

man,

is best attained when

])raise
welfare of his kind
general

man

"

Yet this,the

end, is not

Presume

to

not

the instrument.

God

serve

apart from such

Appointedchannel as he wills shall gather

for that sole oiiedicncc
tributes,
Tmjierfect
He seeks not that his altars
!
Valued perchance
Blaze,careless how,

so

that

theydo

but blaze. 310

this,then ; that God selected

Su|)pose
To KNOW
(heedwell your answers, for

you
my

de-

signates

host

hope nor

no

woe,

Nor

and

that in itselfalone

Mostlyin this,
Shall its reward

know

shall differ from

that this aim

And

faith

PARACELSUS

12

but Shall

think you dare

I cannot
questions
his

what they affirm)

implicitly

meet

to

annex

smgle- Selection auuht beyond

such

steadfast

will,

create
intense hoi)e ; nor let your gifts
of ordinarymeans
Scorn or neglect

An
_"rnncp

Conducive

to

destiny
endeavour.
Now,

make

success,

man's

Dispensewith

dare

you search
Your

inmost

Whether

have

you

not

security

you discern
the fulfilment of your purpose

its existence

The

pathto

? whether

again,that purpose
out
to be singled
yearning

Clear

as

that jiurpose

Clear

as

your

and

"

Dare

its pursuer.

For

320

rather wild desire

this distinction than

For

Of

avow
candidly

heart, and

answer

you

this ?

a
pause~\. No,
\_after

Paracelsus

I have

will may know

What
soul.
secret'st workings of my

nought to fear
The

Who

though
if Indeed the strong desire
break
Eclipsethe aim in me ? if splendour

It be

so

?
"

330

"

Upon

duskest

And

of my pathalone.
What
shade succeed ?

the outset

Shall 1

to
require

my

fairer seal

authentic mission

this instinct striving

this fierce energy ?
enticed
is to strive ?
Because its nature

Than

"

"

By

the

How
But

That
To

no

broad

course,

forever in its eyes !

fate my
I else such glorious
know
in the restless irresistibleforce

Without

To

of
security
success

works

within

me

Is it for human

own,
34"

will

? stillless,
impulses
should
! What
their promj)tings
disregard
institute such

"

PARACELSUS

13

you all ; your loves,your cares,

Be sure
life" all to be mine ?
that God

Do, keptamong
Your
Ne'er

dooms

to

the

waste

strengthhe

mission

why she stoops at

geier-eagle
and unexplored
vast
abyss,

the

Into the

once

full-grownpower informs her from the

first,
beating 350
Why she not marvels,strenuously
The
silent boundless regions
of the sky !
whom
God
needs ! Nor
Be sure
not
they sleep
What

fear
Their
That

holdinglighthis charge,when
is a
finds that charge delayed,

This

for the faith in which

abjureso well the

strive to
pedants

can

These

Arts,
Great Works,
Let

others

Connects
To

do

me

my

idle

hence

arts

Sublime,forsooth

intimate

too

; and

trust

learn and teach ; Black

the Secret and

prize:

every hour
death.
new

God

"

tie

sullen fiend 360

bidding,fallen and hateful sprites
with

our

what arc these, at best,beside

helpme
God
God
directingeverywhere,
helping,
So that the earth shall yieldher secrets
up,
be
And
there
chargedto strike,
every object
?
God
iicr master
Teach, gratify
appoints
And
I am
young, my Festus, happy and free !
I can devote myself; I have a life
To give; I, singled
for this,the One !
out

To

"

Think,

think!

sprung
The

^^^^

deignsj^-^

impart!
Ask

Para-

the wide

where
i'.ast,

all Wisdom

brightSouth, where
North,

37"

she dwelt

the

ful
hope-

PARACELSUS

14

Festus

All

passedo'er

are

questions

it

"

lightson

'I'is

me

^\^^^^Q

j.^^j
New

animate

hopes should
,,',,-

method
,,,

Should

Weighed

i-

from

dawn
down

reveahngs

new

light

world, new

the

to

race

so
long;
long,forgotten

so

thus

shall
The

reserved for

heaven

whom

Creatures
But ardent
Not

seldom

Festus.

at

unwonted

last receive

blind,
splendours
blaze

confront the unclouded

to

beams

Whose

no

us

not

pilgrimage,

blessed their

seldom

their Hfe below.

glorified
My words have their old

380
fate and

faint stand

make

Call this,truth
Againstyour glowingperiods.
Why not pursue it in a fast retreat,
of Learning's
Some
palaces.
one
many
After approved
example? seekingthere
with the great dead, soul to soul,
Calm converse
"

"

laid up

Who
"

with the like intent

treasure

into their airyplace.

So lift yourself
And
fillout full their unfulfilled careers.
the
Unravelling

less confused.
much

Might do

From
But
An

Of
What

The

at

at

!
"

fresh eye,

their

390

but left
a

fresh hand.

;
waning-point
vigour's

new-hearted

new-breathed

with

Succeeding
force.
As

their baffled skill

true
inextricable,

Pronounced
Far

knots

snatched
old games the runner
still: this way success
runner

the torch

might be.
enterprise,

coupledwith your
scheme
self-repugnant
arbitrary
you

have

seekingit in strange and untried paths.

books
secret

are

in the desert ?

of her

in
yearning

Writes

vast

caves

the

sea

401

PARACELSUS

i6

Paracelsus

At

^.^."

Were

timations
of

whisperedin the evening,and spoke out

mortal,born too soon,
midnight. If some

What

Coming

great His
destinyThe

and

in

some

"

"

time's advent; and could then

true

the ages
great trance
tilldawned
goingall the while

laid away

they spokewho

words

kept watch

record

by

his

bed,"
of the breath so light
might tell more
and the fingers
light
440
Upon my eyelids,
is
confused
Youth
; yet never
Among my liair.
that spirit
I but, when
So dull was
passed,
I turned to him, scarce
turns
as
consciously,
his sleep.
fairies cross
A water-snake when
And
having this within me and about me
itsmountains,lakes and woods
While Einsiedeln,
what oppressive
Confined me
joy was mine
and I first viewed
the,
life grew
When
plain,
thronged,
!
of mankind
The everlasting
concourse
Believe that ere I joinedthem, ere 1 knew
450
Then

"

The

purpose

in its ranks

Consignedme
Wonder
'Twas

was

place
while,justawake.

of the pageant, or
freshest and

"

the

delightmost

pure

"

then that least supportable

appeared

of the crowd,
brightest
of them all.
with the proudest
A portion
And
from the tumult in my breast,this only
A

station with

Could

the

that
collect,

must

thenceforth die

myselffar,far above
I seemed to long 460
The gorgeous spectacle.
mankind,
At once
to trample
on, yet save
To make
some
unexampledsacrifice
wondrous
In their behalf,
to wring some
good
winning
From
heaven or earth for them, to perish,
Or

elevate

PARACELSUS

Eternal weal in the

As

to

be mixed

to

never

with

in my

have part even

Describes
his

its cloud,

from

so

men

much

work, share 470

feat achieved,

own

In my own
largess.Once the
from their oflSciouspraise,
I would withdraw

Would
Like

thanks.
gently
put aside their profuse
a wilderness,
some
knighttraversing

Who,

on

his way,

from
desert-people

Of

all the

When
His

feet,and

Their

chance

may

their

to

free

tribe

dragon-foe
;

press round to kiss

and yield
him for their king,

swarthyrace
choose

poor tents,
for

the

pitchedamong

hills,
sand479

to his scarf
smiling,
points,
Heavy with riveled gold,his burgonet
and to the East,
stones
Gay set with twinkling
!
be displayed
these must
Where

realm

His

and he

"

Good

Fettus.

let us hear

about your nature, ' which firstshrank

!
all that marked
From
you out apart from men
Paracelsus. I touch on that ; tiicse words but

No

more

'

analyse
The
I

soon

brief as fond,
: 'twas as
impulse
I gazedagainupon the show,
here and there a shape
distinguished

firstmad

l""oras

Palm-wreathed

and

radiant,forehead

full

and

490

eye.

Well

was
])lea8ed

early

him, ^f^^^
on
discharged
summer's azure
:
sleep

mightthreaten

storm

should dare

who

as

out

That,
Yet

the angry thunder

flame
all its gathered

Pluck
No

act

17

1 their

should

state

thus

at

once

Pjchold the
thoughts:
Interpret
my own
I rashly
To all,'
said, and what I pine
*

"

It

clue

PARACELSUS

i8

his To
unfitness

do, these
They know

aTms

have
and

: we
accomplished

therefore

rule

are

I,

peers,
too, will

'

k"o^
"

You

beside me,

were

You

saw

me

Festus,as

plungein their

you

say

whom
pursuits

fame

the lords of

mind.
the prizein view
Not pausingto make
sure
satiate my cravingswhen
Would
obtained,
Then
I strove.
But since they strove
came
Is lavish

to

attest

500
a

slow
failure. We
alike.
strangling
aspired
Tritheim counts
Yet not the meanest
plodder,
A marvel,but was
all-sufficient,
strong,
wits ;
his
Or staggered
vast
own
only at
I was
While
restless,
nothingsatisfied,
most
Distrustful,
perplexed.I would slur over
I loathed myself
That struggle
; suffice it,that
As weak
comparedwith them, yet feltsomehow
A mightypower was
brooding,takingshape510
Within me ; and this lasted tillone night
it and more,
When, as I sat revolving

And

stillvoice from without

'Seest thou not.

defeat and loss?
spring

said

"

Despondingchild,whence
Even from thy strength.Consider : hast thou
gazed
wisdom's countenance.
on
Presumptuously
No veil between ; and can thy faltering
hands,
Unguided by the brain the sightabsorbs.
Pursue
Whom

their task

radiance

as

earnest

blinkers do

ne'er distracted ?

Live

their

choose
fortune,

their

life
If thou

wouldst share their

520

eyes
Unfed

by splendour.Let

each

task present

PARACELSUS

19

Waste not thy gifts

Its petty good to thee.
In profitless
waitingfor the gods'descent,
But have
With

idol of thine

some

Know,

their array.

But

become

to

Know,
Look

to

not

it

I smiled

Which
And

ever

mind

whose
fellows' studies,
But smiled not, well aware
'Tis

hard

the voice

came

step!'
530

of

works

God,

intercourse

understood,no

My

softer

smiles but once.

aim's extent.
own

soughtto comprehendthe
and all God's
God himself,

And

that

secure

never

one

as

the human

With

^^^j^

love it breeds

the
inspires,

firstdiscovering
my

Then

dress

sake,
knowing's

for

men

step onward, and

one

And

star

for

less.

true

worth

I saw.

who

stood

by me.

'
"

is

There

With
Have

ripenedinborn

to

"

Wilt thou

germs of sin to
for my sake and

adventure

Apartfrom all reward

Be happy,my good
'

Be

sure,

to

even

way

tread therein,imbued
first
if indulgence
frailtyhopeless,
for flesh

?'

soldier

the end !

'
"

am

540

strength:
man's.

last it breathed

And

"

by thee.

I answered

not,

endued
As he spoke,I was
Knowing him.
and a steadfast will ;
With comprehension
sealed
he ceased,my brow
was
when
And

his

own.

change in
placeno special

If there took
How

comes

it all thingswore

Thenceforward?

Teeming

with

So that when,
Of

secret

"

pregnant

me,

different hue

with

vast

550

quence,
conse-

loaded with fate ?

grandresult,
at the mighty range
quailing

truths which

yearn

for

his

u^"!^

it brings,
gain it gets, the praise

for the

wonder

The

to

own

and

I haste
birtii,

PARACELSUS

20

He

rejectsTo

undazzled some
one
truth,
contemplate
the Its
and effects alone
at once
bearings
"t^^^^^ ^^^ ^ speckexpandsinto a star,
thus,
Asking a life to pass exploring
"

^th

Till I

I go to prove my soul !
I see my way as birds their trackless way.
560
I shall arrive ! what time, what circuit first,
I ask

Or
In

He

near

not

craze.

but unless God

his hail

sent

sleet or stifling
fireballs,
blinding
snow.
I
some
time, his good time, shall arrive :
guidesme and the bird. In his good time!
Michal. Vex him no further,
Festus; it is so!
This
Festus. Just thus you help me
ever.
would

Were

hold

it the trackless

air,and

Inviting
you, distinct with
Of many
a mighty marcher
You
But

path
footprints
yet
not

gone
than

liave purer views

famous in their
they were
may

At

Remain.

Paracelsus.

least accept the

Their

!
light

that way.

570

theirs,perhaps,

day the proofs

light
they lend.

the

"

sum

of all is

this :
briefly

They

laboured

best

Are
Given
With

No

over

seen

to

and grew famous, and the fruits

in a dark and groaningearth
i
endless strife
a blind and

evils,what
;

And

of all their lore abates ?

rejectand spurn them utterly

Shall I stillsit beside
all they teach.
1
dry wells,with a white lipand filmed ey
1

Their
While

in the distance heaven

Mountains

where

sleepthe

is blue above

unsunned

And

Festus.
As

Men

strong delusions have

have

tarns

set

out

as

ere
prevailed
to seek
gallantly

now.

"

j-

yet

PARACELSUS

heard

I have

Their

ruin.

Avow

all hitherto

21

of such
but

Nay, Festus,when

Michal.

pilgrims

the

as

Festus

yields

fallen.

failed and

have

yourself

faint

Through the drear way, do you expect to

amid the clouds afar ?
Their citydawn
like some
Paracelsus. Ay, sounds it not
me,

have

too

And

tread

spent

in that act,
chance

lifewas

prayer

went

blotted

out

memories,

as

not

"

so

by death.
so
completely600

when

now,

earnest,

so

enough of

But scattered wrecks

Dim

up
let in
better light

more

Instinct with
That

sages'way.
familiar paths. Perchance

arrogant self-reliance

in an
perished
Ages ago ; and
one

life the

more

once

I almost dream

times

at

For

old

and them

I estimate their works

that
rightly,

So

590

tale ?

well-known
For

see

it

remain.
seems

more

once

goalin sightagain. All which, indeed.

and onlymeans
the flesh I wear,
Is foolish,
clear to me
The earth I tread,are not more
Than my belief,
to you or
no.
explained
^
and disjmtc
Festus. And
who am
I,to challenge

The

"

I will divest all fear.

rhat clear belief?

'

Michal.

Then

Aureole

is God's

commissary!

all for

he shall

and

fc great

grand
"

and

'' Paracelsus.

"Jot great and

'Tis
I

well

never

No,
If I

grand.

but there

will be served

Festus.

us

Look

spot, here,

well

by

those

610

mankind

serve

intercourse

our

to

can

sweet!

must

end:

serve.

this ; here

is a

plague-

PARACELSUS

22

but

reproves

Disguiseit how
This

'Tis
^"^"-"^J.t

but

contempt

of love

^"'^^

How

spot
'
that

our

yet

blotch

:
-r

ir

carelessness

humbly
probe

to

human

from

the first

love ?

620

abjuredthe helpswhich

men

you would do.

sought; I dare not thoroughly

their

overpass

overlooked.

be safe which

course

you have

seems

Have

by

as
i

hideous

'1

can

Who

ij

Produces
It

while

scorn

'Tis true, you utter

side and lovingus ;
but it will break

may!

you

kind, as

Let

be

This

matter, lest I learn too

That

would littleinstigate
praise
po])ular
nor
efforts,
particular
approval

Your

much.

aside ; alone
you ; put reward
You shall go forth upon your arduous task,
None shall assist you, none
partakeyour toil.
Reward

None

share your

Some

one

Your

cast

encircle

rampart of my

with

me

fellows

must

retain

share

631

I elect like you,

love,and raise

Were

rapture with.

I would

to

triumph: stillyou
your gloryon, to

it should

seem

watched
for me
to fail,
so
Impossible
By gentlefriends who made my cause their own.
the great gift,
They should ward off fate'senvy
Extravagantwhen claimed by me alone,
to them
as well as me.
Being so a gift
If dangerdaunted me
seduced,
or
ease
640
How
calmlytheir sad eyes should gaze reproach!
M'lchal. O Aureole, can I singwhen all alone.
in my fancy,both
firstcalling,
Without
And
I !
To listen by my side
even
you ?
Do you not fee! this ?
Say that you feel this !
that my aims,
Paracelsus. I feel 'tis pleasant
at length
"

"

PARACELSUS

24

Michal

warns
"

Para-

against
success

the trees :
pleasant
sun, among
beingknowing not what love is. Hear
the

Beneath

y^^

Annexed
To

to

them

gatherround

And
Such

with

their need

dream

that

On

but
lightly,
objects
you prize

Or

heart's sole

die

I know

That

at most

treasure

to

live

can

men

common

you, which

we

seem

690

taste

must

and this strange quality

accords,
not
how, with you ; sits well upon

luminous

brow, thoughin

I
eatingbrand,a shame.
The rules of rightand wrong
's

no

alternative
"

stay with

Man

should be humble

us

An

And

dare

judgeyou.

not

thus

you
other laws

one

bold

one

us

all

cast

those
700

angelwarns
are

aside,

set

own

; you

it scowls

another

higherorder, under
curb not
bind us ; therefore,
Than
glance!
'Tis best aspire.Once mingledwith
Michal.
Stay with us. Aureole !
hopes away,
Of

And

make

which

the affections

An

There

feel,

votaries.
passionate
joy in this or no,

ever

Beauteous

inspiring

never

can

Or

Their

their will

their

if you

not

at

love themselves

Passionless 'mid
I know

them

680

dispensation

to do
spirits

meaner

summon

'twere

as

bear

faculties which

with

endowed

^^e

me

me,

too,

proud:
plaguesfor

very

God, dethroned, has doleful

such !

Warns

"

me

to

have

in dread

no

quickrepulse,

:
slow defeat,but a complete
success
!
so
You will find all you seek, and perish

No

Paracelsus
barren

a
pause^. Are
\_after

of my
firstfruits

quest ?

these

the

PARACELSUS

25
tells
truth
how

Is love like this the natural lot of all?

He

hour

such

years of painmight one

Dearest Michal, dearest Festus,
O'erbalance ?
How

many

^^in

shall I say, if not that I desire

711
dear friends,
justify
your love ; and will,

What

To
In

swervingnothingfrom

! and
See, the great moon
Were
wide awake, I was

You

at
acquiesce

If I

am

like

to

the untried

By

firstresolves.

my

the mottled

ere

to

last in all

"

I seek

I choose

career

seems

this

save

what

compass

It

go.

owls

and

then,

If that career, making but small account

will yet retain
of life'sdelight,
Of much

720

Sufficient to sustain my soul : for thus

I understand these fond fears just
expressed.
and I neglect.
first; the lore you praise
labours and the precepts of old time,

And
The

I have

whate'cr
things,

outward

From

There

is

an

inmost

upon

wall,the

rise

no

you may

in

us

is truth.

clear perceptionwhich
jK'rfect,
carnal mesh
and perverting
baffling

This

"

it,and makes

Binds

Rather

believe.

all.
in fulness; and around,
it in, 730
gross flesh hems

centre

truth abides

Where

But, friends,

is within ourselves ; it takes

Truth

Wall

disesteemed.
lightly

not

all error

and

to

know

consists in

openingout a way
the im])risoned
Whence
splendour
may escape,
in effecting
Than
entry for a light
Watch
to be without.
narrowly
Su])])osed
The

demonstration

And

you

And

source

vast,

trace

back

within

of

truth, its birth,

the effluence
us

where

to

its spring

broods

radiance
740

PARACELSUS

26

be elicited ray by ray, as chance

for hitherto your sage
Shall favour : chance
those beams
how
are
not
]7y^^ .^^f. ^g knows

tillTo
chance
makes
an
outlet

"

born,
As

littleknows

he what

have

oft grown

And

To

men

die case-hardened

careless

Whose

Of

years
unremitted

unlocks

their fount

old among

in their

their books

ignorance.

promisedwhat long

youth had

labour ne'er

;
performed

idle day.
While, contrary, it has chanced some
loiterers justas fancyfree
To autumn
750
As the midges in the sun, givesbirth at last
as
producedmysteriously
cape

To

truth

Of

cloud grown

"

lodgedalike in all,
film
? some
the highest
slight
as
bar which binds a soul
interposing
the idiot,
makes
justas makes the sage
film removed, the happy outlet whence

Hence,
The

The
And
Some

of the invisible air.

out

may
lowest

not

truth be

!
See this soul of ours
?
proudly
it strives weaklyin the child,is loosed 760
How
In manhood, clogged
by sickness,back compelled

Truth

issues

By age and waste, set free at

Why is it,flesh enthrals it or
is this flesh

What

Oh,

not

we

alone when

have

to

life flows

last by death
enthrones

penetrate?
do
still,

truth

but also when

strange chance
power emerge,
Ruffles its current
; in unused conjuncture.

And

When

sickness breaks the

body
"

ing*
hunger,watch-

languor oftenest death's approach,

shall crawl 770
One man
Peril,deepjoyor woe.
things,
Through life surrounded with all stirring
Excess

or

"

PARACELSUS

and he goes mad : and from the wreck

he was, by his wild talk alone,

Unmoved
Of

what

first collect how

You

27

great

he
spirit

It is his

^^

^^^^^^^

hid.

Therefore,set free the soul alike in all,

Discoveringthe true laws by which the flesh
be doomed
We
!
not
Accloysthe spirit
may
but at least the rest
To cope with seraphs,
Make
Shall cope with us.
God,
no
more
giants,

But elevate the

To

at

race

once

We

our
our
strength,
put forth just

ask

780

strength

human

all equippedalike,
fairly,
starting
true-hearted
Gifted alike,all eagle-eyed,
beat thine angelsyet !
See if we
cannot
All

Such

is my

I go

task.

"

gatherthis

to

knowledge,here and there dispersed

found.
About the world, long lost or never
And
why should I be sad or lorn of hope ?
Why ever make man's good distinct from God's,
Or, finding
theyare one, why dare mistrust? 790
Who
shall succeed if not one
pledgedlike me ?
sacred

The

Mine

is

mad

no

Apart from his,like

To

find the

And,

those who

of the

nature

build

to

attempt

taught betimes

world

set

themselves

they bore.
spirit

that

all their gorgeous

dreams

Were

onlyborn

Refused
But

to

chose

to

fitthem
to

to

other frames

And

all

dream

another

for their

meet

in this

its narrow

forth
figure

And

vanish

Tlius

life.
sphere.
world
vast

desires,"

lifescorned

was

life
Shall yet be crowned

And

but
800

twine

!
priest
with
all for yielding

amaranth

! I

lively
spirit

*o

am

PARACELSUS

28

An

youth

squanderevery energy
toys.
^^^Convertible to good, on painted
though
Breath-bubbles, gildeddust ! And

earnest

"^

with
poor existence,parting

those who

Like

spurn
adventitious
All
aims, from empty praise
To love's award, yet whoso deems such helps
himself for me,
and concerns

Important,
May know even these will follow with the
As in the steadyrolling
Mayne, asleep
Yonder,

My

is mixed

affections laid

own

Will

subdued
purified,

waken

"

8ii

ore.

awhile.

rest

to

alone

Till then

all I have achieved.

By

of schistous

its mass

rest

tillthen

"

of a page
loitering
Ah, the time-wiling
Through bower and over lawn, tilleve shall bring
he loves
lady'spresence whom
stately
of the fisher whose rough coat
The broken sleep
pearl these are faint types !
Enwraps the queenly
See, see, they look on me : I triumphnow 1 821

The

"

"

one

All

I shall e'er disclose

Do

mortal

to

told

! I have

thing,Festus, Michal

But

say
this ?
believe I shall accomplish

you
Festus.

I do

believe !
I

Michal.
Those

Paracelsus.
from
This

earnest

my

ever

words

did believe !

shall

never

Two

brain !

of the end shall

fade !

never

"

when,
when,

beggar,he prepares

to

he rises with
])rince,
Festus, I plunge!

One

fade

there not, Festus,are there not, dear Michal,

in the adventure of the diver,
points

Are
One

out

"

"

Festus.

We

wait you when

830
plunge,
?
his pearl
!
you rise

II

PART

ATTAINS

PARACELSUS

Scene.

the house

Constantinople;

"

Conjurer.

of

Greek

1521

Paracelsus

Over

the

The

sun

the

With

Turk

length

Possess

Have

and

and

'Tis

to

me

won

this

act

o'er

unwrecked

voyage

done

as

runs

more

cheat

cloud

yon

many

last.

at

sallow

'Tis

j^jg

minarets.

no

celsus

gold

between,

and

juggles of

the

"

Should

of domes

aching sight !

my

Strange

of

city, which

memorial,

lie, sullen

There

sphere

splendour, black and crooked

along a scimitar.
verse

the

Like

in

as

Para-

West

vaporous

of the

arm

all that

Athwart

the

down

goes

Behind

in

waters

10

mountain-

top
And

break

Come

to

molehill.

upon

dared

have

knowledge

with

pause

scan

for

once

The
To
All

heights already reachetl,

the

extent

1 have

brilliant

above

to

regard

fairlycom])utc

clearly gained
future

without

tor

supj)lyand

excluding
jierfect

once

39

gains

PARACELSUS

3"

crude

and
and conjectures
half-gains

and All
inscribes And

hopes:

fortune-tellerwills
19
his Ufe's
j^jg credulous seekers should inscribe thus much
results
life'sattainment,in his roll,
rj^^j^^j^
previous
all because

his

Before

promisedsecret,

up the

Make

and

sum

as

here

he vaunts,
amid the scrawled

of the dupes of this

recordings
lie my life'sresults !
arch-genethliac,

Uncouth

Old

few blurred characters suffice to

note

lands
stranger wandered long throughmany
And
reapedthe fruit he coveted in a few

Discoveries,as appendedhere and there.

30
fragmentaryproduceof much toil,
In a dim heap,fact and surmise together
massed as when
; he was
acquired
Confusedly
much
to stay
too
Intent on gainto come
scrutinise the littlegained
: the whole
And
Sliptin the blank space 'twixt an idiot's gibber
lover's ditty there it lies.
And
a mad

The

"

And

chronicle
yet those blottlngs

No

life
"

life!
Nothing
my
problemfor the fancy,but a life

whole

and
life,

to

do,

Spentand decided,wasted past retrieve

Or worthy beyond peer.
Stay,what does
"

this

'

concerning life ?
Time
fleets,youth fades,life is an empty
dream,"

Remembrancer
'

40

It is the echo

of time

Beat first beneath

Was
copiedfrom

'

down

set

and

heart

he whose

human

heart,whose

human

tongue,

living
yet

Recall when

he

Nevertheless

long seasons

was

knew

can

not

him
pass o'er

speech
never

this.

PARACELSUS

32

draw

leaving To
the event
to

God

gainfrom having been a man,

hope nor fear,to live at length!

some

Neither

to

But

rest !
jTygjj jj,failure,

And

and

power

in truth

rest

hoped that

recompense

...

once

Has all
so deep ?
insensibly
Been undergonefor this ? This the request
to present
me
My labour qualified

What,

With

sunk

fear of refusal?

no

Had

80

I gone

through my task,and so judgedlit

Slightingly
it now
To moderate my hopes; nay, were
to exculpate
myself.
My sole concern
End
thingsor mend them, why, I could not
"

choose

mood

humbler

No,

worst

The

have

task

rest

is God's

To

know

By

my

event

this ; no,

after

performedmy

share

there needs

no,

At

wait for the

to

not

all.
of the
90

concern

work.

mine, merelythis,

held
obstinately

that I have

own

The

brave foot

mortal whose

far
so
trod, unscathed,the temple-court
That he descries at lengththe shrine of shrines,
Must let no sneeringof the demons' eyes.
Has

fasten now
unquailing,

he could pass

Whom

Upon him, fairly

past their
He

no,

no

"

fall down
at last.
stagger, faint,
charm
100
to baffle them
; behold,

bares his front

Serene

not

must

Having
He

power

amid

mortal

thus

ventures

the echoes, beams

and

glooms!

henceforth,if he wake up
priest
god of the placeto ban and blast him there,

If he be

The
Both

well !

What's

failure or

success

to

me

PARACELSUS

33

He

I have subdued my lifeto the one purpose

Whereto I ordained it; there alone I spy
No doubt,that way I may be satisfied.

sacrSic

Yes, well have I subdued my life! beyond

strictestvow,

of my
obligation

The

no

of my wildest bond.
The contemplation
Which gave my nature freely
up, in truth.
But in its actual state, consenting
fully
formed
soil
its
was
All
impulses

passionate

not
To rear, should wither ; but foreseeing
barrenness,
The tract, doomed to perpetual
Would seem
one
day,remembered as it was,
it is,
sand-waste which now
Beside the parched
Alreadystrewn with faintblooms,viewless then.
120
I ne'er engagedto root up loves so frail

'tisvery plain
Some soft spotshad their birth in me at first.
time
If not love,
say, like love : there was a
When
yet this wolfish hungerafter knowledge
love's claims aside.
Set not remorselessly
I feltthem

not

yet now,

why
which
ICinsiedeln,
now, and Wiir/.burg

This

heart

Forsakes

human

was

her

to

course

once,

or

fold as with

recall
the
an

Maync

arm

his praise
my poor Festus,with
And counsel and grave fears where is he now
With the sweet
maiden,longago his bride ? 131
at least,
that last night,
loved them
I surely
better. I am
When
we
gone ! gone ! the
saved

And

Festus

"

"

The sad review of an ambitious youth

unnoticed in their birth,
Choked by vile lusts,
But letgrow up and wind around a will

II

tells

PARACELSUS

34
of the Till action

tyranny
of his

Purgingmy
the
"Wi-aring
that

I bear

Whose
I

lifeconsist of
master,

was

of a
memory
I
small events

o'er the

ran

gone

distant likeness of such lusts.

made

I have

Ere

destroyed.No, I have
of aught
pathsuccessively

was

idea

one

up tillthat was
life
pleasant
treasure

140

born,

tillone

morn

littlegrassy fields,

seven

flocks of nameless birds,to tell

all the while for joy.
Festus,leaping

the
Startling

Poor

leave all trouble for my

Since I had justdetermined

future

To

The

greatestand

And

since that

All is
The

vast

Through

career

its existence

To
The

of the

shows

ministers of

Not
A

wondrous

For
From

some

tyrant all-

one

to

sorrow

be wrung
or

thence,

:
delight

natural robe in which

one

151

interspace,
chain of thought,
keptup
adverse
apparently
and shadow,
life,
death,light
bare receptacles
world, were

indices of truth

Or

forgotten
;

fillsup the

unbroken
a

earth.

onlystep between

the end

Absorbing aim
One

on

all life has been

morn

and

outset

become

to

man
glorious

most

day,one

one

plans,

truth would

mountains

roughwith

she went.

dimly beacon me
flitand
pines,and

160

wink

of frozen snow, and tremble

wastes
dazzling
in some
Into assured light
branchingmine
swathed
in fire,
the liquid
Where
gold
ripens,
all the beauty,all the wonder fell
And
O'er

"

either side the

On
I

see

the robe

now

truth,as its mere

"

then

saw

robe ;

the form.

So far,then, I have voyagedwith success,

is good,then, in this working sea
So much

170

PARACELSUS

Which

from

parts me

that

35

of
happy strip

land

and

of
bitter-

And

^^e
happy stripa sun shone, too !
fainter gleamsit as the waves
rough,f^^yj.g
grow

And

stillmore

o'er that

But

faint

the

as

sea

widens

last

gulfstreaked with light

From
its own
depthsalone.
putrefying
Then, God was pledgedto take me by the hand ;
Now, any miserable jugglecan bid
My pridedepart. All is alike at length:
in confounding
God
pride i8o
may take pleasure
By hidingsecrets with the scorned and base"
I am
here, in short : so littlehave I paused
Throughout! I never glancedbehind to know
from wane,
If I had kept my primallight
!
what I am
And
thus insensibly
am
I sicken

on

dead

"

bitter ; very

Oh,

bitter !

And

bitter.
To fear a deepercurse, an inner ruin.
the last turningthe first
Plague beneath plague,
Let me
To lightbeside its darkness.
189
weep

My youthand
In

which

tears

its brave
burn !

secret
startling

Some

more

all dead
hojjcs,
Would

in their

were

and gone.
sure

to

win

stead,a tincture

youth,or breed
til!thoy change
Gold, or
To opalshafts!
onlythat,hurlingit
Indignantback, I might convince myself
My aims remained supreme and ])ure as ever !
I'-vcn now,
why not desire,for mankind's sake.
Of

force

flush old age with

moonbeams
imprison

to

"

fault may be the cause,

fail,
some
That, though I sink,another may succeed ?
O God, the despicable
heart of us !

That

Shut

if I

out

this hideous

mockery

from

my

200

heart !

PARACELSUS

36
He

fears
some-

thing

in you, Aureole, to reject

politic
rewards, and ask. them in the lump ;
Sint^lc
Y\t all events, once
on
launched,to hold straight
'tis all or nothing. Mighty profit
For now
Your gainswill bringif they stop short of such

'Twas

Full consummation

As

man,

of

you had
that is gone

strength
; and
these you boast.
210
Already in the getting
who should say
Do not they seem
to laugh,
as
Great master, we are here indeed,draggedforth
To light
Now,
; this hast thou done : be glad!
A

certain share

"

'

seek

The

strengthto
I
getting!

use

which

thou

spent in

hast

'

And

Thus
To

'tis very much.

surely
emptiedyouth of all its gifts.

yet 'tismuch,
to

feed

have
a

fire meant

to

hold

out

tillmorn

light
; and lo,
and day dawns not !
I have heaped up my last,
And
I am
left with grey hair,faded hands, 220
And
furrowed brow.
Ha, have I, after all,
of my breast ?
Mistaken
the wild nursling
pense
Knowledge it seemed, and power, and recomArrived

with

inexhaustible

"

Was

siie who

Who

laid my

The
When
God

God
Mind

glidedthroughmy
head

on

room

of

nights.

her soft knees and smoothed

damp locks, whose slysoothings

justbegan
craved
repose awhile
my sick spirit
I fighting
! was
sleepoff for death's sake ?
"

"

! Thou

art

should be

All else I will

mind

Unto

the master-mind

precious.Sparemy mind
endure ; if,as I stand

alone !
231

PARACELSUS

37

Here, with my gains,

thythunder smite me down,
will ;
I bow me ; 'tisthy will,thy righteous
"

IT'
erpass lire

And

if no

trace

j^^^^^

of the wind
thin corpse at pleasure
level with the air.
In these brightchambers

Save

See thou

fail.
spirit

if my

But

it !

to

forsake me
proudspirit
?
thou done well by me

My

at

once

Hast
Crush
Hold

not

my
crushed !

And

say

My

law.

Men

be

him, lest he should disturb

I crushed

'
"

thou !

not

of thy seraphs
frequence

before the

me

So do

God, though

dear

mind,

last,239

the

must

their

know

not

:
strength

behold
Weak

he had

and alone, how

raised himself!

'

But if delusions trouble me, and thou.

Not seldom felt with rapture in thy help
my

toils and

man's

welfare

Throughout

dost
wanderings,

intend

To

work

through

weak

my

endeavour,
To

forehead with
my mortal
thine own
blindingcrown, to

crown

I'Vom

beam

250

smile,and

guide
This

Be

influx of
were

Thus

new

"

hear

j)Ower,

marvel then

no

far,a

man

let

me

an

! I

so

covet

angel'ssou/

l)ut I have

"

wrought
;

reac/ied

conclude,a

me

not

man

firstenergy.
that invincible faith,but only one!

Give
Of

let the work

and

styledmy work,

An
It

hand

puny

That

but

one

I may

hour

cover

of my

with

an

cries

*" ^"^
renew

\
^A
J
Arestrictions, and i die ;
remain
of my career
"

and

eagle-glance

*"

PARACELSUS

38

certain way 260

Aprile The truths I have, and spy some
them, possess 1
speaks To mould them, and completing
of that,
is good : I started sure
Yet God

why disputeit now ? I '11 not believe

undoubted warning longere this
some

And
But

Had

reached

Too

much

me

firc-labarum

for the old founder

deemed

not

was

of these walls.

natural,
monstrous
: yet, tilllate,
my course
that delight,
So ardently
me,
engrossed
and reflecting
A pausing
270
joy,'tis plain,
worn
Could find no placein it. True, I am
;
life has

if my
It has been

Then,

But

been

not

is lifeitself?
who
clothes summer,
!
that created all things,
renew
can

who

God,

me
then, though after-lifeto please

And

Must

have

likeness

no

flower from

bursts the

As

hinders

the past, what

to

of toil,
out
as
changed
springing

from

Reward

now

and

earth

and

root

stalk.?
What

use

unless
punishment,

were

Be

first detected ? let

No

man

could

ever

offend

as

sin

that first!

know

me

some

I have done

voice
from ivithin.~]
[^jI

voice,perchanceI heard
Long ago, but all too low,
I hear

So that

scarce

If the voice
I heard

The

care

were

it in my

waters

it stirred

real

or

no

youth when

of my

first

life outburst

ebbs faint,
I hear
their stream
But, now
That
voice,stilllow, but fatal-clear
"

As

if all poets, God

ever

meant

280

PARACELSUS

40

world, he was to loosen,bound

greets
Anguish ! ever and for ever ;
^f""^" Still beginning,
endingnever.
ce sus
!
Ygj^ jQgj .jn(ii^st one, come
couldst understand,alas,
How
The

He

What

paleghostsstrove to
shades did glanceand

our

their

As

Before

wast

pass

nightand day ?

thee

Thou

say,

blind

as

were

we

dumb

330

O come!
therefore,
come,
should we
clothe,how arm the spirit
How
Shall next
thy post of life inherit
How
guard him from thy speedyruin ?
Tell us of thy sad undoing
Here, where we sit,ever pursuing
Our
task, ever renewing
weary
Once

more,

"

far from

Sharp sorrow,
Our

and

powers,

Art

ha !

our

man

the poet who

mine !
hand
to

Thy

mine

not

'

save

wouldst
shall save

be, here

at

last?

the world

Stay,fix thine

341
on

eyes

wouldst

Thou

gave

enters.

king that

thou

who

they could

Aprile

Ha,

God

be

king?

Stillfix thine eyes

ha!

crouchest not?

on

mme

Ha,
king?

Pararelsus.
I

So

not

my
lair

Art

!
whollyunavailing
thee
fierce spasms compelled
is

torture

Have

why

not

from

thou

Myselfof

Am

only seemed to be,

after-time,
my very self

the sage

thy

PARACELSUS

41

firm,

littleclearer,
more
strength

With

sighta

Who

robes him

robe and grasps my

in my

miscon-

crown

?
a weakness, a neglect
justa fault,
with the surmise
trusted God
I scarcely
and thou didst hear
That such might come,
For

351

the

while !
Thine
Aprile.

eyes

are

lustrelessto mine

my

hair

soft,nay silken soft : to talk with thee

Flushes my cheek, and thou art ashy-pale.
Truly,thou hast laboured,hast withstood her
Is

lips.
mc,

dear

comest

Tell

Yes, 'tislike

siren's !

The

wherefore

master,

solemn

thoughtthy

hast attained !

thou

songs

would

now

thou

have

their

meed
In

360

after-time;that
in thee and

Exult
While

laid

was

Paracelsus.

I should hear the earth

thy praise.
in my grave.
forgotten

Ah

echo

with

(lend,I

thee, I

know

am

not

thy dupe !

Reapingmy

follow in my
sowing,as I scorned

The

sown

Thou

harvest

Thou
As

track,

to

by

sages

to

reaj)

passedaway.

searcher,cautious strivcr.

if,except through me,

Ay,
To

the sober

art

thou

hast

searched

striven !

or

To

ordained

art

tell the world!

Degrade

me

after

all,370

after fame, not truth

aspirant
all but envy of thy fate,be sure !
Nay, sing them to me ; I shall
Apr'de.
an

"

not

Thou

envy

shall be

king!

Sing thou, and

Each

I will sit

Q^jjgj.

PARACELSUS

42

Aprile Beside, and call deep silence for thy songs,

tells his And
fate

worshipthee, as I had ne'er been meant

-^-"p|-jj|
jj^ythrone : but none shall ever know !
Sing to me ; for alreadythy wild eyes
Unlock
as
some
crystal-shaft
my heart strings,
chance blaze itsparent fount 380
Reveals by some
After long time : so thou reveal'st my soul.
with thee to hear !
All will Hash forth at last,
I shall get his
(His secret!
fool ! )
secret
and thou ?
he that aspired
to know
:
am
and be loved !
1 would love
infinitely,
Apr'tle.

Paracelsus.
"

Paracelsus. Poor slave!

am

thy kingindeed.

That

"

born

deem'st

Thou

Apr'tle.
a

dowered
spirit,

as

even

thou,

thy fate because I could not curb

the full
to possess at once
My yearnings
all the means
390
Enjoyment,but neglected
the frailestjoy,
Of realising
even
Gatheringno fragmentsto appease my want,
tillthus I die
Yet nursingup that want
deem'st I cannot
trace
Thou
thy safe sure march
that o'erwhelm me, triumphing.
O'er perils
nought below for aughtabove.
Neglecting
Despisingnothingand ensuringall
Nor that I could (my time to come
again)
as thine own.
Lead thus my spirit
securely
Born

for

"

"

"

Listen,and thou shalt

I would

love

Oh
How

I know

see

infinitely

ye who

armed

shall I look

me
on

Ah,

thee well. 400

lost ! lost !

such cost,
all of ye
at

even
yet on me ?
your gifts
moonstruck
Paracelsus. (Ah,'tissome

With

after all !

creature

PARACELSUS

Such

fond fools as

like

are

43

doubtless
contagion,
They spread
To

echo

So

forebodingof my

one

that
truly,

...

matter

no

this den

haunt

to

how

]^?J*J

yet he seemed

heart

carved
he stands

How

his hair 410

on
staying
akin :
Which
to it as if theywere
turns
And those clear smilingeyes of saddest blue
Nearlyset free,so far they rise above
of the brow
fruitlessstriving
The
painful
firm-set
enforced knowledge of the lips,
And
eternal sigh!
In slow despondency's

eve's last sunbeam

With

Has

he,

too, missed

cause

life'send, and learned the

?)

be calm !
charge thee,by thy fealty,
what thou wouldst be, and what
Tell me
I

Apnle.I would
First:
The

I would

forms

love

and be
infinitely,

loved.

am.

420

in stone, or cast in brass,

No ancient hunter lifted

carve

of earth.

Up to the gods by his renown, no nymph

Supposedthe sweet soul of a woodland tree
of a twilight
Or sa])phirine
star,
spirit
Should be too hard for me : no shepherd-king
Regal for his white locks ; no youthwho stands
Silent and

calm amid

His

ever

very
hand
right

the

throng,

hid beneath

his robe

Until the tyrant jiass; no lawgiver,

430
oils
lucid
with
rubbed
No swan-soft woman
hard !
too
Given
a god for love of her

by
liverypassionsprung

"

from

man,

conceived

by

man,

I express and
blend with others

Would

clothe it in its rightform,

in one
form,
struggling
form.
Or show
by an ungainly
repressed
mightyspirit
Oh, if you marvelled at some

Or

he

PARACELSUS

44

and

With

painted,Kven
and

sung

fitframe

"

to work
unconsciously

should be moved

Yqu

its will

execute

to

no

its will
"

less beside

strong

some

fettered to a stubborn body,

441
spirit,
Endeavouringto subdue it and inform it
! All this I would do :
With
its own
splendour
I would say, this done, 'His sprites
And
created,
God
grants to each a sphereto be its world,
needed
Appointedwith the various objects
its own
To satisfy
want
peculiar
;
for
these
I
world
So, create a
my shapes
!
Fit to sustain their beautyand their strength
And, at the word, I would contrive and paint450
rocks and plains,
dells,sands
Woods, valleys,
Rare

'

and

wastes.
which, when

Lakes

breaks

morn

their

on

ing
quiver-

bed,
like

Blaze

And
A

wyvern

isles so

ocean

round the sun.

flying
small,the dog-fish
tracking

find them, would

should

whale, who

dead

thrice

swim

them, and fare onward

Around

"

all to hold

Nor these alone :

of my brain.
offspring
Bronze labyrinth,
pyramidand crypt,
palace,
and terraces, 459
Baths, galleries,
courts, temples

The

all filledwith
Marts, theatres and wharfs
in
Men
everywhere ! And this performed
"

When

those who

looked

on,

men,

turn,
hear the

pinedto

ho])es
And

fears and hates and loves which

moved

the

crowd,
I would

And
A

throw

1 would
human

down

speak;

the
no

pencilas

thoughtwhich

the

chisel.

ever

stirred

breast should be untold ; all passions,

PARACELSUS

45

soft emotions, from the turbulent stir

Within a heart fed with desires like mine,
the tired lids
To the last comfort shutting
All

express-

'

the sultry
noon
470
away
sleeps
well
:
Beneath the tent-tree
by the wayside
this in languageas the need should be,
And
Now
pouredat once forth in a burningflow.
of words.
Now
piled
up in a grandarray
and consummate
all,
This done, to perfect

Of

him

Even

who

as

luminous

links

haze

to

star

star,

with music, breathing

all chasms
supply
motions of the soul,no way
Mysterious
I would

in strange melodies.
havingthus revealed all I could love, 480

be defined

To

Last,

save

Having received all love bestowed on it,

course
I would die : preserving
so throughoutmy
God

full on

He

would

as

me,

men

I have

'

prayer,

my

approve

full on

was

gone

through
loveliness of life;

The
If

not

for men,

or

create

take

Eternal,infinitelove

to

me

for

Conceived

this

Thou

not

hast

king of

No

thyself,

mine.

Ah

Till thine

Nor

gaze

powers

like

me

for

thou

art

here

! 490

that end

upon

the
comjjassing

bliss

glory; nor grow mad to grasp

toil should claim.
the prizelongjjaticnt
once
I
And
short of that.
spurn all granted

Were
At

not

own

me

But

Apr'ile.
didst

hast ne'er

mighty aim, this full desire.

and thou art
passedmy trial,

Paracelsus.

Thou

me

'

If thou

Would

blind with

do

as

thou, a second

time

^"

*"S

nay, listen!

PARACELSUS

46
He

should
have

world, our
our
Knowing ourselves,
'tisclear if we
Our time so brief,
rpj^^

limited,the tools

so

means

task

so

great,

refuse
rude

so

To execute
500
our
])urpose, lifewill fleet,
the best
shall fade,and leave our task undone,
we
of his And
means

Be

will be wise in time: what thoughour work

of their ill-service.
fashioned in despite

Be

crippled
every

We

wait

full resources

Did
At

every

on

all be

Let

turn.

our
as

goodwill
it is.

contrived
earth is even
so
say the
and flower, a vesture
tree
gay, conceal

Some
That

bare and skeleton framework.

littlepraise

'Twere

way

Answering to
Wrecked

on

our
a

mind

savage

But

isle : how

Had
now
rear

we

means

seem

510

thereon

My palace?Branchingpalmsthe props shall be,

Fruit glossymingling; gems are for the East ;
Who
heeds them ? I can pass them.
Serpents'
scales.
birds' down, furs and fishes' skins
painted
Must helpme ; and a littlehere and there
art
Is all I can
to : stillmy
aspire
clime.
in a gentler
Shall show its birth was

And

this way
I green jarsof malachite,
those sea-shells
I 'd range them : where

'

Had

above,

5^"

hang, by right: this way we

purplecarpets,as these mats are laid.

set

Cressets should
The
Woven

of fern and

flag.'
blossoming
completer
grace
slight
fragment,some

rush and

Or

if,by fortune,some

Be

sparedto me, some

sample
the prouderworkmanship my

Of

glisten

boasts.

own

home

PARACELSUS

48
not

And

ways,

would

hues

forth in beauteous

set

ruined, as Xhe lowest hind should not possess a hope,

by ^ ^^.^^^
now,
better
^^^ j ^ be by him, saying
heart's language.I would live
he his own
Than
.

^trS^ure
For

As

thoughtsI

in the

ever

explored,

561

is attached

discoverer's memory

thus

all he finds;theyshould be mine henceforth.

with me, though free to all before :
Imbued

To

soul's rich mine.

Nor
with gems.
up crusted o'er

clay,once

For

Should

into my

cast

come

this

Would

need

Nay,

'twould

one

than
spirit,

meaner

the first;

clothed
spirit,
selfsame spirit
:

be but the selfsame

guise,but stillthe

In humbler
As

springwind

unbinds

the mountain

snow

And

comforts violets in their

But,

hast done all this.

master, poet, who
didst thou 'scapethe ruin whelming me

How
Didst

thou, when

Ne'er range
Dazzled by
will

nervingthee

to

wide
extent, as some
shapesthat filledits lengthwith

not

to

hall.

light;.
obey, ',

rule thee, not

will not
wait thy summons,
there

571

this attempt.

thy mind's

Shapesclustered
That

hermitage.

rise

thy practised
eye and hand
but crowd
Can well transfer their loveliness,
580
?
By thee for ever, brightto thy despair
Didst thou ne'er gaze on each by turns, and ne'er
Resolve to single
out
one, though the rest
Should vanish,and to givethat one, entire
In beauty,
to the world ; forgetting,
so,
nor
Singly,

when

bafflesmortal power ?
number
Its peers, whose
And, this determined, wast thou ne'er seduced

By

memories

and regrets and

love.
passionate

PARACELSUS

To

49

farewell ? and did their eyes His

until 590 ^""
and more
thee,brighter
bright,

glanceonce

Fasten

more

their
couldst but stagger back unto
welfare
or
laughthat man's applause

Thou
And
Could

tempt thee

passedand
wholly,

Had

When

to

some

Of

Didst

startled thee

murmur

ne'er strive

thou

even

yet

years

thee
possessed

darklingmortals famished for one

thy so-hoarded luxuryof light.

Of

ever

? Or when

stilltheir love

without

from

forsake them

feet.

to

ray
those

break

spells
And

thou

prove

couldst

recover

fulfil

and

Thy earlymission,long ago renounced,

And
to that end, select some
shape once
Faint

more

thick films.
mist-like influences,
of the rest that charmed
memories
so long

did

And

600

not

confuse thee, bear thee ofi^.

eyes, floatfast,
treads
who
whirlingsnow-drifts blind a man

Thine
As
A

ridge,with guidingspear, through

mountain
storm

"ay,
?ay,

Dear

though I fell,I had excuse

I was
: say
temptedsorely

fall;

but this,

lord !
lord,Aprile's

Claspme

Paracelsus.

are

the truth should

That

!
Aprile

VVe

to

weak

dust.

not

reach

Nay, claspnot

/Iprile.
My king! and

envious

thus,
me

or

609
thus I

I faint!

thoughtscould

outrage thee ?

Lo, I forgetmy

ruin,and rejoice

God's
Let our
])raise
thy success, as thou!
Go bravely
throughthe world at last! What care
Through me or thee? I feel thy breath. Why,
In

tears

fall
"^^

PARACELSUS

50
Para-

darknesR,and from thee to me ?

while
Paracelsus. Love me henceforth,Aprile,
in the

Tears

celsus
awakens

6i8

j j^..^^^
love ;
wake

To

both !
us
and, merciful God, forgive

lengthfrom weary dreams ; but both

drear
in fairy-land
Have slept
: though dark and
Appears the world before us, we no less

We

Wake
I

at

with

sought to

have

too

still.
jewelled

wrists and ankles

our

know

thou

as

to

love

"

Excluding love as thou refusedst knowledge.

wake
We
Still thou hast beautyand I, power.
What

penance

eyes are
I die.
now

But

to

have

'Tis

hid.

and

me,

Paracelsus. Die

not,

seen

singof

thee and

seen

I knew

as

I have

But

poet, think of

Even

And

us

ness
thick dark-

The
faintly.

thee

I hear
Aprile.
Thine

devise for both of

canst

die

to

speak,

thy face
me

so

soon

Aprile!We

! 630

must

never

part.
Are

we

Whom

not

halves of

this strange
!
Part ? never

one

Love

"

until both

unites

chance

Till thou the lover,know

more

once

and I, the knower.

saved.

are

world,

dissevered

hear
Aprile,

!
!

and use them

now
will accept our gains,
God, he will die upon my breast ! Aprile!

We

"

To
Aprile.

speakbut

once,

and die ! yet

his side.

Hush!

640

hush!

Ha

With

by

! go you ever
phantoms,powers ? I have

But these

seem

Paracelsus.

real

as

girtabout
created such,

I.

Whom

can

you

see

PARACELSUS

Through

51

accursed

the

darkness

^prile.
1 know

Stay

them

White

Para-

who

lit

brows,

Paracelsus.

know

with

glory

up

Let

reward

should

but

him

well

them

live, and

I ?

as

all !

poets

celsus

know,

have

my

Apr'tle.Yes

see

God

now.

is the

perfect

poet,
Who

in

Had

his

person
but told

you

Paracelsus.

To

help

And
I

have

Michal

at

for

creations.

own

first !
my

Hush

! hush

sake,

because

these

wild

quiet

for

home

smile

on

! 'tis

Live

deep import.

shall

649
!

of

sin,

brain, oppressed by

my

their

this

me

Live

great

my

his

acts

us,

too

late.

friends.

and

Hear

you.

not

words

you

Lean

one

word

thus,
And

breathe

Of

all

your

my

sjx'ech, one

Apr'tle.No,
of
'Tis

you

no.

king,

Paracelsus.

Thy

I have

love

not

lose

little word,

Crown

me

Aprile
I

am

not

not

one.

!
one

he, the

me

I shall

breath.

you

seek.

am

spirit,at least, Aprile

attained, and

Let
6rx3

now

may

depart.

^"^'"^

PART

III

PARACELSUS

Scene.

Basil

"

chamber In the house

o/"Paracelsus.

1526

Paracelsus, Festus
Paracelsus.

A
renewal

let the blaze

Heap logsand

laugh

'

out

^'""''
"'^liSi's

True, true!
'Tis very fit all,time and chance and change
Have
wrought since last we sat thus,face to face
all cares, far-looking
And
soul to soul
fears.
.

"

all vain fancies bred

Vague apprehensions,
By your long absence, should be cast away.
Forgotten in this gladunhoped renewal
Of

our

affections.

Oh, omit

Paracelsus.
Which

witnesses

Affection
The
It

spare
and

honours

your

and

own

aught
Michal's

own

Only forget
the glories
and what not,
tell profusely
out.
not

pleases
you to
Festus. Nay, even
waive

not

that !

your

honours, in

sense,

ro

Paracelsus,life's dispenser,
Fate's commissary,idol of the schools
than Aureole
And
still,
courts, shall be no more
The

wondrous

Still Aureole

and

my

friend

as

when

we

parted

PARACELSUS

twenty years ago, and

Some

As

best I could the

Which
To

53
RecoUec-

I restrained

of
promptings

advanced
secretly

my spirit
you, from the first,20

rank which, since,your

pre-eminent
Adventurous
ardour,noblytriumphing.
the

Has

ii?"vi

own

for you.
Paracelsus.

Still

won

wears

Like

the

Yes, yes. And Michal's face

that quietand peculiar
light
?
dim circlet floating
round a pearl

Feslus. Just

so.

yet her calm

Paracelsus. And

was
Though saintly,

Alone.

Does

sad

not

sweet

ance.
counten-

for she would

sing

she stillsingalone,bird-like.

Not

dreaming you are near ? Her carols dropt

In flakes throughthat old leafy
bower
built under
The sunny wall at Wiirzburg,
from her lattice 31
Among the trees above, while 1, unseen.
Sat conning some
scroll from Tritheim's
rare
shelves
Much

wonderingnotes so simplecould divert

My mind from study. Those were
happy days.
all
alone !
Respectall such as singwhen
Festus. Scarcely
alone : her children,
you may
guess.

Arc

wild beside her.

Paracelsus.

Ah,

Unsettle the pure

A

those children

quite

in my mind :
picture
distinct :
so
perfect,

she was
so
girl,
40
No change,no change ! Not but this added grace
May blend and harmonise with its comjjecrs,
And

Michal

I'ut 'tis a

And

most

may

become

her motherhood

change,and I detest all change.

a change in aught I loved longsince.

PARACELSUS

54
Festus

So, Michal

recalls

said she thinks of

have

you

"

nic

proudwill Michal be of you !

^ow
we
sat, longwinter-nights,
ear^^"''^gi"^
and
your presumed
hopes of ii^cheniing wondering,shaping
its reward ;
ParaAdventure, or devising
50
celsus
of
Shuttingout fear with all the strength hope.
O

Festus.

it

For
In

our

very

when
strange how, even
domestic peace, a certain dim

was

secure

all ; it seemed

could sadden

shade
flitting

And

most

restlessness of heart,a silent yearning,

of something
wanting,incomplete
sense

A
A

"

Not

words, perhapsavoided
consent
but, said or unsaid,felt
mute
59
pointto one so loved and so long lost.
fears
the
then the hopesrose and shut out
!
should I recount them now
you would laugh
to

By

be put in

"

To
And

"

How

I stillpredicted
your

at

return

last

beyond the greatestof

gifts

With

wondrous

Tritheim's

All

troop

all,

them

did

ot

one

which
Attain

well

As

by

renown

Michal

any
of who

aware
was

beautiful as you

As

Paracelsus.

would

prove his peer.

longere this,

woman,

some

sure

chance, I smiled,

were

loved

sage, had

to
Far-seeing,truly,

discern

so

much

and
In the fantastic projects

Of

raw

Oh,

warranted

our

no

the sunrise

faith in this full noon

forgetthe anxious voice which said

Festus, have thoughts like these ere shaped

Can
"

70

restlessboy !

Festus.

Well

day-dreams

themselves
In other brains than mine I have their possessors

PARACELSUS

56

by

Amid

the birch-trees

celsus

Have

I that he will honour

^^^^ namesake.
r'"h^^
f

hit

all

That

much

! 'tistoo
the

ask

to

proud

same

fate.

achievement

Sigh not

hope
imp)

(thewild

love should reach

we

own

Small

the lake.

Para-

But you

very

are

kind

to

humour

me

quietlife;
tame
yourself
You, who of old could never
at heart despise
must
To tranquil
pleasures,
By showing interest in

my

Paracelsus. Festus,strange

by

secrets

let out

are

death

Who

blabs

And

oft the folliesof this world

so

death's familiar,
as you

am

helpeda man
Warped even

to

from

his go-cart

to

no

know.

since,

few weeks

die, some

end

one

"

smiles,reflected from
livingon princes'
trick
No mean
A mighty herd of favourites.
He left untried,and truly
well-nighwormed
of him :
out
of God's finger
All traces
Then died,grown old. And justan hour before.
The

Having lain longwith blank and soulless eyes,

and with natural voice
He sat up suddenly,
of thick air and closed doors
Said that in spite

120

God

Without

such

all that

And

Would

seems

Why
From

June

and he knew

harebells grew
telling,
kingscould ever giveor

to

be

me

much

worthier

well.

in June ;
take

as those blooms
precious
allowingI am passing
sage.

not

Just so,
It

it was

told him

to

him.

argument

bear beauty's
prize
pansies,!
gygg that laugh,
(yourMichal's
violets,
eyes that dream
"

choice)
"

Citrinula

aris.
"

DoRN.

herba
(flammula)

Paracelso

multum

famili-

PARACELSUS

all fools find

Than

57

wonder

to

in

at

me

130

He

speaks

be very sure
And
in my fortunes.
restlessness,
I say this from no prurient

Or

lectures

itching turn.
self-complacency,
from all points,
Vary and view its pleasure
other men
And, in this instance,willing
demonstrate
to itself
May be at pains,
The realness of the very joy it tastes.
of friends
like the news
What
should delight
me
No

to

memories

Whose

mountain-baths

As

solace

were

to

me

wild fowls in

to

oft,
their iiight?

Ofter than you had wasted thought on me

141
valued bliss.
and rightly
Had
you been wise,
But there 's

no

God

I need

knows

hearts
repressing

tamingnor
such!

speak?
Festus. Speak ?

So, you heard

"

me

when

but

When

Paracelsus.

this

morning

at

my

class ?
There

you

To

enough.

saw

not.

Surelyyou

know
"

lecture

to

as

till

engagedto

am

that 'tispart of my

chair here ?

The

crowd

noise and

was

thick-skulled

many

proudfate
youths

each day, to throng the theatre,

please,
and no small
To my great reputation,
Danger of Basil's benches long unused

As

crack beneath

To

such

honour

Festus.
I

mingledwith

Small

care

was

throng : shall

the
mine

to

On

gatheringfrom

full corroboration

What

can

the

listen?
"

murmurs

of my

I learn about

150

was

too

tlicre ;
avow

intent

of the crowd

hopes !

your powers

? but

they

PARACELSUS

58
Know,

and

perplexes Your

noughtbeyond your actual state,

i6o
actual value ; yet they worship you,
care

Those
th^h"^
^"'^

irony

for

various

^ S*'* ^

^'"^

Paracelsus.

least in

At

the
As

an

you

Stop,o'

God's

as

sway

^ ^^'^^^attend

^"""^

by no means
yet
remedy ! Shall I

Past
"

whom

natures

name

the

one

thing's

labour
read this morning's

substance

Nought

so

worth

gaining
Thus

apt scholar !

then, with all due

emphasis you, beside,are clearly

Guiltless of understanding
a whit.
more,
allowed to be
The subject
than your stool
A notable advantage.
Festtts.
Surely,Aureole, 170
You
laughat me 1
Paracelsus. I laugh? Ha, ha ! thank heaven,
I charge you, if 't be so ! for I forget
should be like. No
Much, and what laughter
Precision and

"

"

less.
However, I foregothat luxury
Since it alarms the friend who bringsit back.
echo strangely
like my own
must
True, laughter
better far ;
smile were
To thinking
men
; a
So, make me smile ! If the exultinglooks
'tisso long
be smiling,
but now
You wore
Since I have smiled !
Alas, such smiles are
born
Alone

180

of hearts like yours,

Of ancient time,whose
Saw in the stars mere
And

in the earth

or

herdsmen's

eyes, calm

souls

their

flocks.
garnishryof heaven.
as

stage for altars only.

change!
change, Festus : I say, never
Festus. My God, if he be wretched after all!

Never

PARACELSUS

"

Festus,you
parted,

last we

Paracelsus. When

declared,
Or Michal,yes,

59

Festus
cannot

her soft

Q^iugnd

whisperedwords
lips
she believed

preserved.She told me
I should succeed (meaning,
that in the search
190
I then engaged in, I should meet
success)
And
yet be wretched : now, she auguredfalse.
but
Thank
Festus.
heaven !
spoke
you
could I venture
:
strangely
lest your friend,
To think bare apprehension
Dazzled
might find
course,
by your resplendent
I have

Henceforth
Such

in his own, could move

Fear
in you ?
not, dear

less sweetness
mood

earnest

friend.
That

I shall leave you,

Your

lot

not

was

inwardlyrepining
!

own

my

For

ever!
will

They

In them

this for

And

Paracelsus.

gullwho
not

look

but

surelyhe

! 200
gulled
'tisnothingnew

they will

may,

tliink ;

nor

is

ever

be

of them

not

My Festus,do you know, I reckoned, you

sand-blind
Though all beside were
you,

"

"

my

friend.
Would

look

Untroubled
A

weaker

at

by

me,

once

the false

vision

To
And
A

I had

or

remain

would

amid
Though singular
I feared you,

close,with piercing
eye
glarethat confounds
serene.

throng.
ga])ing
sure, longere
come,

I'.insiedeln. Well,

error

lias

no

end,

sage, and Basil boasts

wise and blest
tribe of wits,and I am
K basis is

Past all
I have

Shall

'Tis
!
dispute
vowed
longago

owe

to

their

own

vain

to

fret

at

it.

worshipjK-rs
deep sagacity

my

this.
210

PARACELSUS

6o

Paracelsus

All

further

information,
good

or

bad.

risk indeed

Small

reputation
runs,
glancenow searchingme
Be fixed much
to spell
longer; for it seems
Dimly the characters a simplerman
Might read distinct enough. Old Eastern books
Say,the fallen princeof morningsome short space
Remained
unchangedin semblance;nay, his brow
hued with triumph: every spirit
then
Was
his heart on flame the while :
a tale !
Praising,
my
perchancethe

explains Unless

220

"

Fes

which

you,

foul deed

Some

t us.

I pray ?
sullies then a

discover

Well, Festus,what

life

else

Were

raised supreme ?
Paracelsus.
Good

Why

strive

to

make

men

well,most well ;
selves
hear, feel,fret them-

I do

229

With

what

I should

The

faint surmise

One,
Not
Of
One
The

not

is past their power

to comprehend?
strive now
: only,
havingnursed

at

not
least,

that
the

one

utter

yet walked
fool of

yet

His
The
And

anxious

for another's

choose

sake.

his friend could rush upon a mad

of his own,
ruinous course, the converse

That,
And

so

earth.

show,

formed to be the dupe

absolutely
alone :
shallow plausibilities
who, in youth,found wise enough to
his riper
happiness
years approve,

Was

ere

240

for him
essayed,prejudged
gentlespirit
perilous
path,foresaw its destiny.
warned

the weak

one

in such

Such

accents

That

oft their memory

it by right
should have

When

the

"

tender words,

heart in every tone

comforted that friend

his whole

"

increased

:
despair

6i

PARACELSUS

He

Having believed,I say, that this one man

thus from the first
lose the light
Could never
His portion how should I refuse to grieve
disturb our old
At even
250
my gainif it
"

f^^f^^
y^^^ failed

"

Relation,if it make
more
Therefore, once

out

me

wise ?

more

remindinghim how well

flaw
I note the single
He prophesied,
title. In plain
words,
his prophet's
That spoils
You

deceived,and thus

were

I have

not

and yet
successful,

been

'tissaid

Most

miserable

Give

credit,lest you force

That

common

Festus.

do
surely

Paracelsus. You
wise
To
As

last ;

at

to

me

"

am

nor

you

concede

yet lives upon the world !

sense

You

you deceived

were

not

know,

mean

or

to

if you

"

banter
have

me

been
261

enough

of such matters
knew,
cleanse your memory
it clear.
far as words of mine could make
"

'twas my purpose to find joy or grief

Solelyin the fulfilment of my plan
Or plotor whatsoe'er it was
; rejoicing

That

])rosperous]y.
proceeded
Sorrowingthen onlywhen mischance retarded

Alone

as

it

Its progress.

That

was

in

those

Wiirzburg

days!
I thoroughly
hate, 270
a theme
prolong
this planwith all my strength
I have pursued
;
And
having failed therein most signally.
ruin utter and drear
Cannot object
to
would have been the prize
As all-excelling

Not

Had

to

fortune favoured

me.

scarce

right
glad

have

late so
good spirit
1 know,
In my supposed
prosjierity,
I luckyin a glutof friends,
And, were

To

vex

your

frank

PARACELSUS

62

and

pro-

Would

well agree

let your

to

phesies Nay, strengthen

it with fables of
^"''

^^

"""^

condition

""

to

live,

error

280

success.

refuse

exDOsm-e

transient solace of

The

luxury,my
My solitary
AccordinglyI venture
The

wearisome

Secure

rare

put off

to

by.

godsend,

friend

one

of falsehood

vest

he is

when

so

layme

galling
me,
bare,

but he is my friend !
his mercy
Not that he needs retain his aspect grave ;
'tis like.
That answers
not
my purpose ; for
Some
morning Basil beingdrained 290

Prone

at

"

sunny
its wise

Of

"

population,
every corner
crammed
with learned clerks.
Of the amphitheatre
Here
lookingworlds of wit,
Qicolampadius,
Here Castellanus,as profound
as
he,
Munsterus
here, Frobenius there, all squeezed
staring, that the zany of the show,
shall put off before them
Even Paracelsus,

And

"

with
trappings
Expedientin such

His

venture

In

The
Due

Were

"

but seldom
the

Is it not

judged

grim smile
therefore best

300

rehearsal like the present

the signsI seek.

small way ? Where
are
and fair sampleof the scorn
first-fruits
to all quacks?
Why, this will never do !

Festus.
The

grace

cases

will go round!

That
To

These

are

foul vapours,

Aureole

nought beside !
weariness.
effect of watching,
study,
there a sparkof truth in the confusion

Of these wild words, you would not outrage thus

Your
youth'scompanion. I shall ne'er regard
These

bred
wanderings,
study.

of faintness and

much
310

PARACELSUS

64
Paracelsus
insists

As

in

When

flying
sphereof

turbulent

?
light

ordained

look to you as one

may
rp^ ^^^^ ^j^^ jj^^l^^^^^^ l^^jl
jjg frees
jjggjjge^
we

Luther's

Our

the fettered soul ?

burningtongue

When
.

Paracelsus. When
you get
This notable

news

those

The

wonders

whose

the

voice

common

daringnot dispute

envy,

it decries,attributes them

magic and

To

from

Even

Festus.
From

where, the devil,did

and

such

folly.
Why

Folly?

Paracelsus.

magic,pray ? You
ne'er
God
In holding,
Us or our doings: once
The devil's tempting

find

To

comfort

troubles him

not

doubtless

about

351

judgedworth
I offend : forgive
me,
Your prophecyon the whole
And
rest
content.
Was
fair enough as prophesyings
go ;
but quite
At fault a littlein detail,
Precise enough in the main ; and hereupon
I pay due homage : you guessed
long ago
(The prophet! ) I should fail and I have failed.
to tell me,
Festus. You mean
then, the hopes
were

we

...

"

fed

which

360

been realised as yet ?

obstacle has barred them hitherto ?

youth have

Your
Some

not

that their innate

Or

As

Paracelsus.
You

I said but now,

fame.
very decent prophet's
Little matter
but shun details here.

have

So you
Whether

those

hopeswere

mad,

"

the aims

sought.
Safe and

secure

from all ambitious fools;

they

PARACELSUS

Or

whether

By

what

And

methinks

now

better

am

wits

weak

my

He

overcome

are

would
spirit

scorn

LI

stumbled

theme

now

Beside

^?"^j'^"""
the theme

on.

371

I say confusedly
what comes
uppermost ;
But there are times when patience
proves at
As

wishes

I fail.

'twere best to change

tool to have

sad

65

this

fault,

morning's
strange encounter
you
I guessed
once
again! you, whom

me

Alive,since

"

hitherto

(withLuther's leave)

I among

No

friend have

To

judgeby any good

the saints at peace,

their prayers effect.

helpedme
why not he,
in enterprise,
380
My strange competitor
end by another path,
Bound for the same
you would

I knew

have

"

Arrived,or illor well,before

At

Your

Ah, theymiss
goes it with Aprile?
lone sad sunny idleness of heaven,
martyrs for the world's sake

Our

time.

doubtful close ?
disastrous journey's

our

How

the

shuts

heaven

fast :

poet is

poor mad

The

Since you

are

howlingby this

sole friend then,here

my

time !
or

theie,

389
quiterepress the varied feelings
This meetingwakens ; theyhave had their vent.
Do the rear-mice still
them.
And now
forget
Hang like a fretwork on the gate (or what
the road
In my time was
a gate)
fronting
I could

From

not

Linsiedcin

to

Lachen

Trifle

I'estus.

Answer
Just now,

me,

for my

when

sake alone !

some
supposed

Yourself,might blot

the else

so

You

not

smiled

deed, unworthy

brightresult;

Yet if your motives iiave continued ]Hire,

of this,
and in spite
Your will unfaltering,
E

PARACELSUS

66

but
Festus
still

You

a defeat,why then
experienced
withdraw
you would cheerfully

have

is I

say
un^fMom

not

contest

fashioned

But

surelyyou

mortal

"

hearts

400

not

arc

so

"

nc'ertlielesswithdraw.

would

love,
gain nor even
No end distinct from knowledge, I repeat
Your very words : once
satisfiedthat knowledge
Is a mere
as
much.
dream, you would announce
You

soughtnot fame

nor

"

Yourself
You

are

the first. But

defeated

"

Paracelsus. As

how

is the

event

and

I find you here !

'
though ' here did not

signify

defeat !

410

But

of my littlelabours here,
of the break-down
of my genera!aims

For

you,

spoke not

To

By
As
Is
At
And

Of
For

look

these sage
beardless boys,and
a

on

fit consummation

Basil !
think

lecturings,
approved
bearded

see

dotards

worse.

as

to

so

much

in

it.

drained
reasonably

life'sdelights
to render

me

scope,

professorship

Since you
my life was

duties arduous

and

extent

of such aims,

worthy notice.

Be it far from
To

of their

aware

such

deny

me

match

420

post demands,
"

my

power

Of

fillthe ])ettycircle lotted out

infinite space, or justify
the host

Of

honours

accruing. So, take notice,

This jeweldanglingfrom my neck preserves
The features of a prince,
my skill restored
To plaguehis peoplesome
few years to come
:
And
all through a pure whim.
He liad eased
thence

the earth
For

me,

Init that the droll

429

which
despair

seized

67

PARACELSUS

vermin

The
I

to

came

Whose
There
Had
Here

Paraof his household,tickled me.

Here, drivelled the physician,
see.

^^y^^^

infalliblenostrum

most

was

at

fault ;

^^

whose
horoscope perience
quakedthe astrologer,
promisedhim interminable years ;
monk

fumbled

at

the sick man's

relic

mouth

sudary
knave
Of the Virgin; while another piebald
brotherhood (he loved them ever)
Of the same
'neath his nose
Was actively
440
preparing
Such a sufFumigation
fired.
as, once
dead ere he could groan.
Had
stunk the patient
With

some

undoubted

"

I cursed the doctor and upset the brother,

that the first
vowed
Brushed past the conjurer,

gust

ingredients
justalight
devil in my sword.
Would
raise a cross-grained
laid : and ere an hour the prince
Not easily
he was.
since prince
Sleptas he never slept
for my life,
and I was
A day
449
posting
whose
one
Placarded through the town
as
spite
Of

stench

the

from

"

Had
Of

near

availed

the doctor's

to

stop the blessed effects

which, well secondetl

nostrum

smoke
and most
by the costly
sudary,
the strenuous
Not leaving
out
])rayers sent up
to lite:
Hard
by in the abbey raised the prince
of the seer
To the great reputation
all along
Who, confident,
exjK-cted
the doctor's recompense
The
gladevent
the monks
from his highness
to
Mucii largess
the vast solace of his lovingpeo])le, 460
And
Whose
genera!satisfactionto increase.
The prince
was
no
longerto defer
jileascd
dozen heretics
The burningof some

By

gj^.

the

"

"

"

"

"

PARACELSUS

68

should be shown
mercy
his sickness : last of all were
joined
tillGod's

typicalRemanded
of many

such

Touching

directions

Ample

me
complementby seizing

swell the

To

Who

doubtless

"

To
The

rank

some

sorcerer

"

voured
endea-

obstruct
piousoffices,

these

thwart

folk
all loyal

to

cure,
prince's

frustrate heaven

and

by help

in his sword.
dwelling
princein his firstfitof thanks

certain devils

Of

By luck,the

forced this bauble

Had

This

Of

further favours.

To

givesufficienttaste

So, let them

pass.

on

me

as

one

471

earnest

an

case

may

serve

of many
such,
Those shelves support

pile

titles
diplomas,
patents, licences,

Of

From

Germany, France, Spain,and Italy;

They

authorise

set

He

store

more

trusts

me

by
our

ne'ertheless,

this Erasmus

Frobenius

sent

is his

480

friend,

(nay,read it)*froni

raised'

*I

him

And

honour

some

the

dead.'
I

you, I see.
show, there 's no

I weary

To

merelysought

great wonder

after all

That, while

I fillthe class-room

and

Basil,I get leave

stay,

crowd

to

And

therefore need

The

utmost

For

'tisbut

To
Of

one

Just

as

favour e'en fantastic wants

You

490

her.
like me, used up in serving
the gods in part
the mortal,whom

Devoured, received
Some

to accept
scruple
if"I please
offer,
:
world should be prepared

not

they can
rightthe

with

treat

to

attract

virtue
mind

or

other

in
"

the fables we

placeof

his lost limb

I think ;
disease,
have read together.

cured

69

PARACELSUS

You

Feslus.

do

think. I

not

comprehend a

^ord.
The

time

To

Aureole, you were

apt enough
breath
in specious
airiest thoughts

was,

clothe the

surelyyou must feel how

These speechessound.
But

Paracelsus.
I

That

truth is

That

I have

On

that

To

justas

thrown

far from

me

ever

as

life away

my

strange
499

that

hopes;
vain ;
;
sorrow

idle,and further effort

beyond
patch what 's marred

and

repairing,
useless : and all this

As

convincinggood old-fashioned method

?
force
by sheer compulsion.Is that plain
Fes/us. Dear Aureole, can it be my fears were
just?

By
Of

taughtyour friend

was

the

"

Gotl wills

not

Paracelsus.
The
Of

Now,
talk

constant

God's

will,as

509

'tisthis I

most

admire

"

of your stamp keep up

would swear
it ; one
theystyle
men

his eye.
merelyto uplift
charactered
And
the will in question
see
wise to moot
On the heaven's vault. 'Tis hardly
and faith is weak.
Such topics
are
: doubts
many

Man

had

I know

As

but

as

knows

much

of any

some

dumb

will of God
tortured brute what

and

Man,
His
That

plaguehim

Where

My

lord,wills from

stern

case

Subdued

least he
;

every

not

blows
perplexing

but there,of course,

he
suffers,
longest

and for such

but

way

the

reasons

convinced.

remains

"

521

plodon,

I know

as

is

fT''"kin
soe^akin

is

account

mend

vague

you know my
those hopes were
length,

Well, then

assured,at

am

and

He

little

PARACELSUS

70

He
confesses
to

certain

delights

1 deserve

Why
Better
j

thingsin

^"^o the

Until

my

youth.

hoped
simplyknow

here, but trained and beaten

master

^^

^^

as
fail,
why

to

I stay,
further intimation reach mc,

path I

some

tread

and here

drudge. Though I prefer

To view the whole thingas a task imposed 530
be done
must
Which, whether dull or pleasant,
Yet, I deny not, there is made provision
Of joyswhich tastes less jadedmight affect ;
me
too, for allmy pride
Nay,some which please
Pleasures that once
were
pains: the iron ring
Festeringabout a slave's neck grows at length
I hate no longer
Into the flesh it eats.
of
undreamed
A host of petty vile delights,
Or spurnedbefore ; such now
supplythe place
Like

obedient

an

"

"

Of

my

Where

aims

dead

talltrees

Springsup

as

used

in the
to

autumn

woods

from their
flourish,

540
roots

and pale.
fungousbrood sickly

Chill mushrooms
Festus. If I
It troubles

coloured

like

well
interpret

your words, I

hut littlethat your

me

cheek.
corpse's
own

aims.

dawning and most likely

grown
bafBed
have
since,
Extravagantly
you.

Vast

in their

;
glad; you merit greater praise
to be gained,
Because they are too glorious
You do not blindly
clingto them and die ; 550
refused
but have not sullenly
You fell,
To rise,because an angelworsted you
In wrestling,
though the world holds not your

Perchance

peer
And
To

The

am

though too harsh and sudden is the change

yieldcontent as yet, stillyou pursue
ungracious
pathas though'twere rosy-strewn.

PARACELSUS

72
which

has

find me, doingmost

*^ ^""^^ wonder
much

You

good

least harm.

or

little
profit
""'y'^ ^^''*^^rejoice

^^^
''^""^!'''

and

"^y ^'^^^^
'
is shuffled
my part in the farce

'^'^

"^''

Basil

When

the curtain falls: I

And

hold

must

590

through,
tillthen.

out

Festiis. Till when, dear Aureole ?

thrust
Till I 'm fairly
Paracelsus.

You

Fortune is fickle
proud eminence.
fall : should that arrive,
even
professors
sin in cedingto my bent.
no
littlefancywhat rude shocks apprise
us

We

sin ; God's

From

my

And
I

see

intimations rather fail

In clearness than in energy

Did they but indicate the
Like
Be

that

further

spareda

to

course

be forsaken.

to

'twere well

I would

sample.

Here

600

take

fain
I

stand,

I stay, be sure, tillforced to flit.

Festus. Be you but firm on that head ! long

And

here

then

ere

I expect will come

to pass, I trust :
The
cloud that wraps you will have disappeared.
Meantime, I see small chance of such event :

All

already
They praise
you here as one whose lore,
all the past can
6io
show,
Divulged,eclipses
But whose
Are

achievements,marvellous

of a
faint anticipations

About

to

Dismiss
That

be revealed.
their

he

glory
Basil's crowds

When

teacher,I shall be

content

This

favour

at

their hands

your view of
the crowd
you

T look for earlier than

Remove
Mere

they be.

depart.

Paracelsus.
Would

as

warrant.

Of

the full half sheer

noughtelse ;
novelty,

amazement

things
saw
to-day,
draws.

and next, the tribe

PARACELSUS

innate blockish dulness

Whose
Be

wrought

620
justperceives

He

analyses

my works)
their chance is slight
in their behalf,

(asseem

unless miracles

That

73

-Jj^jgnr

set
puzzlethe devil ; next, the numerous
and help
hate established schools,
bitterly

To
Who

that oppugns
them, tillhe once
his own
doctrine,when the teacher
planted

The

teacher

Have

May

reckon

their

on

in his

rancour

turn

knaves
of sagacious
sprinkling
Whose
to the vogue
cunningruns not counter
and crafty
But seeks,by flattery
nursing, 630

Take,

too, the

force my system to a premature

Short-lived development.Why swell the list?

To

has his end

Each
Of

his best way

all these,remains

to

it: remove
serving
a poor
scantling,

and

serve,

best.
Worthy to look for sympathy and service,
from my pains,
And
to draw
profit
likely
these
Feslus. 'Tis no encouraging
: still
picture

dozen

the

at

few
their fellows. Once

Redeem
Its

implanted,

the germ

growth, if slow, is sure.

I would

make

amends

some

have

luckless rogues

The
That

much

grant it so !

God

Paracelsus.

this

method

is in my

but if I

excuse

and

my

640

fail,
to

urge.

manner,

spirit.
impatient
and result
hinders of reception
Which
My doctrine : much to say, small skill to speak!
These old aims suffered not a looking-off
onlywhen
Though for an instant ; therefore,
My

uncouth

habits,my

them

and resolved

present fruit~to

tcacii mankind

I thus renounced

Some
So

dearlypurchased onlythen
"

to

reaj)
truth
some

I found

651

PARACELSUS

74

It is too

Such

teachingwas

late to And
a

ge

cares
requiring

art

an

itself:

to
peculiar
qualities

"-pj^m J.Q possess

With
Another.

thing

one

was

display

firstin my thoughts,
discovered it :
soon

renown

I had
])raise,
po])ular

Or

to

"

things.

but littleapt to learn these

grows
Festus. If it be so, which nowise I

One

There

needs

leave

To

Why

waitingfuller dispensation

no

labour of

Paracelsus.

My fine talk
Docilityand

hide the whole

wherefore

repugnance,
not, 'tisyet to learn

what

inclination free

I shall do

and

of obedience

the task shall

If when

to

be performed.
really
choose

once

more,

modify
aught but slightly
task I

of the hated

nature

plainwords,

As

once

once
engaged
degradation,
vein ?
confessing
Despiteof all

In the

In

charge at

of

Extent

The

660

task,a task!
But

My

littleuse.

so

up the irksome

throw

not

believe,

firstit tended

spoiled
; my

am

quit.

broken

am

670
lifestilltends

and

trained

they are part of me.

I know, and none
well,my darlingends
so
Are provedimpossible
:
no
less,no less,
fond fool, as
humours
Even
what
now
me,

To

old habits

my

when

Their
And

How

faint ghostssit with

send
can

and

me

flatterme

my dull round ?
I change this soul ? -this a])paratus
me

back

content

to

"

for their purposes,

solely
adaptedto their every want,

Constructed
So well
To

This

search

out

and

680

discover,prove and ])crfect

;

intricate machine

whose

most

minute

PARACELSUS

And

their chai

have

motions

meanest

75

to

in

His

me

be"know

I seize,
Though to none else an aptitude
An
a use, a meaning,
objectI perceive,
I explain
A property, a fitness,
"

And

I alone

And

this

how

"

can

change

wronged body, worthless

ledge

soul ?

my

when

save

tasked
that soul's dominion

Under

its brightmaster's

For

Its proper
So

cravings
"

he but prosper

Tried

"

To

live like that mad

To

love alone

and

to

! how

poet, for

twisted and deformed

And

drag this poor

God

how

690

care

quitesubdue
ail nor pine

whither

body ?
patient

to

and

cares

not

used

"

I felt too
!

essayed

while.

What

warped
should I do,

drudgery,but return
blind and sore.
Faint,as you see, and halting,
To my old life and die as 1 began ?
700
feed on beautyfor the sake
I cannot
Of beautyonly,nor can drink in balm
for their loveliness;
From
lovelyobjects
lose her firstimprint
;
My nature cannot
and class all truths
hoard and heaj)
I stillmust
liven tho' released from

With

one

God

Would
That
To

ulterior purpose
translate

I should

further my

me

to

onlylisten to
own

aim !

must

know

his throne, believe

his word
For

other

men,

strewn
around,
710
Beauty is prodigally
could I quench as they
And
I were
ha])])y
and content
me
'I'hismad and thriveless longing,
With beautyfor itselfalone : alas,
I have adilrcsaed a frock of heavy mail
Yet may not jointhe troo])of sacred knights;

And

now

the forest-creatures 11y from

me,

aim

PARACELSUS

76
Festus

cool,the
grass-banks

The

cannot

warm

no

more.

^^^^ follow,dreamingthat
:.h"J^A

prehend

sunbeams

nightarrive,

ere

and ride

I shall o'crtake the company

as they!
Glittering

I think I

Festus.

What
To

you
enter

Seek

would

not

to

Paracelsus.
I

toil,you listen ; I

You

left,

the life thus

hide that all this consciousness

failure is assumed

Of

if you,

on

more

once

say

apprehend 720
in truth,design

understand

My friend,my friend,
perhaps
explain,

there

ends.

communion

our

discourse ?
from to-day's
you learnt nothing
the sick man's
know
would thoroughly
we

Have
When

state

fluttering
pulse,
press soft
The hot brow, look upon the languid
730
eye,
Must I laybare
And
thence divine the rest.
tear
or
up
My heart,hideous and beating,
deem
will
My vitalsfor your gaze, ere you
are
you,
Enough made known ? You ! who
feel awhile the

We

forsooth ?
That

By
And

is the
the arch

claimed
crowning operation
demonstrator

earth the audience.

Secure

:
good places

"

heaven
Let

the

hall,

Aprileand

'twill be

worth

you
the

while.
Are

Festus.
can

To

I have

call for this ?

judgedfrom

words.
Paracelsus.

What

mad. Aureole?

you
said

your

own

740

Oh, doubtless!

describes the ape

sick wretch

PARACELSUS

That

mocks

77

from

him

all Para-

bed-foot,and

the

cclsus

pravelv

You

thither

at

turn

once

he

or

recounts

perilous
journeyhe has late performed,
And
how
much
that could be
you are puzzled
and half mad :
You find me
here, half stupid
It makes no part of my delight
to search

'rther"

The

Into these matters,

Another's
That

And

less

much

scrutiny
; but
led

am

the

event

to

trust

so

my

undergo

it chances
state

to

is,you combine,

you

750

contrast

And

ponderon my foolish words as though

They thoroughly
conveyedall hidden here
and hate and rage
Here, loathsome with despair
Is there no fear,no shrinking
and no shame ?
Will you guess nothing? will you spare me
nothing?
Must I go deeper? Ay or no ?
"

Festus.

Dear

friend
.

Paracelsus. True

am

brutal

"

'tis a

])art

of it;
The

sign
plague's
"

How

should you

you are not

Well
know ?

lazar-haunter.
then, you think

it strange
I should

And
To

760

to
profess

yet propose an
void of
courses

You

know

'Tis like
You

are

Which

to

to

Sportfor
There

not

what

have

failed

ultimate

utterly,

return

hope : and this,because

is,nor how
temptation

in the sickliest part.

understand that we who make

plymen

the

gods,are hunted to the end :

is not one
shot at us.
sharj)
volley
'scaped with life,though hurt,

slacken pace

we

PARACELSUS

78
He

And

hints at -"Po staunch

de-rada' ''''""
"^

tion ^^

wounds,

our

roots

further

from

secure

770

'

assailed

^""^

and

waysideherbs

the

gatherby

to

life'sextremest

verge.

It will be well indeed if I return,

!

busy fool,to my old ways

hints of another fate,
I would forget
enough, which silent hours
Significant
with.
scared me
Have
lately

harmless

After

Paracelsus.
I
A
I

yet

would

I need

been

have

what

something, I

"

are

cannot

soar,

I do

than
portions

worse

Ah

know

not

crawl.

not

this

of mine.

one

And

Paracelsus.
If the

To

me.

780

Festus.

Of

say well !

You

If

humble

never

though

There

all,Festus,you say well

am

man

But

! and what

Another

Fes/us.

stimulants of

mean

vanityshould
a

sunk

become

!
deeperdegradation
vulgarpraise.

food

the chosen

the wish

mind, should stifleeven

find its earlyaspirations

true.

Should

teach

breath

it

to

like life-

breathe falsehood

"

atmosphereof craft and trick and lies;

it jjroud
Should make
to emulate,surpass
which
woke
in the practices
Base natures
No,
Its most
once.
loathing
indignant

An

Utter damnation
I had
Be

immortal

790

no

is reserved for hell !

shall

feelings
; such

whollyquenched:

no,

no

never

My friend,you

wear

PARACELSUS

8o

He

denies

that love
has made
him

bhnd

I know

you.
Paracelsus.

^^^^
a

j^^^
"

"

Alln

j
admiration

you, dearest Festus !

j^^^ unworthily; and how
I know

And

blmd.a

j
renders

That

hold

You

Festus.
blinds ?

admiration

Ay and alas !
f??Paracelsus.
^Festus.Nought blinds you less than

miration
ad-

friend!
it be that all love renders wise

Whether
In

its

love

"

answeringheart

Heart

with

blends

which

love

from

degree;

love which

to

"

spends

itself
of
idolatry

In silent mad

love is

I say, such

Alive

blind

never

minutest
every the

to

Which

spot

(supposed
dreams
and searching)
vigilant

So

broods

Love

such:

on

but rather

what

hate

which

object,and

its

mars

well it is adored.

how

ne'er will know

Which

great soul of souls,

mortal,some

Pre-eminent

830

some

of.

not

then?

When

first perceived

Is there

strife to

to change,
forget,

overflush those blemishes

To
The

glow

To

"

sweet

no

of

with all
? 840
endless

goodnessthey disturb
general

make

those

very

defects

an

source

Of

new

And,
Made

hopes and fears ?

stand
no
gallant
provedweak ? no shrink-

from
affection grown
is there
all fails,
when
even

for much

ing-back
Lest, since all love assimilatesthe soul

8i

PARACELSUS

To

Almost

loves,it should

it

what

If there be fiends who

T-

Trust

rival of its idol ?

and

seek

J
down

lengthbecome

at

earth1

drag
God's
Even
at
foot, 'twill
love,
Their zeal will gathermost
to
i

rum

And

least from

those who

By contumelyand
Which

forces

entrance

be

from

their

serve

And

show

within

The

giantimage of perfection,
grown

In hate's

In the untroubled

True
So

heart,as in
calumnies

whose
despite,

admiration

presence
blinds not

blind.

I call your sin

It springsfrom one
whose

the veil

will

each

light

thence

tear

more

essay

their hearts

to

defender

loves

as

cause

most

For

our

such

850

blot the

even

ness,

""

shrine,

spawned

were

of its eyes.
;

nor

am

860

;
exceptional
life has passedthe

bounds

Prescribed

to

life.

Compound

fault with

that

God!
I

of
s])eak

men

The

weakness

Like

the far traces

I bid you

have

to

common

of

good

decay in

of

suns.

Prtrclarc !

Come, I will show

slow

where

should

crowd

expectation
to follow
Eventually

!
Oplinif
priest

my merit
of individual minds

you

Tis in the advance

the

more,

you

quietmountain-cloistered
Paracelsus!
Instructing
yet 'tisso.

That

me

cheer !

Pdidcelsus.
Think

like

men

reveal endears

you

as

the

Waits ages in its bed tillsome

but

mightiestspiritsonly

hate, who
to

scorn

"

the

weak-

hurt,

our

"

"

sees

me,

work

to

He

ground

sea
one

lies.870

wave

tlieir

the

PARACELSUS

82

Paracelsus
.

"

merit
lies

extends

Out

of the multitudinous mass,

l"'i^pcnii)irc
of the whole, some

feet

perhaps,

of sand whicli could confine

strij)
^^^ fellows so longtime : thenceforth the rest,
Even to the meanest, hurry in at once,
is clear gained. I shall be glad
And
much
so
If all my labours,failing
of aughtelse,
88i

Over

the

Suffice
A

make

to

wider

for

range

For, whatsoe'er
And
I

inroad and

such

thought:

legitimate
success,

blind

they do this ;
true
knowledge

nay,

notions of

my

procure

be,

may

rank
my undoubted
classed with others : I precedemy

not

am

When
And

to

wills is very free to mount

labours as a platform
his
whence

age

whoso

These

own

But, alas !
May have a prosperous outset.
My followers they are noisyas you heard
the best of them
But, for intelligence,
I 8u])ply
wield the weapons
So clumsily
"

And

they extol,that

Whether
Would

their

do

not

Thus

before

Than

my
Festus.

the old awkward

arms

my
not

fall

batterings

warfare,not half learned.

supplythat art, then, or

subtle

more

stones
pebble-

and

will

if error

"

Sooner

clubs

better service than

vilely
swayed

would

withhold
New

arms

To
To
Can

900

until you

Paracelsus.
I have

beginto doubt

rude

own

890

teach their mystery.

Content

you,

'tis my

wish

recourse

training.Day by day I seek

simplest
which
alone
wake
the mood, the spirit
the

make

those

arms

of any

use

to

men.

PARACELSUS

Of

course

Graced

explains

they are for swaggeringforth at once

with Ulysses'
bow, Achilles' shield"

Flash

on

Make

our

83

all in armour,
hearts dance to

thou

us,

proper
Festus.

sightto
Pity

crows

choose

you

Achilles !

teach

resounding
step !

thy

the

scare

w^at

away

then

not

910
some

method

other

Of

coming at your point. The marvellous art

At length
established in the world bids fixir
To remedy all hindrances like these :
Trust to Frobenius' press the precious
lore
Obscured by uncouth manner,
unfit
or
For raw
beginners
; let his types secure
A

deathless

Meanwhile

monument

wait

after-time

to

and enjoy
confidently

The

ultimate effect :

You

shall be all-revealed.

sooner

Pardcelsits.
In

form

new

Two

of

sorts

Hints
The

no

other consists of

While

bent

Prime

which
princijjles

These

last I offer

My

bid

nobler

to

question

I possess

one

"

vast,

"

may

my

conduct

to

much

must

to

followers here.

chronicle llie lirst of these,

and in effect you bid
ancient study,

Revert
I

Thus:

920

shadowy,
aim I once
:
])ursued
secrets, caught
many
])rize,perhapsa few

of the unbounded

Now,

old dull

more.

knowledge;

on

later

or

The
;

me

the wild

go

find

courses

them

:
justabjured
scattered
through

930

the

world.

Then, for the principles,

they are so simjjlc
of the overturning
( I'eingchiefly
sor*),
That one
time is as
them
projKT to ])roj)ound
As any other
to-morrow
at my
class,
"

he

PARACELSUS

84
and

defends
,

h'f

lecturing

in print,
century hence embalmed
intend to learn at all,
For if mankind
1 hey must
beginby givingfaith to them

Or

half

And

them

actingon

and I do

not

see

940

indifferent well :
that my lectures serve
doubt these dogmas fall not to the earth.

But

No

all their

For

noveltyand ruggedsetting.
the day
class will not forget
know
the gods of Israel,

I think

my
I let them

Aetius,Oribasius,Galen, Rhasis,
Avicenna, Averrcies,
Serapion,
Were

blocks !
And

Festus,

that reminds

1 heard

me,

something
About
waywardness: you burned
your
books.
instead of answering
It seems,
those sages.
Paracelsus. And

With

Some

OEcolampadius.

purpose
this short stay

Of

As

Basil

at

950

said that ?

who

Festus.

their

met

know,

you
to

was

yesternight
the

learn

touchingcertain missives sent

pleasure
For our
Zuingliusand himself. 'Twas he
Apprisedme that the famous teacher here
His

Was

my

old friend.

Paracelsus.

Ah,
Zurich

Festus. From
Of
I

:
forgot
you

"

(youknow,
of late

960

"

Paracelsus. I remember.
teach

you

why

answer

Here

"

ear

and returning
sought
Carolostadius)

Basil and
Will

with advices for the

at Wittenberg
Luther, now
make
no
doubt, the differences

With

went

's a case, now.

not, but burn

PARACELSUS

The

books

85

mention.

you

Pray, does

Luther

and
bold

dream
His

arguments convince

The

crowds

that

by

their

force

own

his doctrine ?

own

No,

^'l*^
'

indeed !
Luther

His

plaindenial of established points

Ages had sanctified and men supposed
be oppugned while earth was
Could never
And
heaven
above them
which
points
"

Affected
Of

under
chance

time

or

not

970

did

"

than

more

the array

followed.

Boldlydeny !
There
is much
hair-stiffening
breath-stopping,
mute
Awhile; then, amazed glances,
awaiting
which

argument

The

thunderbolt which

does

not

come

and next,
those
:

wonder
Reproachful

and

Who

able now
stirred,
are
for themselves,
perhaps
set the whole
at work,

else had

never

To

find the

To

him
outstrip

As

"

you
Festus.

rest

out

who

:
inquiry

wise class its instructor. 980

Luther ?

will my

never

And

saw

'Tis

Paracelsus. True

the

wondrous

soul !

so-heavychain

which

galledmankind
Ls shattered,
and the noblest of us all
Must bow to the deliverer
nay, the worker
"

Of

our

Had
We

own

project we who longbefore

the crowd.
our
trammels,but forgot
have taught,still groaned beneath
"

burst
should

their load

This

he has done

and

Whatever
What
And
For

nobly. Speed that

be my chance
benefits mankind

men

of

seem

or

my

mischance.

gladme
made, though not as

somethingbetter

may

must

than the times

too

990

believed,

produce.

"

PARACELSUS

86

Witness

of peasants your

these gangs
speaks of Pio,-,^ Suabia have
Festus

And

whom

Miinzer

possessed,whom

duke,

the

the

lights

new

the

landgraveand

elector
Will

calm

in blood !

world

Well, well

Fes/us. Hark

Paracelsus.

'Tis the

Within
Morn

the

trees

be

must

melancholywind

the embers

'tisnot

too

are

near.

Best ope the casement

with clouds and
night,late strewn

stars,
Is blank and

astir

grey

Festus.
The

my

see,

flying
looo

motionless

peaceful
sleep

how

Like an asp.
!
tree-tops altogether
from bough to bough.
The wind slips
whispering
Paracelsus, Ay ; you would gaze on a wind-

The

shaken

By

the

tree

hour, nor

time

count

So you shall gaze

Festus.

Those

lost.

happy times

will

again.
Gone, gone.
the moaning
not

come

Paracelsus.
times
pleasant

Those

Does

wind

Seem

to

bewail that

bartered

And

have

we

sleepfor

them

gainedsuch gains
?
It is

Festus.

That
All

is yet another
and mischance.

there
error

To

world, this common

how
foil,
make-shift,a mere

why

some

this

fme

to

Another

Paracelsus.
And

world

life to

come

our

trust

mend
world

loio

world, to

be

fair soever.
be fed
Man
must

88

They
part

And

PARACELSUS

Unwilling

My
Shall

friend

You

will

if

is

light

darkness

and

not

"

But

that

Should
You
For

Will

my
trust

trusted)
you
you

are

not

faith

is

and

thus,
call

me

desire

(as
and

this
to

your

1050

again,
alone
"

support

obscured

mood

fit

see

you

love

our

this

arise

strive

and

God's

in
his

on

if

now,

remember

If

more

once

while

the

sorely.

again,

trust

well,

so

moved

deeply

you,

so

changed

away,

all

hope

fared

have

has

pass

Where
To

to

leave

done.

have

is

dim

no

that
I

must

man

think

through

you:

reward.

side, dear

Aureole

PART

IV

PARACELSUS

Colmar

Scene

ASPIRES

in yf/satia

Paracelsus,

Inn.

an

"

Festus

Is

and

Aghast

.lust

though

So

true

And

BasF^

live, as

we

I"iechtenfels

value

live ;

his

on

Piitter

and

jiaralysed.

shall

one

may

had

say,
set

never

carcass.

sorry

had

holds

frowned

not

dumb.

us

surely start to-morrow

Nuremberg, as we drink speedy scathe
Basil in this mantling wine, suffused

For

To
A

delicate

the

blush,

shut

John
'

yet

learned

We

Basil

Oppose

celsus

Dear

asira

Torinus
poor
soul that Basil

honest

every

as

ad

Viscnburg

scandalised, and

And

his Para-

Oporinus,

[to Johannes
Secrelary\ Sir itur

Paracelsus

Von

1528

"

the

as

fainter

no

of

heart

tinge

is born

Pledge

bud.

10

good

me,

hot

plague
plague !

ravage

'

l'"ven

Piitter

it, and
so

Do

you

too

share

Their

panic, the
reptiles?
through these,

Desist
At

for

these

Basil, 'tis like:

They
but

Ha,

matters

manage

others

may

faint

ha;

find
80

so

means

PARACELSUS

90

braggartof

He greets To
bringthe stoutest
Festus
Once
to crouch
more

in silence

the tribe
to

means

"

breed

in each fool again,

wonder
stupid
Now
big with admiration at the skill
of his plumes:
Which
a vain pretender
stri])t
brand
each slavish
to
And, that done, means
A

20

"

brow

surely,
inefFaceably,
deeply,
shall not puckerit
That henceforth flattery
So

Out
To

that stamp shall stay

they fawn on, what they are.

of the furrow
the

show

next

Basil with

This

Whom

; there

its magnates,

soul and limb.

curse

"

fillmy

And

cup,

"

despatch,

now

trusty John ; and what remains

do, whate'er arrangements for our trip

Despatch,my
To
Are

yet

This

be

to

night;

see
completed,
we

'11 weather

you
the

30

hasten
at

storm

least :

to-morrow

Nuremberg !

For

Now

leave

us

this grave

clerk
Has

divers

weightymatters

for my

ear

[OpoRiNUs^ofjout.
And
Festus,
my gallant
spare my lungs. At last,
that dogs my heels
I am
rid of this arch-knave
As a gaunt crow
a gasping
sheep; at last
May givea loose to my delight.How kind.
firstbest onlyfriend !
How
40
very kind, my
!
like
Embrace
me
fidelity.
Why, this looks
Not a hair silvered yet ? Right! you shall live
Till I am worth your love ; you shall be proud.
I

And
I

sent

Upon
At

but lettime show

"

to

my

you because
conscience

Basil,wliich

the

you

not

wonder

weighed
(you recall the night
gods confound ! ) because
our

"

! Did

compact

"

PARACELSUS

Once

aspire. I call
You thoughtmy

more

You

91

come.

to

you

message

strange ?

hope,indeed,yoar messenger
Has mingledhis own
fancies with the words
to be yours.
Purporting
I

tells him

So strange

Festus.
That

side

my

must

He

Paracelsus.

said

no

Basil
^"'^

"^^^^
Jf^^

50

more,

folk I leave
than the precious
probable,
Said fiftyfold
more
roughly. Well-a-day,
'Tis true ! poor Paracelsus is exposed
At last ; a most
egregious
quack he proves :
those he overreached
And
must
spittheir hate
beneath contempt.
On one
who, utterly
wits. You heard
Could yet deceive their topping
Bare truth ; and at my biddingyou come
here 60
To sjieed
as
me
on
once
my enterprise,
Your lavish wishes spedme, my own
friend !
'Tis

What

Festus.

purpose. Aureole ?
Oh, for purpose,

is your

Paracelsus.
There

is

Like

mine

The

case

To

lack of

no

at

of

men

in a case
precedents
least,if not precisely
mine,
off by those they sought
cast

benefit.
Festus.

cast
They really

you

off?

onlyheard a vague tale of some

priest.
Cured by your skill,
who wrangledat your claim,
Knowing his life'sworth best ; and how the judge
I

The

matter

To

was

referred to,

interfere,
nor

Contempt of him
His wrath
That

Basil

you
;

hide

to

was

Paracelsus. The

no

your

cause

71

full

he, again,to smother

nor

thereat,which
soon

saw

made

raised
no

affair of

shallowest fable,

so

fierce a liamc

placefor

you.

I ,i"'(litenfels
? the

PARACELSUS

92
the
reason

last and

The

j j^new

How
For
Of

silliestoutrage
it from

it,I foretold

pretence !

mere

"

first,

the

stupidwonder you mistook

80
genuineloyalty a cheeringpromise
and pass ;
would pall
better thingsto come
the

soon

"

"

word

And

every

The

prophets!

playoff the

To

Saul is among

true.

comes

Just

longas

so

antics of my

mere

pleased

was

art,

to no
end,
gambolsleading
ne'er keepdown
but one
I got huge praise:
can
There
Our foolish nature's weakness.
they

Fantastic

flocked,
Poor devils,
swearingand perspiring,
jostling,
!
Till the walls rang again; and all for me
I had a kindness for them, which
was
right; 90
I

But then
A

Of

trust

and

in them

sympathy for

To

teach

tillI tacked

stoppednot

them,

respect

"

them

not

must

that

sort

needs

them,

amaze

to

'

to

begin
impart

the search
should instigate
which
spirit
Of truth,'
justwhat you bade me ! I spoke out.
in disgust,
Forthwith
a mightysquadron,

The

Filed ofl^ 'the sifted chaff of the

"

Redoublingmy
The

rest.

endeavours

When

long
Only to ascertain
This
To

tenet

hear

lo !

one

to
man

sack,'I said.

secure

had

tarried

so
ICX5

if I

supported

that ; another loved

before he judged,
impartially

of his,or

judged; this bland disciple

it seems.
Passed for my dupe,but all along,
marvelled most ;
Spiederror where his neighbours
That fiery
doctor who had hailed me
friend.
Did
it because my by-paths,
once
provedwrong

And

havingheard,now

PARACELSUS

beaconed

And

good old
Though not
worthy

The

would commend
again and the
properly,
o'er, l"^^'^^
safely
ways our sires jogged
the other
their squeamish
sons
;
gj^g^
no

divers

Discovered

93

of St. John,

verses

refreshed the soul,

Which, read successively,
But, muttered backwards, cured the gout, the
stone.

colic and what

The
Was

clear class-room, and

From

The

new

And

scarce
professor

or

arrival had

my

But

the

it seems,

now,

year before

;
120

"

which

Whom

hand, installed

merit
patient
awhile by flashy
tricks,but sure
later to emerge in splendour
luckless wight
the examplewas
some

Obscured

fillmy

To

quietleer
glance
reproachful

flourish about

vast

Sooner

end

and a sour
grave folk,
those in chief who, cap in

From

Of

QuuImultaPThe

not.

chair and

so

discomfited.
recalled

voice
general

efl^acethe stain

I sought no better,
longincurred.
quietdismissal from my ))Ost,

Basil had

Only

from my heart I wished them better suited

better served. Good
nightto Basil,then !

And

And

But fast as
Of

rid
to
))roposed

of
pleasure

The

back, I could

obnoxious

my

the tribe

partingkick.

You

they merit

as

If I

very contempt as ever

This courteous
Flesh into stone.

This
To

be

smile,
turned

as

graceful

Festus,were

defiled,
your eyes

sniilf :

Paracelsus.
'Tis with

spare them

not

Festus.

Despisethem

131

recompense,

your

the eyes

to

nature

ache

fit

PARACELSUS

94
Festus

eatingpoison-blains,
gangrene-blotches,
140
barkyscurf of leprosy
hideous
finds" a man, and leaves" a
Which
thing
but be mended
That cannot
by hell fire,
heart
I would laybare to you the human
cursed longago, and devils make
God
Which

At

asks to 'file ulcerous

know
his
^

"

since

Their

pet

and their

nest

discovered

Oh,

sages have

For

various ends

One

stumbled,in

Of

If that be
Our
Yet
Of

in

nature

in

have

men

can
spirits

I had

not

It seems,

us

the
at

love,to know : has ever

search,on any signs

to

"

born

are

we

his

formed

to

hate ?

To

hate ?

150
objectwhich evokes
hate
!
be sure 'tis
fulleststrength,

true

our

powers

home.
never-tiring

doubted

if the best and

him

nourish

bravest

with hate alone.

monopolyof fools.

Basil.
But your

Festus.

!
plans,
your plans

learn your purpose, Aureole !

such
sink beneath
to
Paracelsus. Whether

I have

yet

to

ponderousshame.
crushed snail,
undergo
up like a
In silence and desist from further toil,

To

shrink

And

Of

so
one

subside into
their

censure

160

monument

blasted?

or

to

bow

to lower
as
submissively,
Cheerfully
Basil dictates.
as
even
My old pretensions
me
To drop into the rank her wits assign
and make
that use
And
live as they prescribe,
Of my poor knowledge which their rules allow.
and then, and careful
Proud to be patted
now
the true
To practise
posture for receiving
benefit from their hoofs' appliance
The amplest

PARACELSUS

96
Festus

And

protests

faint

strew

from

sweetness

fine worm-eaten
Egyptian's

Which
Or

breaks

to

dust when

old

some

shroud

unrolled ;

once

200

shredded

like a cloud
perfume,
From
closet longto quiet
vowed,
mothed
and droppingarras
With
hung.

Moulderingher
As

when

lute and

books

among.

longdead, was

queen,

And

young.

pileshall die
with fair perished
things,
My lovelyfancies,
fair and forgotten
Themselves
; yes, forgotten,
them ?
Or why abjure
So, I made this rhyme
That fitting
might be preserved
dignity
;
I ; though the list of
little proud was
No
drugs
Mine,

word

every

on

such

210

Smacks
Halts

of my old vocation,and the verse

like the best of Luther's psalms.

But,Aureole,

Festus.
Talk
Did

To
For

Than

not

thus

Than
This

here

am

"

I have travelled

all!

far,indeed.
Be yourself
learn your wishes.
again!
I recognise
in this mood
you less
you know

in the horrible

I witnessed
But

wildlyand madly.

last.

despondency

You

may

this,joy;

account

rather let me

gaze on that despair

hear these incoherent words and see

flushed cheek

Paracelsus.

220

and

intensely-sparkling
eye.
I
was
light-hearted
man,

Why,
in my prime;
what would
I am
now;
light-hearted
Aprilewas a poet, I make songs

you have?

"

I
'Tis the very augury of success
Why should I not be joyousnow

want
as

!
then ?

PARACELSUS

Festus.
for

Joyous! and
joy?

97

how?

and

what

remains

Paracelsus

^.^^^
(whichI am sick 7^^'^
Of naming)are impracticable.
and know
Paracelsus.
Ay,
230 at once
Pursued as I pursuedthem
the arch-fool !
Listen : my planwill please
you not, 'tislike,
You

declared the ends

have

"

But

you are littleversed in the world's ways.

This is my plan (first
drinkingitsgood luck)
"

"

I will
; all I despised
accept all helps
So rashly
at the outset, equally
With earlyimpulses,
late years have quenched:
I have
All

tried each

helps!

I seek

Not

and

without

Supposemy
more,

shall exclude

sort

one

know

to

one

Once

no

to

enjoyat

the other

labour should
as

for both !

:
now
singly

way

the

rest.

once,

240

before.

as

God's

seem

firstI dreamed,

cause

own

it shall not

"

baulk

me

Of

the

That
And
Can

earthliest sensualest

meanest

delight
joy is gain,

for every
gainis gain,however small.
may

be snatched

die then,nor

be taunted

My

soul

gained?
follow
Nor, on the other hand, shoultl pleasure
As though I had not spurnedher hitherto.
Shall she o'ercloud
munion
spirit's
my
rapt com'

"

what

'

was

250

With

the tumultuous

Glorious
Festus.

with

visions of

full success.

And

wherefore

not?

Why

prefer

Results obtained

To

Success !

Paracelsus.
not

past,the teemingfuture,

those derived

in my

best

alone from

state
seasons

of

being.
dark

PARACELSUS

98
and

so

As

the

fightthe
a

e ou

my

thoughtstheybred
youth

Unwasted, seemed
It is the
I

am

of darkness

nature

wanderer

success

best,

was

too

surest

not

obscure.

to

well

I remember

When

how I feared the track was

missed,
journey,
So longthe cityI desired to reach
261
afar
Lay hid ; when suddenlyits spires
clouds ; you may
Flashed
throughthe circling

One

conceive

My

transport. Soon the vapours closed again,

But

I had

No

darkness

seen

the

and
city,

could

obscure

glance

such

one

shall the

nor

present
"

shame
few dull hours, a passing
or
two,
Destroythe vivid memories of the past.
I will fight
the battle out ; a littlespent

stillan

Perhaps,but
You

look

But

Of

many

To

push the

at

my

turn

can

able combatant.

270

grey hair and furrowed

weakness to account
even

tricks I

know, 'tisnot

brow
:

the least

ruins of my

frame,whereon
The fire of vigourtrembles scarce
alive.
Into a heap,and send the flame aloft.
What
should I do with age ? So, sickness lends
An aid ; it being,I fear,the source
of all
We
boast of: mind is nothingbut disease,
natural health is ignorance.
And
I

Festus.
But

one

I feared

To

good symptom in this notable scheme.

your sudden journeyhad in view
immediate

wreak

*Tis

not

280

see

so

Paracelsus.

am

vengeance

on

your

foes;

glad.
And

if I

please

PARACELSUS

To

spiton them,

to

them, what
trample
but the fools
truly,

'Tis sorry warfare

it. I would
Provoke
T,

but

it

No

provoke me,

on

in the shade,must
quality

Power

to

match

power,

my

He
sneers

^*
.

enemies

,r

sutler

cannot

part,if I may

my

then ?

their self-conceit;

spare
1

they must

Forbearance

99

keep

needs put forth 290

their
against
strength

strength.
And

arms

above

am

with their

game

like

fact

those that

Communicate
Instead of

let them

and

them

Hiding the
Were

own

god,there 's no
idle scruples,
then,

what
ever

take their chance !

bade

me

soften

And

gentlyto the world.

provingmy supremacy,

elevation man's

in my

But live and

hard

it.

it

Taking my natural station o'er

Then
owning all the glorywas
"

own

"

be it so

Why,
I

their

teach them

their

head.

man's !

would

300

be.

learn,though life's short,learning,

therefore,
thoughthe wreck of my past self,
fear,dear Putter,that your lecture-room

And
I

Must

wait awhile

for its best ornament.

The

who
set uj)
penitent
empiric,
For somebody,but soon
was
taughthis place
;
Now, but too happy to be let confess

His

error,

snutf the candles,and illustrate

experietilia
corporc vili)
Vfiat medicine's
soundness
our

Good

310

in his jMjrson.

Wait,

Piitter !

Fcsliu.

Paracelsus.

glad

He

Ay,

who

ay,

sneers

laughat

thus,is
me

am

god !
very

PARACELSUS

loo

Festus
remains

You
Q^n

are

not

see

the

gulledby

all this

of the

root

swaggering
;
!

matter

you
I strive

how

"

^^ I'"^
""^^n^hi"

Sood face on the overthrow

^ have experienced,
and to bury and hide
in its length
and breadth ;
My degradation
^

faith

How

the

motives I would

mean

make

you

think

mingleas is due with nobler aims,

320
I
The appetitesmodestlyallow
May influence me as beingmortal still
Do goad me, drive me
on, and fast supplant
My youth'sdesires. You are no stupid
dupe :
You find me
out !
Yes, I had sent for you
To palm these childish lies upon you, Festus !
Laugh you shall laughat me !
Festus.
The past,then. Aureole,
Is our interchange
Proves nothing?
of love
Have
I to swear
I mean
Yet to begin?
in this speechor that ? For you, 330
No flattery
Whate'er
;
you say, there is no degradation
These low thoughtsare no inmates of your mind.

Just

"

"

Or

wherefore

As

much

Familiar
Were

by
to

this disorder ?

You

the intrusion of base

are

vexed

views.

as
adversaries,
they

your

troubled should your

qualities
alight

Amid
murky souls ; not otherwise,
A stray wolf which
the winter forces down
bleak hills,
From
suffices to affright
our
their

in the vales
while foresters
village
340
all
famished
the
nightlong
Sleepcalm, though

"

troop
Snuff round
These

evil

and

thoughtsare

Paracelsus.
own

scratch

May

friend !

you

their crazy
against
monsters,

be

and

huts.

will flee.

happy,Festus, my

PARACELSUS

Festus.

Nay, further

would
The

content

you

Paracelsus.

our

Hush

! I

As

these

stimulants,

of the

joys

once

We
are
passes.
demand, nor will abate

toil'sstrict value

them,
despised
high at first
a jot
350

but time

passes o'er,
And
humbler spirits
accept what we refuse :
In short,when
such comfort is doled out
some
;

we
delights,

longretain

cannot

Bitter contempt which urges us at first

To hurl it back, but hug it to our
breast
And

retire.
thankfully

Must

be lived

am

and

This

lifeof mine

earned
grave thoroughly
justfit for that and nought beside.
out

I told you once,

I
Unless I deem my

360
enjoy,
knowledgegainsthroughjoy;
I know, but straight
Nor can
reveal
tears
warm
My need of linkingalso joy to knowledge:
iSo,on I drive,enjoyingall I can,
I speak,of course,
And
knowing all I can.
Confusedly
; this will better explain feel here I
is it not?
a fire of tlie heart
Quick beating,
cannot

now

"

"

To

work

So,

F'estus

off

some

way,

this

as

well

as

any.
his calm

launched;
fairly
Compassionatelook might have disturbed
sees

me

once,

me

370

But now,
I invite
far from rejecting,
What
bids me
jiress the closer,laymyself

Open before him, and be soothed with ])ity

;
believe
I hope,if he command
and
hope,
As he directs me
myself
satiating
"

need

soon

Of

f?" ^^^^^
his

harmless

Though ordinaryand

In

fain Para-

nobler aims,

your

But that

delights
you

the

celsus

ne'er

think

supersedersof

Will

loi

the

of
flesh

PARACELSUS

102

and

describes

With
To

me
enduringlove. And Festus quits
credulous disciple
giveplaceto some

his

Who
^'^
way

of ^^s

his

then dismiss

And
Till
Half

merits
peculiar

I suck in

homage, chuckle o'er

life That

And

is wise, but Paracelsus

holds that God

that

admiration,380

nightis come.
studyagain,

the fool ; for

myselfto
after hidden
searchings
patient
brighttruth from
wring some
I betake

lore
its

prison
;

frame

my

Trembles, my

forehead's veins

swell

out, my

hair

Tinglesfor triumph.
Shall break
And

on

my

Slow

pent room

and
and

sure

the

morn

dwindlinglamp

furnace dead, and scattered earths and

ores

heart and throbbingbrow,

falling
review my captured
1 must
truth,sum up
390
Its value,trace what ends to what begins.
Its present power with its eventual bearings,

When,

with

Latent

the views it opens.

affinities,

And

its full lengthin

perfecting
my

scheme.

circumscribed,cast down
sternly
it.
the high placemy fond hopes yielded
From
Proved worthless" which, in getting,
yet had cost
frame.
wrench to this fast-falling
Another
!
that chases sorrow
the cup to quaff,
Then, quick,
back into youth,and take again
I lapse
400
God
evidence
that
pulsefor
My fluttering
his own.
Means good to me, will make my cause
I view

it

oflFthis remorseless

See !

I have

Which

born
cloggeda spirit

cast

to

soar

so

care

free,

has become
chamber
a tent,
my dim
Festus is sitting
by me, and his Mlchal
here,
Why do you start ? I say, she listening

And

PARACELSUS

I04

He
answers

midnight,when most fancies

visit me
such airyproject
some

Often

Would

*L,*But

same

You

and

Chance
Just

the end

at

ever

The

as

will you hear

?
parable

or

...

thingin a tale,a
I, wanderingover

the world

wide,

foot upon a desert coast.

' No
voice before
human
cry,

set

to
we

440

'
the inveterate silence of these rocks !

Broke

startles us

echo
querulous
ravagedstructure

Their

"

come,

at

What

we

turn

stilllooks o'er the

sea

remain, too ! While we read.

for the last
The
sharpsalt wind, impatient
and goes.
this record, wistfully
Of even
comes
Some

Or

characters

singswhat

we

is the record ; and

This

mocking it.

recover,

voice,the wind's.

my

\_Hesings.
Over
With
To

the

sea

went,
galleys

our

cleaving
prows
wind
speeding
armament
gallant
built out

bark

Each

in order
and

450

brave

boundingwave,

of

forest-tree

leafyand rough as first it grew.

the gapingsides,
nailed all over

Left
And

and

Within

bear

So, each
Rude
But
Where

suppledin flame,
billows' game :
the playful
good shipwas rude to see,

in fat and

Seethed
To

without, with black bull-hides,

and bare

to

the outward

view.

tent
upborea stately
in scented row
cedar pales

each

dancing brine.
And
an
awning droopedthe mast below,
In fold on fold of the purple
fine.

Kept

out

the flakes of the

460

PARACELSUS

105

neither noontide

That

starshine

nor

mad,

moonlightcold which maketh

the regaltenement.
Might pierce

Nor

When

the

His song

dawned, oh, gay and glad 470

sun

the sail and

pliedthe oar ;
But when
the night-windblew like breath.
For joy of one
day'svoyage more.
the wide sea.
We sang together
on
shore ;
Like men
a peaceful
at peace on

We

set

Each

sail was

Each

helm

loosed
made

to

the wind

by

sure

free.

so

twilight

the

star,

And

in

sleepas

calm

death,
from afar.
as

We, the voyagers

Lay stretched along,each weary
In

circle round

its wondrous

481

tent

curled rich

and
gleamed soft light

Whence

crew

scent,

with

And
So

the

music
and jjerfume,
light

wheeled

stars

round, and

too

ness
the dark-

past.
And

at

And

stilleach

Now,

we

morn

morn,

one

started beside the mast,

hist.
sailing

shipwas
land

appeared a speck
"

tremblingbetwixt sea and sky :

cried our pilot,check
Avoid it,'

Dim
'

'

The

shout, restrain the eager eye !

'

490

heavingsea was black behind

a day.
a nightand
many
many
land,though but a rock, drew nigh;

liut the
For
And

So,
Let

we

palesaway.
purpleawning (lapin the wind.

broke

the

And

statue

the cedar

brightwas

on

every

deck

PARACELSUS

io6

We

His song

shouted,every

And

pomp

shapesof

hundred

All

us,

rightinto the harbour thus,

and pasan glorious.

steered

With

of

man

lucid

stone

500

built its shrine for each,

shrine of rock for every one,

Nor

day we

pausedtillin

We
To

the beach

togetheron

sat

singbecause

When

westeringsun

the

task

our

was

songs !
stirs1

shouts and

lo ! what

done.
merry

all the distance

laughter
A loaded raft with happy throngs
Of gentleislanders !
Our isles are justat hand,'theycried, 510
Like cloudlets faint in even
;
sleeping
Our temple-gates
are
openedwide.
thick shade are keeping
Our olive-groves
forms
For these majestic
they cried.
Oh, then we awoke with sudden start
From
our
deep dream, and knew, too late.

What

'

'

'

"

bare the rock, how

had received our
Which

desolate.

How

Yet
Our

once
gifts,

Our
To

called

we

mar

'

out

"

:
freight
precious
Depart!

here abide. 520

have no heart

given,must

work

is done

; we

our

work,'

we

"

cried.

Festus. In truth ?

Paracelsus.
On

ruggedstones

In order
'

The

To

Nay, wait

once:

sad

strewn

allthis in

here and there,but

then follows

rhyme

of the

and
their firstfault,

faint
tracings

men

"

mark
who

withered

what

piled

follows !

proudlyclung
in their pride.'

PARACELSUS

Festus.

Come

fear

God,

This

then, Aureole

back

as

It is

you

irn^
fo"t

come

is foul sin ;

107

back

come

the

Renounce

^^^^j^

past,
the future ; look for

Forswear

But wait death's

And

trust

Return

with

event

"

Einsiedeln,dear Aureole

to

me

No

Paracelsus.

no

way,

good.
child sleeps
on
spotless
turn

summons

for the

me

joy no more, 530

amid holysights.
peace, if not joy.
! it would

way

!
not

to

'Tis well for him

the

but when

floweringmoss

"

sinful man,

such slumber, may desire to put

IZnvying
His guilt
at once
away, shall he return
well
Our sires knew
there ?
To rest by lying
540
(Spiteof the grave discoveries of their sons)
dim lamps,
for such : dark cells,
The fitting
course
A

floor

stone

No

mossy

Festus.

one

may

pillowblue
I

no

see

writhe
with

like

on

worm

violets !

sym])tom of these absolute

passions.You

And

tyrannous

This

verse-makingcan

are

calmer
well

purge you

now.

enough

the terrible ])enancc you describe.

still: the lusts you fear will never
love me

Without
You

Outrageyour friend.
Say but the word !
Paracelsus.

They

crouch, I

To

once
Einsiedeln,

more

No, no ; those lusts forbid :

know, cowering with half-shut
55

eye

Thrust
Beside you ; 'tis their nature.
yourself
fool
and their jjrey ; let some
them
Between

styleme
then try
not
king or quack,it matters
Your wisdom, urge them to foregotheir treat

Or

"

PARACELSUS

io8

Festus

No,

no

charges jf you knew

seeking

^^^ile you

his

-^s

own

God's

how

devil

though we

wc

differ?

so

proceed,
Whether
for good or

ill;

not

To

hope, and

you
To

Paracelsus.

Listen

Festus.

me

560
which !

me,

born

was

trust

I do

True, change must

keep from

confide all secrets

Do

within

sneers

of this,now
that,
now
talking
in trifles!
differed scarcely
save

are

Festus. Do

glory,not

deeper,Festus

learn better and look

the fruits!

know

you

what
believe,

call

you

trust

Was
So
A

self-delusion

long as God
path for you,

Procure
Man's

would
and

But

mere

569
in his service

you

yieldyou

"

God,

in

fact,
to

say

last,

example? None
will so plainas you,

God's

trace

impliedin

he determines

an

you

fail.
fools !

and
fit,

not

brook.

579
your way,
Such discontent

all creatureship
at once

rightto have and use

though the rivers should

absolute

energies
; as
rush

now

while

service is established here

this you cannot

Renounce
Is weak.

AflRrm

it ; but

prate about that will,are

who

we,

And

We

the

selfishness without

In short, God's

Your

fears,on

world,
lot,

"

yours
Remained

As

man's

content
you were
What
is it,at
!
courtly
praises

Could

And

the

your slave

turn

Most

'

and

hopes

limitless licence,make

And

from

you

full exemptionfrom

common

for,see

kindlypioneer

screen

pretext
your engagement

Of
A

you

the best

at

to

the

ocean

what

have

we

to

say

do

"

PARACELSUS

109

in the vales, He
feedingstreamlets,
lingering
?
Set up that plea,
in lazypools
Sleeping
[ /^^

With

'

That

will be bold

at

least !

Paracelsus.
The

God's

'Tis like

enough, glory is
with
one
doubt,
s
ma.n
bids,

serviceable

are
those, no
spirits
The
East produces
:
lo,the master
They wake, raise terraces and garden-grounds
In one
night'sspace ; and, this done, straight
begin
591
Another
to the great praise
century's
sleej),
"

Of

him

Till

that framed

lamp'srubbing,or
them again. I am

Wake

beautiful.
chance akin.

wise

them

and

some

of different mould.

have soothed my lord,and slaved for him

done him service past my narrow
bond,

I would

And

for my pains
thus I get rewarded
!
Beside, 'tisvain to talk of forwarding

And

God's

600
gloryotherwise ; this is alone
The sphereof its increase,as far as men
Increase it; why, then, look beyondthis sphere?
We
his glory
be glorious,
are
; and if we
Is not the thingachieved ?

Shall

Festus.

Judge hearts like yours ?

changed you much,
And

you

have

left your

like

one

Though

years

first love,and

me

have

retain

Its empty shade to veil your crooked

ways.
Yet I stillhold that you have honoured
God.
And who shall call your course
witliout reward ?

For, wherefore
Had

at
repining

ne'er
trium])h

I urge you
And
what

Of

this

to

defeat

inured you to
forsake the life you

success

attends

weakness
passion,

and

me

?
"

remorse

610

high hopes?
curse,

simplytalk
; in

short,

PARACELSUS

no

He

invokes
Festus

contempt

Anythingbut the naked

This so-despised
career,

truth
and

choose

you

"

hold
cheaply

rather other men's,

My "' happiness,
or
^ '^
^

Once

return

more,

quickly. John the thief

half my secrets
Has pilfered
by this time :
And
we
departby daybreak. I am weary, 620
the wine-cupsoothes
I know
how ; not even
not
My brain to-night
Festus ?
Do you not thoroughly
despise
me,
One like you needs not be told
!
No flattery
and deceived.
We
live and breathe deceiving
And

Paracelsus.

Do

you not
and my

Me

from

me

scorn

hearts,

outward

crust

629

wrap, as tetter, morphew, furfair

the sound flesh ?
so, see you flatter not!

lies which

Wrapt

"

God

Even
Is

heart of

cant, each petty subterfuge.

and all this frothyshower of words,

My rhymes
My glozingself-deceit,
my
Of

your

flatters: but my
I would

true.

friend,at least.

secure
depart,

hate
Againstall further insult,
From

puny
brand

fear of

No

foes ; my
me

no

There

;
are

and

wrong

friend's

one

scorn

shall

sinkingdeeper!
No, dear Aureole

Festus.

No,

henceforth

to

came

old

counsel

made
rules,

faithfully.
longere we were born.

I, so fallible,
judgeyou.
So infinitely
low beside your mighty
640
Majesticspirit! even I can see
You own
some
higherlaw than ours which call
Sin,what is no sin weakness, what is strength.
But I have onlythese,such as they are.
To guideme ; and I blame you where theybid,

By

which

"

"

PARACELSUS

112

Paracelsus

secret

for

his

comfort

cheat

"

the

[^jjyg
grave

then,

To

the

cold

earth

believe

we

do

For

but

did

you

ill

have
not

think,

mcn

far better

not

Aureole

Festus.

julcp, 38

pQ

Know,

comfort

shall

which

secret

jVyg,-, yoy^
^^

reveal

can

secret.

trust

to

love

your

of

much

thought

wholly

die.

do

laugh

it

Paracelsus.

Nay,

not

is

there

reason

For

Taste

unfit

to

think,

put

take

it

Festus.

as

strange

so

of

But

not

see,

may

you

thought

words

680

dead.

is not

this

on

never

can

as

she

trust,

my

soul

the

just now,

am,

dress
intelligible

an

But

say

death.

Very
In

what

alone

account

you

surely,
Aureole,

"

Paracelsus.

While

moved

am

As

though

So

it be

Have

Troop
And
About

you

and

hoping
how

it mattered

leave
to

will,
in
a

sleeps

Basil,

at

along

?
the

among

rabble

safety to
clear

perish for

the

your

despairing.
farce plays out.

and
the

! while

arena

full of schemes

and

Away,

quickly played.

your

all

dews.

Nuremberg,

For

Michal

And

and

roots

this

believed

have

you

away

fightthe prize,

we

back-seats

snug

for

691

brave

the

sport !

Behold
"

PART

PARACELSUS

Scene.

ATTAINS

Sahburg

"

of St.

cell in the

Sebastian.

54

Hospital

Paracelsus

Festus,

The
change !
weary
well-nighspent,
lamp burns low, and through

Festiis. No

The

night is

^^^tch.
the

case-

^eath-

ment-bars

bed

Grey morning glimmers feebly: yet no change!

Another
night,and stillno sigh has stirred
fallen discoloured

That
Those

fixed eyes,
I,ike torch-flame

mouth,

no

pang

relit

quenched by the decayingbody,

choked

While

in dust.

all

beside
Was

But

breaking,to the
a
strongholdwhere
they are dead now

He

will drowse

My

Aureole

The

days

As

thou

And

arc

wast
not

now

down

"

"

Festus

last

they

held

out

life intrenched

bright,
itself;

very blind and dead

into death without
a groan.
"

10

ruinetl Aureole
!
forgotten,
How
grand
are
gone !
gone,

my
!

one

of

those

who

struck

thee

of

Para-

celsus

PARACELSUS

114

him
glorious
spiritconcerns
himself his littlehand
satisfy

hoping Poor
for
word

of

"

And

Q^^

j,y j^^

jQ

"

night,and yet no change! 'Tis much

should sit by him, and bathe his brow.

Another
That

chafe his hands

And
Know

his

From

look

and

me,

on

but he will

speakto

sure

me

21

swelled.

yet I could

They

'tismuch

but

"

throat

And

onlyonce ! His hollow cheek

all nightlongas though a creeping
laugh
state
own
were
justabout to break
brain swam,
the dying man
:
my
my

more

Looked
At

and

me,

Once

stay

jjyjj ^^"

"

recognition

to

even

told

turn

not

how,

me

In truth.

away.
first

when

brought here,

he seemed

Resolved

live,to lose

to

faculty
;

no

to keep up his shattered strength,

striving
cell :
they bore him to this stifling
30
his features fell,
hour made
an
straight

Thus
Until
When

white

The

flushed

face,and relaxed

the

limb.
quivering

intense awhile
the eye remained
the tomb-like
though it recognised

Only
As
And

then

layas

he

here

place,

he lies.

Her

Ay, here !
is earth's noblest,
noblygarlanded
bravest championwith his well-won prize

Her

best

For

countless

And

followed

She

instances

Here

The

"

"

achievement, her sublime

fast
fleeting
generations
by no trace ; the creature-god
40
when
angelswould dispute
"

title of her brood

Angels,this

amends

is

our

to

angel!

rank

with

Those

them.

brightforms

PARACELSUS
We

human, but

Whom

other

^^"h

his ; those are but men

d
G
before
and
kneel
round
;
press
^^^ y^^^
dwelt in by mankind
;

not

men

Those

are
palaces
is for
Higher provision

Amid
Behold

pomps and
earth's paragon

God

Thou

Even

as

art

it here !

faith on

I build my

beside

thy tortured

whose

hot

49

raise thee, clay!

Now,

that.

child

fall fast

tears

by him.
through the

thy righthand guide us

doth

So

seek

you

love !

I watch

Unconscious

him

: see
glories

our

and call to thrones, He

crown
purple,

clothe with

Are

iiS

world
Wherein
How

stumble.

we

say ?
else should he

shall we

! what

How

sinned ?

he

has

God

done ?

have

for
Surelyhe sought thy praise thy praise,
He might be busied by the task so much
awhile its proper end.
As half forget
"

Dost

well, Lord

thou

Thou

canst

not

prefer
That
How

Thy

I should

Save

We

would

his side

God

"

set

grantedhim

have crowned

Or,

star.

him, dear
bathe

In

myselfu])on

range

could he stop at every ste])to

gloryforth ? Hadst tliou but

halo round

but
60

Success,thyhonour
A

all

success,

say he erred,
it will be like thee
"

him

lightand

life!

should be wroth

Thou

art

in such

not
a

like us;
; but thou

made

case

these passionate
thoughts
forgive
Which
come
unsoughtand will not pass away! 70
I know
thee, who hast kept my path,and made
sorrow
Ligiitfor me in the darkness, tempering

Forgivest
"

so,

PARACELSUS

ii6

Para-

So that it reached

celsus

It

^^^p?

^"

he

That

way

Reserved
But he

Ah

joy;
doubt thy love,
and knowest

him

madest

"

I could

fashioned.

was
:

Thou

^^^ '^^^^^ ^^
How

solemn

strange that I should

too

were

like

me

err

never

quietplacebeside thy feet,

in my thoughts
:
was
ever
me,

the

for

thou shouldst have favoured him

"

wakens

! he

Aureole,

well!

as

here ! 'tis

am

Festus !
I

80

all wishes
away
him but know
me,

cast

Let

He

mutters

I, with

What

he

"

onlyspeak to

me

louder ; any other

brain less laden,could collect

louder and

Than

wish

one

save

Aureole, do

Dear

forth.

pours

but

look!
this
singing,

Is it talking
or

Misery that he should

to some
Quick talking
If he would

husband

with

his eye.
all the while !

me

other

this wild vehemence

frustrates its intent !

Which

"

I heard

my

amid

name

he will know

Oh,

fix

me

those

Could

yet !

current, lead it somehow

Into the channels of the past !
"

Erasmus

am

Paracelsus

That

am

here

use

must

for
questions

These
are

His

Our

class awaits

eye

me
recognise

pray
his skill for me.

your

send
resolve.

to
learning
master

leave

100

business have you here ?

!
to us once
more
you ; come

what
cell,

wretched

91

I divert

to

your students,noble

This

know

gentlyback

schools of Paris and of Padua

The
We

ever

It

heard,I

rapidwords.

This

Brighterthan

fast ?

he utters

PARACELSUS

the

(O agony!
Touches
I

him

Better be

I shall

Stay,stay with

Paracelsus.
To

stay with you

Festus,you know, you

The

melodies

Get

to

But

I made

him

Has

he

not

cold hand

for

out

his music

softly

chanted

I could

all night?

I heard

on

well

's

Where

Festus !

here

come

know

must

Paracelsus.

Aprile,then

am

Festus,you loved of old

"

^pj-iig

shall send.
!

me

I will ; I

Festus.

thoughts

?)

ear

like him.

craze

God

what

see

his

arrest

...

and

mute

His

do

can

else

how

commissioned

am

utmost

not

117

no

not

breast.

my

enough,

enough! If they have filledhim full

With magicalmusic,as they freight
a star
and have remitted all his sin.
With
light,
!
me
They will forgive
too, I too shall know
0

well

Festus.

Festus, your Festus !

Ask

Paracelsus.
Knows

as

he Loves

if I shall Love

"

1 try ; but that cold

Festus.
We

get

'Tis

an

so

curse,

they set

about their

But

when

another

rock

Jove

Festus.

would

preparedhis
And

so
cruelly,

Could

mountain-piling
the work.

crown

doubtless his firstradiant

what

thunder

these

to

are

Paracelsus.
So

down.

plunge

mortals,though the gods were

Astonished
And

cold !

Aprile!
Ajirile,

!
very, very near
Jove strikes the Titans

when

"

so

so

"

old tale :

Phaeton

tread

120

Not
And

"

AJi, the

near

if Ajirilc

and Know

hand, like lead

My hand, see

Paracelsus.

him

Ay,
well !

most

all old tales !

you ?

fiends

like I

calm,

must

never

underfoot,
single
pleasure

laugh
130

PARACELSUS

ii8

by my side,were chuckling
grinning
triumphs 'Po see me toil and drop away by flakes !
*"
that thus 1
^/.^
Hell-spawn ! I am glad,most glad,
illHe

But

theywere

"

^'.,
fail!

own

fame

cunning has o ershot

and I
One month, perhaps,

One

year.

had served your

curbed your

should have

You

its ami.

Your

turn

awhile.
spite

But

now,

will believe 'twas you that held me back ?

and contempt,
Listen: there's shame and hissing

Who

And

but

none

Measureless

who
laughs

scorn

me,

upon

me,

names

none

but

spits

alone,
liar, all on me

141

me

!
quack,the cheat,the
And
thus your famous planto sink mankind
In silence and despair,
by teachingthem
had probedthe inmost truth,
One
of their race

The

"

could do, yet failed no

Men
wise planproves abortive.

done all man

Had
Your

less
"

despair?
empiric.

why, they are hootingthe

fool who rushed
The ignorantand incapable
150
Madly upon a work beyond his wits ;
of themselves
Nor doubt they but the simplest
issue.
to triumphant
Could bringthe matter
So, pickand choose among them all,accursed !
other to slave for you,
some
Try now, persuade
To ruin body and soul to work your ends !
Ha,

ha !

No,

no

the firstand

am

who
friend,

Festus. Dear
has done

ask that ?

By

men

Oh,

the others !

Here

or

stand my

accursed ? who

are

What

Paracelsus.

Brave

last,I think.

have

I done ?

Fiends dare

you.
you

What

can

backed
chime in boldly,

do, sage peers ?

Latin, Arab, Jew, 161

had you

rivals ;

to

PARACELSUS

I20

He

serpent-queen, you did but well

My

regrets The

^^y
/human
love

The

had

^^^^

harmless o'er

""""

not

was

cave

Fire

else detected.

I
juggles

so

hide

to

breast like

darkened

by

yours!

the smoke

But that your white limbs dazzled me : oh, white,

And
pantingas they twinkled,wildlydancing!

passionate
gestures then,
of charms.
the charm
I have forgotten
But now
to seek,
The foolish knowledgewhich I came
dance ; and thus
that quaint
While
I remember
I cared

for your

not

201

back, not for those mummeries,

come

am

But

Soft

kiss your
ermine's winter coat !

love you, and

to
as

an

to

Festus.

through these
struggle

Will

littlefeet

light
words
thronging

at

last.
in the angry and
soft star trembles

As
A

These

The
Were

clouds.
throughthe drifting
which hates
of a spirit
strivings
210

he

liinsiedeln

at

"

Paracelsus.

claspher

or

Michal

Cruel ! I seek her

I shriek

"

West

vault should coop it,and calls up

and its fate.
past to stand between it

sad

So

the

are

tumultuous

here 1

now

"

I kneel

"

vesture

but she

"

fades,stillfades

love is gone !
human
she is gone ; sweet
that angels
to heaven
'Tis onlywhen theyspring

And

they sit all day

at nightby you
Beside you, and lie down
or
sleep,
Who
not for their presence, muse
care
And
all at once
they leave you, and you know
Reveal

themselves

them

We
I

are
am

not

so

to

you

220

fooled,so cheated ! Why,

too

secure

foul play;
against

even

now

PARACELSUS

The
No

and

00

TTTi

clings

j^i,:?"
nis

treacheryis goingon.

some

.rr-..

the walls contract

deepenand

shadows
doubt

121

.,

in

Where
Tis very dusk.
we
are
put, Aprile r dreams
Have
they left us in the lurch ? This murky

loathsome
is not the hall
this slaughter-house,
Death-trap,
In the goldencity!
Keep by me, Aprile!
amid the blackness
There is a hand groping
Have
the spider
To catch us.
fingers
got you.

Poet?

Hold

on

They pullyou

us

Let

us

!
"

for your
Hold !

life!

'Tis

dream

but

this
of trouble,
spite

That
The

as

stream

some

But after

foams

to
glideth
glassy

ordeal

more

Vibrates

too

be my lot ? 240
Your clear voice

poet?Louder!
Do
like a harp-string.

could I stillremain

the rocks

the sea,

think you,

How

no

230

])assed.

longamong

shall henceforth

80, full content

What

"

once

labours ascertained,

value of my

Just

If

out again;
comes
you still; the sun
be happy : all will yet go well !
confer : is it not like,Aprile,

I have
Let

me

on

you

ask

earth,should God

I seek ?
which
approval
I, you, and God can comprehendeach other,
and with cause
But men
would murmur,
enough;
For when
they saw me, stainlessof all sin.
Preserved and sanctified by inward light.
They would complainthat comfort, shut from

Grant

the great

me

them,
Nor

taste

live on,
unc8pied
; that they
of a constant
the quiet
joy,

For

ache

and

I drank

While

thus

am

care

calm ;

and

doulit and

250

weariness.

helpbeingvouchsafed

to

mc,

PARACELSUS

122

He

hid from them.

feels And

the need
of a hfe

best consider that!

'Twere

"

well,Aprile; but at least

.^^^ jjg I jg ^j^jg^QQ ^y^i^
j^^j.^^^ j^j^^^ ^l^jg^
and die 1
I will learn this,if God
so
please,

You

reason

If thou

if thou

dear God,
please,

shalt

"

shalt

!
please

We

are

weak,

so

sought

but

...

least

motives

our

beginning.If

In their confused

know

we

wherefore

at

bare

first
my

260

heart to

thee?
I know

thy mercy
fast about

Flock

my

and

alreadythoughts

soul

to

comfort it.

whollyfail,
would claspme
For love and praise
willingly
Thou
art good,
Could I resolve to seek them.
I

And

intimate

And

I should be content.

I have

done

cannot

in

wrong

Yet

yet firstshow

"

Rather

give
strength

daring!

consciousness of
supernatural
fed my youth! Only one hour of that 270
Which
With thee to help O what should bar me then?

The

"

Thus

Lost, lost!

thingsare

ordered

here!

God's

creatures.
And
yet he takes no pridein us ! none,
Truly there needs another life to come !
"

If this be all

And

other

tell Festus

(I must

"

life await

us

not

"

none

that)

for one,

bungle,
cheat,a stupid
failure. I, for one, protest

I say 'tis a poor

wretched

Againstit,and

thoughalone

Well, onward
And

much

I hurl it back

to

do

must

with

scorn.

Small time

have

279

remains,

must
fruit,

reap

PARACELSUS
from
profit
hardlyserve

Some

Will

123

I doubt

toils.

my

have

while

through;

me

body

my

as

f"jj
Jj^-j^

laboured

decayed;

It has

and

that I demand

now

it will crumble fast :

Its best assistance,

full
very
thought,a sad fate ! How
that justat altar-service.
Of wormwood
'tis,
smoke,
with the rolling
The
rapt hymn rising

sad

sacred

And

die for

of

want

pulleddown

Let

faint

grow

290

help!
wood-piler's

the soul

in the overthrow.

Well, well

"

catch every word, let them lose nought

I say ; somethingmay yet be done.

men

Of what

They

the best.

body,and
flagging

fades the

Thus

at

flicker and

fire may

The

Is

and all is

glorydawns

When

Trust

ruins !

are

who

me

am

of

one

you!
All ruins,glorious
once,
It makes

lieart sick

crouch

behold

to

fane
your desolate

Beside

you
the arches

dim,

the
crumblingcolumns grand against

The

I but

Could

May
Why
A

my

lonelynow.

but

be,so

never

them

more

once

up
leave them

here when
linger
all your
tcni])Ic,
resplendent

Trust

they are

me,

will

With

not

better

Should
I would

but ruins !

Yet

heed !

moon,

friends.

I have

built

Sec, Ajjrile,
I

were

me,

own

299

but that

"

Trust

should you

far

Men

rear

not

jjrepared

tongue of mine
blank their dwellingis:

refugefor them,

ne'er reveal how

sit down

in silence with

at me,
Ha, what ? you sj)it

Contempt into

my

car

"

you
my

the

grinand

ear

which

rest.

shriek 310
drank

his

PARACELSUS

124

He

de- God's

precates
of

accents

once

men,

men,

^^^

formed

'""

curse

you

for it ?

Those

hideous eyes

men

Will

be before

Why,

me

waking,praying,
sleeping,
They will not let me even die. Spare,spare me.
Sinningor no, forgetthat,onlyspare me
The horrible scorn
! You thoughtI could support
me

it.

But

now

Cowers
Not

Christ

PerhapsI

creature
fragile
silly
not
good nor bad enough.

am

Cain, yet

nor

Hate

From

what

see

you
thus.

like this.

Cain

even

Let

saved 320
but totter back!

me

shall elude those

was

jeerswhich

creep
and
scorched
shut
these
very brain,
Eyelidsand keep those mocking faces out.

Into my

Listen,Aprile! I am very calm :

Be not deceived,there is no passion
here
Where
I

am

the blood

calm

Enough

I will exterminate

of that

And

now

Who

broke

And

such

thing:
leapslike an imprisoned

'tissaid and

be merry

Festus.

the

race

it shall be.

safe and

sound

am

330

throughtheir best ranks to get at you.

a havoc, such
a rout, Aprile!
Have
for
no
you no thought,
memory

me.

Aureole

Is gone,

and you alone

And

even

Lean

on

you

wretched
are

me.
forget

me

thus.

Paracelsus.
As

so

you

Aureole

come

am

at

Do

left

me

Take
you

pure Michal

my

"

now.

my
not

hand

"

know

me.

Festus, my

own

friend,you

last?

say, 'tisan

awful

enterprise
;

are

PARACELSUS

125

But you believe I shall go through with it : 340

him
Thank
'Tis like you, and I thank you.
c

Michal

Flames

the
fives

fight
up
*"

'^

for me,

Dear

He

See how

in the

sunset

brightSt. Saviour's spire

all its figures
quaint

light:
glancing
you mightconceive them
white-haired Jews
A troop of yellow-vested,
land where
for their own
Bound
redemption

Gay

in the

dawns.
Festus. Not

that blest time

time, dear God

Paracelsus.
done
And

he is

Ha

"

"

not

youth's

our

stay ! true, I

forget
"

all is

since,
to

come

judgeme.

How

he

speaks.

How
calm,how well ! yes, it is true, all true; 350
All quackery; all deceit ; myselfcan
laugh
The

You

firstat it,if you desire : but still

know
the obstacles which
taughtme

tricks

foreignto my nature
envy and hate,
brutal prejudice.
Blind opposition,
if I sunk
Bald ignorance what wonder
?
the way they most
To humour
men
a])proved
never
palmedon such as you.
My cheats were
I will kneel if you require
Dear
Festus !
me.
Impartthe meagre knowledge 1 jjossess, 3O0
Explainits bounded nature, and avow
whate'er you will :
My insufficiency
I givethe fight
up : let there be an end,
obscure nook for me.
A privacy,
an
I want
to be forgotten
even
by God.
But if that cannot
be, dear F'estus,laymc.
I shall die,within some
When
narrow
grave,
be too proud
Not by itself for that would
So

"

"

"

"

"

But where

such

graves

are

thickest

let it look

PARACELSUS

126

and

asks
to be

"th"
in his
death

from
distinguished

Nowise
3o

that the peasant

^'-^ytread upon my

And
Or

the hillocks

his brother's bed

at

and

own

it not

know

equalat the last,

accordingto life'snatural ranks,

classed

Fathers, sons,
wise,

brothers,friends

"

Nor

:
gifted
layme

Too

much

rich,nor

not

thus,then say,

advanced

They kepthim

He

'

before his brother

stillin front

men

so, here

Festus. That

dear
his

God

least he is

at

lived
men

'twas for their

It were
But yet a dangerousstation.
That he should tellGod
he had never

Unto

shall all be

we

With

round,370

shall take thee

good

strange
ranked

380

man.'

to

his

breast,

spirit.
breast,be

! and

sure

here

on

earth

Shall

sit upon thy name

for ever.
splendour
Sun ! all the heaven is gladfor thee : what care
If lower mountains
lighttheir snowy phares
At thine effulgence,
yet acknowledgenot
The source
of day ? Their theft shall be their bale :
For after-ages
shall retrack thy beams,
of busy ones
And
put aside the crowd
390
And
alone
the
thee
master-mind.
worship
The thinker,the explorer,
the creator
!
"

Then,
With

who
which

as

The

should

sneer

thy deeds

a:t

the convulsive throes

born, would

were

scorn

well

sheet of

winding subterraneous fire

sends no less at last
Which, pent and writhing,
Huge islands up amid the simmeringsea.
Behold thy might in me ! thou hast infused
Thy soul in mine ; and I am grand as thou,
I so simple, 400
Seeing I comprehendthee
"

PARACELSUS

128

More,

Paracelsus.

Festus

speaks
soothing

Festus.

more

And

scarce

on

say

430

it pushes

rushes
gentle
way throughstrangling
Where
the glossykingfisher
Its

words

noon-heats

Flutters when

Glad

the

and

Red

are

banks
shelving
steamingin the

to

shun,

sun.

with

the shrew-mouse

Where

near,

palethroat

Where

the

stoat
;
speckled
flit
quicksandpipers

In and

out

the marl and

Burrows, and the

That

440

them, brown

breed

to

seems

grit
as

they:

disturbs its quiet

way.

Nought

lazystork that springs.

Trailingit with legsand wings,
the shy fox from the hill
Whom
Save

some

Rouses, creep he ne'er so still.

Paracelsus. My heart ! they loose my

simplewords

those

heart,

Its darkness passes,which noughtelse could touch :

dark snake that force may not expel,
Like some
and low. 450
sweet
out to music
Which

glideth

What

doing when

you

were

your

broke

voice

through
A

of

chaos

Are

All alone

Festus.

brick and

Kept in

you

know

me

vault :
unexceptionable

stone

snug nook

the bats

how

Festus. But wherefore

for

purpose

am

keptout,

the

rats

should I mistake

"

for

it?

I here ?

Ah, well remembered

Paracelsus.

Why,

cell?

Paracelsus. An
Good

alone here ?

you

This

You, indeed

uglyimages?

purpose, Festus !

PARACELSUS
'Tis like

me

129

here I triliewhile time

And

will ne'er
this occasion,
lost,

You

are

here

God's message
I fear

but I have

leave half

to

No

doubt

He

would

so

460

much

out.

else have

Para-

celsus
describes

to

say,
All is confused

tions

will learn in time.

but doubtless you

not

return.

I will tell

be instructed.

to

fleets,

broughtyou

here

no

doubt
clearer

I shall see

soon.

Tell

Festus.
You

in

not

are

I ? and for what ?

Alas,alas !

he knows

not,

is it you would

Paracelsus. What
that

I feared !

ask

with

me

earnest

feel you, Aureole ?

How

Festus.

Well

Paracelsus.
Well.
now

great the wliirl has been.

calm then, wlio an) so dizzynow

in the thick of tiie tcmj)cst,but

Calm

j)artnerof its motion

With

The

its career.

And

the

But is it earth
With
And

and

"

no

less

mixed

up
hurricane is spent,

throughthe brightciigood boat 8|)ccd8

ing weatiier
The

470

how
t firstjxrrceive
was

Festus,
strange thing:I am dying,
of lifesubsides,
that fast the storm

'Tis

And

as

face ?
searching

Dear

"

?
despair

Paracelsus.
Festus.

but this

me

or

;
sea

that heaves

below ?

479

gulfrolls like a meadow-swell, o'crstrewn

of the shore;
and remnants
ravagedl)oughs
now

Swims

loosened from ti"e land.

islet,
to ocean
;
past with all its trees, sailing
some

the air is full of uptorn canes,

tamarisks
from the fan-trees,
LightHtrippings

And

now

PARACELSUS

I30

to them,
Unrooted, with their birds stillclinging
Even so my varied life
approach All high in the wind.
of death ]j,.|fts
by me ; I am young, old, happy,sad,
acting,takingrest.
Hoping,desponding,
all at once
And
: that is,those
past conditions

at the

Float back

at

epoch from
special

Some

the
will,and straight

To

If I select

me.

on

once

the

crowd,

491

'tisbut

dissolve away.

rest

is present
state
onlythat particular
circumstance
all its long-forgotten
With
Distinct and vivid as at first myself

And

"

and

nothingmore,
amused, but nothingmore.

careless looker-on

Indifferent and

this is death

New

beingwaits

me

in

born

Be

me

before

Which

last is Death's

Minute

by

With

minute

power

it all.

I understand

And

he

must
perceptions
500
I plungetherein ;
affair; and while I speak.
is filling
me
new

and while my

the threshold

foot is on

unopenedyet,
within
All preparations
not
complete
I turn new
knowledgeupon old events.
Of

boundless

life the doors

"

"

And

the effect is

It is

not

One

but I
.

lawful.

day. Wait,

Your

own

Festus

must

will

turn

tell;

not

come

Festus. 'Tis of that pastlifethat I burn

it engages
wonder
Paracelsus. You

just

me

's lifeto

What

In truth, I wonder

too.

Where'er

where'er
fire,

I look is

Music, and
how

hear.

to

now

Yet

509

will die like me.

You

where

can

Delightto

I listen

I tend bliss evermore.

I refrain ?

view

me

those

'Tis

chances,
"

refined
one

last view.

PARACELSUS

That
To
0

I escape,
perils
playwith them and turn
the

near

so

am

must

they
fully
"'

feel how
Ml

like,

IS

them

sao

message

"

exists

cause

hidden purpose ;
mood
some
peculiar
Did I not tell you somethingof it,Festus ?
1 had it fast,
but it has somehow
slipt
Away from me ; it will return anon.
Festus. (Indeedhis cheek seems
young again,
For

this

"

his voice

Completewith its old tones : that littlelaugh

with upturned
Concludingevery phrase,
eye,
As thoughone stoopedabove his head to whom
He looked for coniirmation and approval, 530
?
it gone so long,so well ])reserved
Where
was
he speaks,
as
Then, the fore-finger
pointing
open book
The matter
he declares ; 'tis many
a year
it last : and this in him.
Since I remarked
I^ike

But

one

now

who

traces

in

wreck
ghastly

an

!)

And
Dear

Aureole, you have

then

That

are
worldlythings

utter

found

it be.

can

last

at

out

vanity?

for weakness, and should wait

till God
In patient
appoint
540
ignorance,

That

man

is made

Paracelsus.

Ha,

the purpose:

the true purpose

that is it !

could I fail to

How

I thus!

But

no

more

You iicrc,
!
aj)prchend
I see all,
trilling:

all : my last mission shall be done

If strengthsuffice. No
trifling!Stay; this

I know

posture

Hardly befits one

I will arise.

thus about

to

is

reminded

over,

gone.

further

some

He

past and

are

r,

"

"

otill,It

131

speak:

PARACELSUS

132

Fes/us.

and
prepares
to deliver

You

leave your couch,

p^^^^^/,",.
No
cannot

Not

even

Speak from
My gown

chain

about my

Is stillupon

This

my

once

lectured thus.
fur ;

now

550

put

ah, trustyAzoth, leapest

grasp for the last time ?

shall be my throne : I bid these walls

thy master's

couch

shrine,for

cell become

this wretched

consecrate,

help;

no

my signet-ring
hand, I think-^-even so ;
neck

Last, my good sword

Beneath

never

the scarlet lined with

"

The

couch ?

help;

So ! there,I stand

hand.

your
!

more

Be

you wild ?

Nay, Aureole, are

here

God

speaks to

through

men

me.

Now, Festus, I
Festus. I

am

am

dumb

Paracelsus.

There

readyto begin.
with wonder.

Festus! 560
Listen,therefore,

will be time

enough,but none to spare.

I must
content
only
myselfwith telling
The most
points.You doubtless feel
important
That
I am
happy,Festus ; very happy.
him
delusion which
Festus. 'Tis no
uplifts
thus!

Then

Aureole, all your sin ?

pardoned.
Paracelsus. Ay, pardoned:yet why pardoned?
'Tis God's praise
Festus.
you

That

man

are

is bound

to

seek, and you

Have

Paracelsus.
We

have

God's

to

live alone

praise.'Tis

to

set

lived !

forth well

true, I sinned

much,

thought,
And

To

I
570

in effect need

do that very

as

mercy,

for I

thing; but,do

strove

your best

PARACELSUS

Or

Who

of

him, because

from
calls me

He

will rise for

rises,and
praise

worst,

Pardon

I33

himself

to

might laugh

as

ever.

denied
praise

lays

his

case

"

exalt himself?

to

He

Festus

laugh!
But all comes

Festus.

To

the

To

fret themselves

'Tis fruitlessfor mankind

thing.

same

what

with

them

concerns

not;

They

are

Content

as

God

In thriveless

No,

no

them,
mistake

lie down

they should

go mad

nor

580

is ill.

better what

to

cares

Paracelsus.

not

me

let me

work

not

More

that way
has made

use

no

harm

I have

than

worked

This

is my

case:

If I go joyousback to God, yet bring

if I render up my soul
No offering,
ordained to bear,
Without
the fruits it was
If I appear the better to love God
has no claim
who
For sin,as one
Be
The

him,

"

thus
surely
stillawait
while higherprizes
me,
mortal |)ersevering
to the end.

not

With

on

Beside

It may

deceived !

am

590

valueless :

all so

not

be

something,though too soon I left

Followingthe instincts of that hap])ytime.
Festus. What
happy time ? i'or God's sake,

I have

been

for man's
What
That

time

will decide.

Paracelsus.

Festus.

hapi)y?

was

answer

to

sake.

When

All

What

hope to know
happy time

but the time 1 vowed

self
my-

man

Great
!

God,

thy judgmentsarc

scrutable
in-

PARACELSUS

134

Paracelsus.

He
started in

in

Yes, it was

me

born

was

for it

600

"

^' Paracelsus:
^fother
men

Doubtless

and
searching

motions

Might learn from its own

this awaited

Like

by right.
impetuoussoul

mine

it was

that

the world

it about

task

some

in this blank life of

Might seek somewhere
vast
For fitdelights
to stay its longings
;
her
on
Nature, so prevail
And, grappling

To

fillthe

ours

full she dared thus frame

creature

for

joy ; and, bravely

tyrannous,
and more, 610
in demand, stillcraving
Grow
more
make
And
each joy conceded
prove a pledge
Of other joy to follow
batingnought
fresh pretence
stillseizing
Of its desires,
To turn the knowledgeand the rapture wrung
last boon, from destiny,
As an extreme,
Into occasion for new
covetings.
doubtlessa strong
New
:
new
strifes,
triumphs
soul.
Alone, unaided mightattain to this,
is our nature, so august
So glorious
620
Man's inborn uninstructed impulses,
!
His naked spirit
so
majestical

Hungry

"

"

But this
Thus
The

born

was

me

saved

time

much

in

;
:

the feverish

saved

may be
human
From

You

The

appetites,

unproveddesire,the unaimed
blind.
aspirations
yearnings,

Distrust,mistake,and all that

As

so

tumult of

Uncertain
Were

made

was

bade

me

sure

thus I entered
I

not

was

trouble ;

on

in
my

tears
course.

all exempt

justso

planta surer
sun-road,keptmy
me

ends

much

of doubt

foot upon
eye unruined 'mid

630

PARACELSUS

136
Creation
is

cone

summa

faculties
of

man

wintryclod :
dancingpsaltress,
passes

all is still; earth is

Then

}'ju(.
like
spring-wind,

q^,^^ j^g breast

it,rare verdure
l^uds tenderly
upon rough banks,between
and the cracks of frost,
The withered tree-roots
Like

waken

with a wrinkled face ; 670

striving
swoln
the boughs are
bright,
grows

smile

The

to

grass

blooms

with

for the air.

chrysalids
impatient
The
dorrs are busy,beetles run
shining
Along the furrows,ants make their ado ;
the lark
Above, birds flyin merry flocks,
Soars up and up, shivering
for very joy;
Afar the ocean
sleeps
; white fishing-gulls
Flit where
with its tribe
the strand is purple
Of nested limpets
seek
679
; savage creatures
Their loves in wood and plain and God renews
Like

"

His

ancient rapture. Thus he dwells in

life'sminute beginnings,
From
up at last

To

man

Of

of
being,the completion

Of

life: whose

Been

this

attributes had

sphere

here

and

scattered o'er the visible world

Asking to
To

of this scheme

the consummation

"

be combined, dim

be united in

all,

there

before.

meant
fragments

wondrous

whole,
throughoutcreation,
Imperfect
qualities
creature
one
Suggestingsome
yet to make,
Some

pointwhere

some

690

all tliose scattered rays should

meet

Convergentin
Power

the facultiesof

neither put forth

man.

controlled
nor
blindly,
knowledge; to be used
Calmlyby perfect
At risk,inspired
checked by hope and fear :
or
but the slow
Knowledge not intuition,
"

"

PARACELSUS

Uncertain fruit of

an

I37

enhancingtoil,
not serenely
: love
pure,

Strengthened by love
^
"n
r
I
i"ut
weakness,
strong rrom

Which,

cast

on

receives

"

1-1

hke

plant

and

from

illuminastubborn soil,
puts forth changedtion

buds

700

And

in

happierclimes

softer stains,
unknown
Love which endures and doubts and is

oppressed

And

and
much
much
cherished, suffering
sustained,
And
love,
blind,oft-failing,
yet believing
A half-enlightened,
trust :
often-chequered
Hints and previsions
of which faculties,
Arc strewn
everywhereabout
confusedly
The
inferior natures, and all lead up higher.
All shape out dimlythe superior
race.
The heir of hopes too fair to turn out false,710
"

And

man

appears
life; one

Is put on
One scheme

at

So far the seal

last.

stage of

wound

beingcomplete,
and
from
the grand

uj):

rcFult
A

Illustrates all the

of

light.
inferior grades,explains

reflux
supplementary

i'lach back

step in the circle.

Not

alone

qualities,

l'"ortheir possessor dawn

But the new
glorymixes

those

And

for
descried,imprints

earth ; man,

once

with the heaven

ever

His
Are
A

the winds
presence on alllifelessthings:
henceforth voices,wailingor a shout,
mutter
querulous

Never
The

him

chance-sown

or

senseless gust now

herded
pinescommune
a

thoughts,

720

quickgay laugh,
man

is born.

and

have

deep

PARACELSUS

138
yet
is not

man

they assemble to discuss

the sun drops behind their
^j,^^^

secret

yet When

completed

the

Swims

peerless
cup afloat
nymph
urn, some

is an
lake-lily
bearinghigh above

her head

bird

no

through the gaps above

in upon the gloomy woods,
let light

Whistles
That
A

which

grates of hell : the

Like

Of

trunks

shapepeeps

730

breezyforest-top,
puckeredmouth and mocking

from

small

with

Arch

but

unseen,

the

eye.

deep quietdroops
enterprise,
With evening,
triumphtakes the sunset hour,
Voluptuoustransportripenswith the corn
like a happy face :
Beneath a warm
moon
this to fillus with regardfor man.
And
of his passing
With
worth.
apprehension

The

has

morn

"

his proper
ascertain his rank and

Desire
And

to

For

these

The

law

work

nature

out,

740

final place,

stillupward,progress is

thingstend
of life,
man

is

Man

not

as

yet.

objectserved,his end
forth,
Attained, his genuinestrength
put fairly
While
only here and there a star dispels
Nor

shall I deem

his

The

darkness,here and there

O'erlooks its prostratefellows

Is

out

When

at

to

once

toweringmind

when

of night.
despair
alike is perfected,

the

all mankind

then, not
Equal in full-blown powers
I say, beginsman's general
infancy.
"

For

Of

wherefore

make

restlessmembers

Slumbers

as

in

account

of

which

nerves
Impatient
a

the host

grave

tillthen,

of feverish

dormant

750

starts

whole,

quiverwhile the body

?
Oh longago

PARACELSUS

The

brow

The

With
twitched,the tremulous lids astir,

was

disturbed

mouth
peaceful

speech
Ruffled the lip,and
The

breath

139

geglns
then

the teeth

set,

were

760

stronger,

it would

He

shall start

up and stand

shall his

Then
Thence

shall

on

his

earth,

own

longtriumphantmarch begin,
his
being date, thus wholly
"

roused,
he achieves shall be

What
When
As

all the

And,

is

race

set

down

to

him.

alike
perfected

that is ; all tended to mankind,

770
produced,all has its end thus far :

man,
man

But in

completedman beginsanew
told
A tendencyto God.
Prognostics
Man's near
approach; so in man's self arise
symbols,types
August anticipations,
before
Of a dim splendour
ever
on
In that eternal circle life pursues.
For men
beginto pass their nature's bound,
And

find

new

hopes

supplant
Their
proper joys and

and

cares

narrow

fast

which

griefs
; they grow

too

780

great
For

creeds

of right and

wrong,

which

fade

Before

the unmeasured

peace
Rises within them

new

to God

a lion by the jaw ;

pluck,
!
The glorious
creature
laughedout even in sleep
But when full roused,each giant-limb
awake,
Each sinew strung, the great heart pulsing
fast.

As

corn-

tendency
sharp,the strong right-hand

drawn

clenched

half-uttered his

ever

thirst for

more

and

good :
more.

while

PARACELSUS

I40

He

describes

Such

amid

Serene

^^^
task"and
how
was

marred

even

be saved

should

round

creatures

with
joined

and

them

by

earth,

the

now

upon
the half-formed

are

men

them.

it

Such

my task,and
I said but now,

was

Free,

as

born

was

from

it

to

"

that chains

much

high-doweredbut limited and vexed

Spirits,
By a divided and delusive aim,
A shadow
mocking a reality
Whose
truth avails not whollyto disperse
called up by itself.
mimic
The flitting
and nigh put out
And
so remains
perplexed
By its fantastic fellow's waveringgleam.
I, from

the

fashioned

never

was
first,

out

Distinct from man's

A

With

fancied

good

service

to

be ministered

gloryto

put forth

powers

cheated thus

never

be

790

done,

unto

man's

at

drawn
with-

expense,

800

From

Denied

in his behalf; a strength

labouring
1 cared not
that might avail him.

Lest his

Elsewhere
And

for God

man's

to

is

Power

I could

not

thus

endowed,

tillI grew blind.

take my eyes from that :
power

only, I thought,should

That

limb.

I soul and

gloryvowed

gazed on

success

in man.
glorified

Yet, constituted thus,and

I failed :

to

counter

ran

success

preserved,

be

increased
At
The
I

struck
risk,displayed,

any

signand

The

and character

at

of

once

"

man.

in the past : onlya scene

and tears,
ugliness
degradation,

saw

Of

note

out

no

use

record of

best forgotten,
disgraces

810

PARACELSUS

chronicles

sullen page in human

I saw
Fit to erase.
no

Should
Or

why

cause

once

Upon

the

the tide of

at'the^^

now,

about
lij^ht,

to

to

tell

qq^^

break

Love

sealed within its spring:

820

world, was

day,one moment's space,

condition,push each slumbering

had

have

insistence

man

his annals should be forced

That

I would

by his

stand all-sufficienteven

not

why

141

Change man's

one

claim
Of
At

mastery o'er the elemental world

then roll
to full maturity,
once
o'er the work, and hide from
Not
night had ushered morn.

Oblivion
What

man

so, dear

child
wilt thou reject
the past
after-days,
Big with deep warningsof the proper tenure
By which thou hast the earth : for thee

Of

829

present
distinct and

Shall have
Beside that

seen
trembling
beauty,

shade

own
past's

when,

in

relief.

shall stand out:

nor
brightness
yet on
successive zones
Shall burst the future,
as

thcc

Its

Of

the

several wonder
and

Flyingsecure

on

open

spirit

some

glad from

heaven

to

heaven

But thou shalt

attain to joy,
painfully
hope and fear and love shall keep thee

While

man

All this

My

was

dreams

hid from
grew

me

dim,

my

as

by one

one

wide

aims

circum-

scriljed.
As

actual

good

within my

reach

decreased, 840

obstacles sprung up this way and that

half the sum.
keep mc from effecting

While
To

Small

as

it proved;

as

mean
objects,

within

of

PARACELSUS

142

How

least,

the

primalaggregate,seemed, even

he The

for my concentred strength

if I saw
"What wonder
no
way to shun
"*^^"^^
I
sought for man,
Despair? The
power
seemed God's.

learned
the worth

Itself a match

In this

"

as
conjuncture,

prayedto die,
sin

know, one
strange adventure made me
from its uprise
Had
;
spotted
my career

Aprile

saw

Aprilethere

my

"

850

the poor melodious wretch disburthened

in my ear,
heart, and moaned his weakness

And

as

His

I learned my

Taught

love's

undoing

of love in man's

the worth

me

love
proportion

what

And

deep error

own

should

estate.

hold

with

power

rightconstitution;

In his

Power,

love

more

And

much

for

earnest

And

My
And

to

power

new

set

love free.

supposedthe

learned this, and

learned

preceding
alwaysmuch
power,

straitened in his presentmeans.

stilltoo

Love

with

and

love

whole

860

was

thus,when

men

wonder
stupid
worshippedme.
their proffered

received with

would have
firstrevealings,
I despisedand loathed

praise
"

they took revenge

shame
in casting
For past credulity
On my real knowledge,and I hated them
It was
no
good in man,
not
strange I saw

When, with awakened

eyes,

"

all the

and

To

overbalance

Of

in vain,but born
faculties,
displayed

To

prosper in

In my

own

some

wear

better

heart love had

waste

sphere:
not

and

why

been made

870
?

wise

PARACELSUS

144

He
in

dies

Now

Festus.

hope

Paracelsus.
This

hand,

Aprile

Festus.

Aureole

dear

die,

let

Festus,
lie in
Hand

And

own,

your
in

this

hand

was

THE

my
with

own

you,

Paracelsus

END

my
true

hand
"

friend

Aprile

NOTE

liberties I have

The

the reader

trifling
; and
the

between

of

but
certainly,

which

for my

character

the

them

with

of

Biographic
the best,

as

few

notes, in order

bear

out

and

have

to

view

own

my

incorporated
the

illustrative of

two,

or

the

concise
sufficiently

and

not

Paracelsus

notice

do

he

join
this,1 sub-

prove

select,not

appeml a

parts which

those

correct

of

I also

purpose.

hand,

at

very

Paracelsus

from

translatdl

being

as

To

commentary.

Uni-verielle,
Paris,1822,

of

memoir

any

popular account,

subjectare

my

slipthe foregoingscenes

may

of

leaves

pleaset,by way

with

taken

poem

itself,
*

bastus

(i),a

ab

in the

littletown

distant

related

to

people,as

(Krastus

de

could

that

dLiguiu

Kenauldln's
trimum

who

nearly
became

Malta

sequently
con-

the dregs of

spring from

tends.'
pre-

enemy,

sworn

elementary education

his

It appears

"c.)ParaceNum

of

Order

the

exercised

Hohenheim,

not

leagues

some

Carinthia,was

Erastui, his

Thomas

M.

Schwyz,

in

the

of

Prior

Grand
Paracelsus

I shall

Vilhich

George Bombast

afterwards

"

at

Einsiedeln

at

1493

father, who

His

mclicinc

in

of

canton

Zurich.

from

of
profession

the

TheophrastusBom-

Aureolus
(Philippus
Hohenheim) was born

Paracelsus

Mntcnce

next

mililc

quodam,

little.

nlii a

sue

was

'IIIc

excctum

fui.sac.'
ilium, mulicrumquc
of a
A
standing lli^'h-l"utcli joke in thrrtc dayt M the expense
rubbish
iiuch
l
o
be "cen
of Ic.irncd men,
number
by rcfcrrln({
05
may
ferunt:

09

imbcrbcm

conMat

Melandor'-i

all events.

faith" ".f.

regie talc

Hut

prinli from

In

year

before

hii death, I'araceinus

Eranlui

was

'Holvctium
monstrum

the

etc.

Jocouria,

Tintoretto,painteda
at

osorcm

fuissc
cdiderit.'

never

without

(I'aracelsum) vU
(De Mtdicina
K

his

portraitby

ii barbatului,

K'X'd reason
credo, vix

AVnw.)

for his
onim

ea

PARACELSUS

146
much

that he spent part of his

neglected,and

pursuingthe
that

age ;

life common
is to

the

to

in

say,

predictingthe

literatiof
travelling

wandering

from

in

youth

the

country

to

future

mancy,
by astrologyand cheiroand
the different
evoking apparitions,
practising
operationsof magic and alchemy,in which he had been

country,

initiated whether
the number

among

Tritheim
'As

Paracelsus

France, and
to

have

no

proofof

with

he

himself

and
not

of

is

those

direction

he

tented
con-

Germany,

boastinghimself
is

title of

Doctor,
that he applied
the wealthy Sigis-

of
the

to

of

there
institutions,

only known

Schwatz,

discoveryof

the

Opus.

Paracelsus

travelled

the

and

East,

be
to

mountain

visited

in

Sweden,

adepts,and

have

to

in

the mountains

among

miners,to

the famous

order

the

of loadstone

Bohemia,
inspectthe

to

initiated in the
observe

of

mysteriesof

secrets

(3).

He

of nature

professes

Spain,Portugal, Prussia,Poland,

Transylvania; everywhere communicating freely,

but the old women,
merely with the physicians,
and

and

Khan

purpose

of

gistusfrom
*The

the

Greek

periodof

who

he

that

Tartars

obtainingthe
a

his

extended

Tartary,and
of

these

conjurersof

believed that he

Egypt
the

of

the

charlatans
even

the schools

his

spiteof

ornament

long, under

the Oriental

also

in
seriously

in

and

It

labours of the

and

bishops.

the Universities
visiting

assumes.

Magnum

ecclesiastics,
the Abbot
particularises

the
having legallyacquired

Fugger

mond

in

the

his

various

ignoranceof the
ordinaryknowledge, it is not probable

studied

Italy;

been

he

by

displays
everywhere an

ever

himself

or

German

many

of the most

that he

which

his father

of whom

(2),and

rudiments

'

by

to

secret

several

as
journeyings

accompanied the

to

It is
far

as

of

son

for
Constantinople,

the

of the tincture of Trisme-

inhabited that

his return

lands.

Germany

capital.
is unknown

it

NOTE

only certain that,at

astonishingcures
many
in

called

padius(4),to

fill

Universityof

Basil.

the

in
publicly

than

the

hairs of

head ; and

physicand

OBcolamthe

at

surgery

of Avicenna

and

physicians
; that all
less gifted
put together,were
two

the

of

and

word, he

was

that the latchets of his shoes

his beard

that,in

he

began by burning

works

than those

writers

all
Universities,

eminent

on

of

Paracelsus

auditors

instructed

more

wrought

recommendation

There

thirty-three,

that
celebrity,

amphitheatrethe

Galen, assuringhis
were

such

chair of

he

which

procured him
1526, on the

of

the age

about

is

personages

147

regarded as the

be

to

was

his

of

crown

"
shall follow me,"
monarch
You
of medicine,
legitimate
cried he, "you, Avicenna, Galen, Rhasis, Montagnana,
Mesues
Germany,
; you, gentlemen of Paris,Muntpcllic-r,

Cologne, Vienna,'and
Danube

thou, Greek
*But

was

no

he

and

vosct

mlHht).
; but

me

vcstros
mc

calvus
Avicenna

driven
fairly

oddly remarks, 'mirum

adversary

away

'I.uther

at

arc

satis supcrquo
ac
dcpilismulto
vel universic

ct

wonderful

non

neither,

somewhere,'"

that

(jucndami

(;ivcone

alter.'

least

'And

match

for you."

Nam

ct

contra

(Inlenum, Aristolclem,
princi|)CsAviccnnam,
munilum

plura

esse

et

acadcmix.

"iitis,
quid roboris habcatis?

pcdiculospcctcntcs

so

heard

pillaKing'Anglum

his

I must

'I.uthcr

universes

'had

quod

si)ccimcn :" Somebody

why not?' (ho asks, as
hato
is abundantly learned, therefore
you

pastim.

wc

of

came

styling him

been

him

etc.

his works

well

had

^n^/oi adjunxit.' Not

system
Hacchoncm.'
Rot^criuin

had

his lectures

another

what

all Paracelsus'

Sec

the

ami

me,

Arab

thou,

sea

was

Indosct

Garamantos,

'

Athenians

all shall follow

here
relates thi"i,

Eraslu"i,who
believe

isles of the

of comprehendingtheir emphatic
incapable

audience

if wc

the

the

and

that the new

perceived
speedily
belter than an egregious
quack. Scarcely

Basil it

elapsedbefore

year

'

ct

thou, Jew

at

Professor

an

inhabit

Rhine

shall be minc."-

monarchy

who

nourish ; you

likewise,Dalmatians,

you,

the

whomsoever

quid

novi.

sublimiora

Kt

novit

iste

vertex

vestcr

qu.im

mcus

vcl

I'rodite,ct sijcnum date, qui viri

autcm

sitis?

iJoctoros

fricantcs podiccm.' (Frag. Mtd.)

ot

mai;istri,

PARACELSUS

148

above

jargon. That

which

was
reputation

the debauched

all contributed
life he

According

led.

testimonyof Oporinus,who lived two

ascended
ever
intimacy,Paracelsus scarcely
desk unless half drunk, and only dictated

the

in

when

drenching himself
previously
retire

to

and, nevertheless,
up
drink had

been

to

lecture-

his

taries
secre-

if summoned

He

wine.

to

without

was

tomed
accus-

clothes ;

changing his

with peasants,
night in pot-houses

morning knew

in the

and

with

without

bed

to

he spent the

sometimes

the

no

the

to

he

longer what
of

age

about ;

was

his only
twenty-five

(5).

water

length,fearful of being punishedfor a

Basil
outrage on a magistrate(6),he fled from

serious

'At

of the

the end

year

he caused

whither

to

his

in

years

rarely proceeded thither

sick,he

the

attend

intoxication

of

state

sully his

to

1527,

refuge in Alsatia,

took

and

his chemical

with

follow

Oporinusto

towards

apparatus.
'

then

He

entered

once

more

the

upon

of

career

find him
at
Accordingly we
ambulatory theosophist.^
in 1528 ; at Nuremberg in 1529 ; at St. Gall in
Colmar
in 1536 :
1531 ; at Pfeffers in 1535 5 and at Augsburg

he

made

next

stay in

some

by
compromisedhis reputation

further

himself
in

1538

Chronicle
the

Vienna

to

was

the

to

; from
at

kindnesses

many

the

thence he

he

which

with

they

'So

medical

library

was

inventory drawn
he

left

the

were

St. Jerome

on

manuscripts.'

the

up

not

composed

after his death

Bible, the New

loss of
to

still
many

betake
;

his

dedicated

Carinthia,in gratitudefor

of

migratory a life could afford Paracelsus

applicationto books, and accordinglyhe informs
opened a single volume,
of ten
years he never
"

he

passedinto Hungary

Villach, where

States

where

compelled him

which
distinguishedpatients,

and

Moravia,

of

six

states

Gospels, a printedvolume

but littleleisure for

that for the space
and
that his whole

that the

on

honoured

us

sheets

Testament,

had

the

in cflect, the

only books

which

Commentaries

Medicine, and

ol
seven

NOTE

his father.

in the

would

to

seem

Einsiedeln

be

his

on

writings,

fantastic version of
Latinised

Eremus,

in the

called,as

Eremita

Erasmus,

is the

is sometimes

Paracelsus
of

spondence
corre-

Bombast, liis proper

from the characteristic phraseoprobablyacquired,

logy
of his lectures,
which
that unlucky signification
it

name,

has

criticism

omit.)

Hohenhe'tm ;

whence

he tiled

is meant),Sept.
Stephen{Sebaitian

follows

"

(i)Paracelsus
Von

St.

541.* (Here

which

he visite"l

where
to Salzburg,
proceeiled

Hospitalof

24,

Mindelheim, which

Finally,from

in 1540, Paracelsus

149

since retained.

ever

(2) Then
burg

in

at
Bishop of Spanheim,an"l rcsiiling

Franconia

country, whence

situated

town

its name,

by learned men, as
Hag. 1536 :
EpistolaFamiliiiresy
friend

thence,in 1 5 10,
to
prefixed
epistle
last contains

the

letter

grassy

be

may
among

in

to

answer

the treatise De

Occult.

by

his

others,by

his

seen

he

the

dates

dedicatory

which
Philosop/i.y

allusion

following ominous

fertile
much

was

whom

Agrippa, to

Cornelius

Herbipolis.He

visited there

staunch

in

Wurz-

to

Agrippa's

sojourn; 'Quum niiper tecum, R. P. in ccenobio tuo

ile
apud Herbipolim aliquamdiu convcrsatus, multa
cjetcrisde cabalisticis,
multa
dc magicis,multa
chymicis,
que

adhuc

quz

atquc artibus

in occulto

etc.
contulisscmus,'

una

ilia
(3) Inexplcbilis
'

sccrcta

ct

rcconditarum

uno
locuptetandi,

sed
paticbatur,

urbcs
natiira;

arcanis scicntiis
dclitescunt,

avi"litas

animum

scicntiarum
supellcctilc

eo"lemquc

Mcrcurii

pcrscrutandi

naturar

loco

omncs
instar,

diu

non
pcrsistcrc

terras, nationes

ut
igniculossupponcbat,
perlustrandi
ore
icrutatoribus,
chymicis praeicrtim,

et

cum

viris

tcnui

con-

PARACELSUS

I50

invenerant

obtineret.'

communicatione

altera

vel

una

vigiliis
nocturnisque

laboribus

ferret,et quae diuturnis

in Prafat) * Patris auxilio primiim, deinde

{Bitiskius
propriaindustria doctissimos viros in Germania, Italia,
est
nactus
Europae regionibus,
Gallia,Hispania,aliisque
liberal! doctrina, et potissimuni
praceptores ; quorum
ut qui esset ingenioacutissimo
propriainquisitione
ut
profecit,

divine,tantum

ardua,

tarn
philosophia,

'

Medic.)

qui

Paracelsus

intima

in

eruisse

abdita

et

arcana

{Melch.Adam,

neminem.'

mortaliuni

testati sint,
in universa

multi

tarn

fere

ac

Vit.

in

Germ.

viscera sic

naturae

metallorum
stirpiumquevires et faculpenitusintroierit,
ac
incredibili ingeniiacumine
tarn
exploraverit
tates

morbos

ad
perviderit,

desperateset opinione

vel

omnes

Rami

Theophrasto
percurandum ; ut cum
{Petri
perfectaquevideatur.'
prinium medicina
Oral, de Basika.) His
passionfor wandering is

best

described

insanabiles

heminum
nata

artium

nebilissimarum
tasdii pigebit
?'

etc.

1573.

Def.

Ecce

amatorem

ut
piget,

venustam

minus

:
aspiciat
quanto

fceminam

vel

pucUam

suos.

'

words

own

difficillimi itineris haud

adolesccntcm
saltern

his

in

laboris

amore

cujuslibct

ac

Septemad-versus amtdos
[Dcfensiones
et
De
peregrinatienibus
4ta.
'

exilie.')

(4) The

reader

that it

remember

may

tion
conjunc-

in

was

CEcolampadius,then DivinityProfessor
to
answer
that Zuinglius publishedin 1528 an
Confession of Faith ; and that both proceededin

at

with

to

subsequentconference

the

thon

at

Marpurg.

Their

with

letters fill

D.D.

et
Johannis(Ecolampadii

larum

lib. quattior.Bas.

that

Zuingliusbegan

1519,

and

that

in

to

Luther

5 36.

Huldrichi
It must

Mass

was

company

volume.

"

ZuingliiEpistobe

preachin 1516,and

115215 the

Luther's

Melanch-

and

large

Basil,

also
at

observed
Zurich

abolished

in

in the

PARACELSUS

152

effect

had their due

notions

on

says Zuin-

Oporinus,who,

(Paracelso),
ncobpraeceptoris,alioquiamicissimi,horrendasbla
ipsequoque aliquandopoenas Deo Opt. Max. lueret.'
T/ieatrum,' longum

in his

gerus,

sample

the

allow

defenders

(5) His

excuses

ad

est, a Taciti seculo

nostrum

Take

drunkenness.

Gentis

'

of their

dixit ei

vale

viri vitioluni

hoc, non

filo
interrupto

non

usque

devolutum, sinceritati forte Germanae

et

coaevum,

nescio

vinculo
junctum.' [Bitisk'ius)
aliquoconsanguinitatis
The other charges were
chieflytrumped up by Oporinus :
ejus sjepe narravit,
Domi, quod Oporinus amanuensis

an

'

conclavi

medio

TeTi'0W;U^i'OSadsistens,

columnam

ad

in

accessit,
atque

explicandasua

nisi potus ad

nunquam

apprehensomanibus capulo ensis,cujusKoiXu/j-ahospitium

imaginationesaut
ut
aiunt, spirituifamiliar!,
prjebuit,
concepta
ab

"

quod

in

capulo habuit,

fuisse prsestantisappellatum,me"licinam
aut
lapidem Philosophicum putant.' {Melc/i.
sword
no
famous
was
laughing-matterin
This

ipsoAzoth

simam

Adam)

it is

days,and

those

idea of
in

alii illud

:
protulit

sua

I recollect

Paracelsus.

at the
literature,

own

our

material

now

had

Ne

known

been

with

Paracelsus

Or

feature

in the

coupleof

allusions

kept

pummel

Shut

in the

That

taught

Of

past and

him

the

Danish

Gonswart,

Azoth

he

time

tincture
metals,

these

"

was

the

was

power

Oporinus

as
effects,

of
often

did also

i.

of his sword,

pranks

mountebanks.

simply ^laudanum

commonly

ii. scene

devil's bird

Hudibras,
This

it

his lon^ sword.

all the cunning

future

to

moment.

Volpone,act
Bumbastus

popular

believed

curing

to

part

ii. cant.

suum.'

But

possess

the

diseases

witnessed,as
Franciscus,the

and

he

3.

in his
double

transmuting
declares,both

servant

of

Para-

NOTE

celsus,who

in
describes,

at
projection

which

letter to

he

153

the

among

other

quality,let
others

many

bergaeprocitusa

confided

the

"

medentibus

infamise

adit, et

illius

Republica ilia

in

summae

faciles

asserendae,

Theophrastus a
que

honiinum

valetudinarium

virtute

singular!rcmediorum

remarked

that

famcs

famae

conversi
cxanimi

defunctum

et

nimis

Oporinus,sec

D'upulat.
Erani, anri

Opor*;

and
pref. Testiimentif

for

the

his

convitiis

prosequutiis,inconscicntiae

remorsus

tarda, vulncra

spirantiinflixerant.'

Ob,

vivum

quern

in

morsus
praeceptoris

quae

de y'lt. el

repented of

vencratione

heu
poenitentia,

curationum

It is to
(^Bitiskius.y

afterwards

treachery: 'Sed resipuit

tandem,
insectatus fuerat

suorum

illustreharum

conservat

Oporinus

arbitrio

lepra mundat, prislinae-

urbs in archivis suis testimonium.*

be

jussu

caeterorum

detrusos,alieno

foeda Graecorum

sanitati restituit ;

stipcndiovel

praebentium aures

a communione
elephantiacos
aliquot,

eliguntur,quos

vouch

subveniat,

famse

amoliendae, artique suae

accepto pretio,horum
in

keeping.

urbis,et vaniloquus

spcchnen ejus poUiceturediturum, nuUo

segrcgatos, et

his

'Degebat TheophrastusNorim-

authoritatis

quosdam

to

of

results

following notice

deceptorqueproclamatus,qui,ut laboranti
viros

successful

the

present, and

was

which, good golden ingots,were

For

Neamler,

these

For

Andrea:
*

'bites' of

Jochci Orat'to

Mic.

remorse

clauserc

Toxites in

Conringius (otherwisean

enemy

The

death of I'nratclius ca"n

of doubt on
no
manner
prem-nture
the fact of his having po^scs^cd the l.lixir Vit.x: the nlchcinisls have
1

abundant

explanatory
votaries

'

:"

nonnulli

of

properly

Ubjccl ioncm

lar^iore doii Kumlam,

virtuic

which

ndMucc, from
of the

I select

Tincture

illam,quod

not

I'aracelsuH

the

followini;,n"

calculated
non

fucril

by its
lonKicvuii,
on

abbrcqiinquc "lolvunt |)cr raliones physical : vil.c nimirum

fortansc lalibus acciderc
'rinrlumm
oh
frcqucnllorc
posM;,

vintioncm
ac

to

rca^on^

calor

diasma.)

innatui

dum

^ummo

cjuosisuffocatur.'

efTicici

cl

pcnelrabilihujus

((iabrielitClaudcrl

Scho-

PARACELSUS

IS4
of

who
Paracelsus),

Oporinus to

says it

Doctor

Whatever

the moderns

of

think

may

of

Paracelsus

of these marvellous
be

to

Philoi"

section of cap. 9, ' De

Chymia'
medicinae
partem, diu sepultam avorum
revocavit

lie scattered

his

that he had
the

Arezzo,

neglected books, which

quotes

still more

Bayle

on

his work

I have

Even

Reriim,on

Natura
the

Lavater

definitions anci

acids,'though

logical
astro-

an

man

of

"

the

passage in the third part of the Poem.

He

his works, but

said,unwilling to publish

effect di"lpublish
a

vast

attinet,
audio,a Germanis
ingenii!' adds

however, spurious
;

good edition (3

vols.

Valentinus

number.

Paramyr.)declares 'quod ad

prope

fol. Gen.

The

numenis.'

rest

copiam

reccnseri.' *0

trecentos

he, appositely.Many
and

in

(inPnefat.

Paracelsi

librorum

of

these,

Bitiskius

gives his
1658)'rejectis
suppositis

Fred.

superbientibus
quorum

ipsiusnomine

fertur

Cesalpinoof

writings of Paracelsus,1

as

solo

Realdo

subjectof

the

was,

were,

and

vol.
translation,

explaina

fcECunditas

De

which

he

blood

prodigiousgenius.' See
iii. p. 179
'The
Eyes.'

may

in

appro-

did after him

as

observe.

Bartoli

from

passage

Andrea
perfectly

and

enthusiast,a
While

clever

the circulation of the

practicalPhysiognomy, in
axioms
are
preciseenough :
Holcroft's

hints

many

developedwith applause. Thus, it

treatise De Phkbotomia,and
elsewhere,

discovered

and

as

hanc

aetate,quasi ab

I suppose

Paracelsus.'

of the heart
sanguification

Colombo,

'Nobilem

"

since

from

appears

Th.

in his

priatorshave

the

thus prefacesthe
sectis,

PMlos'""

et

ninth

orco

considered

chemistryis indisputable.Gerarihis

modern

Vossius,De

letter from

Vegerus.^

the title
attributes,
father

containeii in

was

were

ingens circum'

charissimum

et

fjood defence of I'aracelsus I refer the reader to Olaus

norrichius'
treatise
Hermeiis, elc. sapicntia vittdicata,167.).f)r,
if he is no'more learned than myself in such matters, I mention
simply
that Paracelsus
introduced
the use of Mercury and Laudanum.
'

For

"

NOTE

authoris

pretiosissimum
obtentum.'

quam

'Jam

haec

ipsius scripta

quae

muro

furto

surrepta

have

been

Arg.

mattica,

in

his

would

Paracelsus

of
and

indifference

his

profession
'Quij
quse
j"r

sua

he

quaeso

J')

"

dcinceps

in

is recorded

honoravit

pauperes
or

in

he

"

fee,

and

honorem

his

for

liberality
a

accounts

was

solution

ready

sword-handle
sin

besetting
says

"lcferat
obitur

epitaph,

of

interference

own

the

canon,

supported

was

whose

curiously

distribuenda

ordinavit

Sua-vio,

^laudanum'

aforesaid

the
from

(as

"

in

the

found

nebulonibus

facinorosis

tam

foes, who

abhorred

by

His

freedom

His

its guest.

1584;

Leone

auctore

authorities,

profit

to

Or.o-

Franc.

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bitterest

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Severini

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by

meanness

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the

refused

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book.)

in

rescued

been

having

indicio,

Valentinus.

Diet.
cum

quippe

commentators,

1571

affair.

disgraceful

of

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good

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illo

jubente

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says

notable,

Compendium

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host

Dornei

1574;

volente

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potius

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are

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Paris.

eo

Philosophic,

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minime
lucem

of

study

labours

extorsum

sublata

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the

pignus,

ipso absente,

inclusa

whose

and

in

155

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profession! tali,
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administra'Bona

affirms
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coUocandaque
differ.

erogavit,'

This issue
revised

of Browning's

edition,has

Dickinson, M.A.,

who

'

been
has

Paracelsus,'based
edited
read

by
the

Mr.

text

the

on

G.
and

Lowes

added

marginalia,
I. G.

October I,

1898.

167

last

the

Printed

by

T.

and

at the

A.

Constable,

Printers

Edinburgh University

to

Press

Her

Majesty