University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Near the Cavern.
Bellarius enters from it.
Bell.
Hail, Power! whoe'er thou art, who sitt'st supreme
O'er good and evil, o'er this fair immense
Of manifold existence, worlds replete
With works of varied grace!—I will not ask
How partial Ill hath fallen into the ways
Of wisdom infinite. The time may come,
When Thou shalt reign unquestioned, unopposed—
When guilt and pain shall cease—when to be good
And happy, must be one—and all shall grow
Consummate, and renew'd, within the will
Of their great maker!—
There rests my last of hope; and, thence, I learn,
To bear such ills as seem to pass all sufferance—
Heaven, what a glorious form!—Some vision, sure,
[Looks out.
So far excelling all of mortal seeming!—
Alas, it wrings at some distress! Can aught
Of Empyrean temper, thus, extort
Pity from poor humanity?