SCENE III.
MANFRED.
65
The fee of what I have to come these three years,
To pore upon its mysteries.
To pore upon its mysteries.
Manuel.'Twere dangerous;
Content thyself with what thou knowest already.
Content thyself with what thou knowest already.
Her. Ah! Manuel! thou art elderly and wise,
And could'st say much; thou hast dwelt within the castle—
How many years is't?
And could'st say much; thou hast dwelt within the castle—
How many years is't?
Manuel. Ere Count Manfred's birth,
I served his father, whom he nought resembles.
I served his father, whom he nought resembles.
Her. There be more sons in like predicament.
But wherein do they differ?
But wherein do they differ?
Manuel.I speak not
Of features or of form, but mind and habits:
Count Sigismund was proud,—but gay and free,—
A warrior and a reveller; he dwelt not
With books and solitude, nor made the night
A gloomy vigil, but a festal time,
Merrier than day; he did not walk the rocks
And forests like a wolf, nor turn aside
From men and their delights.
Of features or of form, but mind and habits:
Count Sigismund was proud,—but gay and free,—
A warrior and a reveller; he dwelt not
With books and solitude, nor made the night
A gloomy vigil, but a festal time,
Merrier than day; he did not walk the rocks
And forests like a wolf, nor turn aside
From men and their delights.
Her. Beshrew the hour,
But those were jocund times! I would that such
Would visit the old walls again; they look
As if they had forgotten them.
But those were jocund times! I would that such
Would visit the old walls again; they look
As if they had forgotten them.
