Childlike, yet lofty; gentle, yet resolute;
Wanting in caution, and yet innocent.
But Heaven, which will protect her, will deny
Its blessing unto me, for being unjust
To this unknown and shipwrecked slumberer.
I will go forth, and lifting up my heart,
Ask God to purge my being from the curse
Of every evil passion; lest I be
Tempted to violate my sacred vow
Of holiest observance.[Exit Hermon.
ACT II.
Scene I.—Sea-shore.
Enter Alvernon and Azlea.
Alver. This is indeed a grand and beautiful scene,
Worthy a master's pencil. Often I,
In Spain, and Switzerland, and Germany,
Have wrapt my spirit in delicious dreams,
And fancy's touch, anticipating art,
Hath placed them on the canvas; while my eye
Feasted upon them, and my soul forgot
Its mortal tenement. My spirit sees,
With one wide, comprehensive glance, a scene,
And copies with a quick and perfect skill,
Each beautiful feature of the whole grand piece,
Dreaming the while in ecstasy.
Azlea. Yours must be a soul-enchanting power,
To bring the grand, and beautiful, and vast
Within the pencil's compass; and to give
Such earnest likeness to it as to cheat
The eye into believing that it saw
The glorious or the fair original!
