Britain ... - Blue-Lite

158 THE DEVOTED ONE. [Act II.
WALDIMAR.
No, 'twas reality; for laughed so loud
The shadowy demon, that the thunder paused
To listen, and the wild sea held its peace,
Silenced by fear. Ten thousand meteors shook
He from his cloud-broad plumes, that swept the heavens,
Till ocean, towering cliff, and shore shone out
All bright and clear, as though the morn had woke
With sudden wonder : Darkness rose and fled.
Then such a form unutterable I saw
Above me hovering, that my spirit died
With agonizing dread ! When I revived,
Night stood with me alone.
ERMINGILD.
Ah, my loved child,
Such thoughts and visions will be oft with those
Who are the called and chosen of the gods.
WALDIMAR.
Nay, gentle mother, am I not devoted
To Czernebcch, the Black and Evil One,
Or why thus
King of the land of Darkness ? 15
( )
Am I so haunted with strange shapes and things
Of hideous aspect,
that by mortal tongue
M ay never be revealed.
ERMINGILD.
No, no, sweet boy
It is wild fear that on thy dreamy mind
Such dark illusion flings.
Ere Zandagast,
Thy father, followed Swein to this isle,
He was in battle wounded nigh to death.
Then did I vow to SIVA, the CREATOR,
PRESERVER, and DESTROYER, attributes
In ONE OMNIPOTENT, the Lord of lords,