University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

NOEMA.
How shall I thank thee, Afrael?

AFRAEL.
By thanking not at all. Hast seen thy child?

NOEMA.
O yes! and from his living lips have heard
Who saved his rashness!

AFRAEL.
Say, is there aught more
That I can do for thee?

NOEMA.
Yes, tell me—quick!
It was no flash of thine, smote Aran dead?

AFRAEL.
I have no power of death; and if I had,
On him I had not used it. Thou forget'st:
The face of Aran still is strange to me.

NOEMA.
Thank Heaven! But in the tumult of the brain
The memory trips. 'Twas Aran who was struck
And shrivelled at the instant of thy swoop
To snatch up Irad.

AFRAEL.
Then I saw him fall,
Blistered and burnt and blackened all at once.
He caught a shred of lightning on his spear,
Just as he thrust at me, and down he went,
Consumed by what he captured. That was Aran!
Well, he died bravely.

NOEMA.
But thou,—how didst thou come
To be in such a ruin?

AFRAEL.
Canst thou doubt?
When that I left thee in the clotted dawn,
'Twas as thou saidst;—I scarce could force my way
Through mist, and clouds, and currents contrary;
And in the blackness I was whirled along
With the fierce hurricane that swept intent
Still 'gainst the Tower. There I beheld a sight,
Which had enslaved my presence even though
There were no mortal link to keep me close
To Earth's vicissitudes!

NOEMA.
Didst see it all?

AFRAEL.
Not all; for ever and anon the clouds
Closed up and barred both Tower and Earth from view.
Withal, through fitful openings I could see
Tier upon tier bristling with armëd men,
A line of war set edgewise against Heaven,
Propped by an armëd concourse from below,
But propped in vain; for I saw the summit sway,
And, as I strained my gaze through thunders thick
To watch it topple and fall, with horror spied
Irad amidst it all! No eye for more,
For any but him only, had I now.
The tattered clouds got tangled in my wings,
The blistering hail hissed blinding in mine eyes,
But still I pushed, contentious, 'gainst the storm,
And beat the winds aside. The rest thou know'st,
And Irad lives to save thy happiness.
Shall I go now? Or shall I stay awhile
To help thee in this outset of thy needs?

NOEMA.
Good Afrael, go! for I am very sad.

AFRAEL.
And may I e'er return?

NOEMA.
Ay, when thou wilt!
At least, when Time hath quieted my pain,
And the distraction of this hour shall be,
Like yon late tempest, over. Not till then!
Come when the moon is next, as now, at full;
And choose the same sweet moment as when first
I heard thy voice and blessed it! Then will I thank thee
For all that thou hast done for me this day!

[He ascends, without a word, into the sky.