Byron Manfred - Grief should be the instructor of the Wise

Manfred. A Dramatic Poem

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

Act I scene i.

Manfred alone. Scene, a Gothic Gallery. Time, midnight.

Manfred.

The Lamp must be replenished, but even then
It will not burn so long as I must watch;
My Slumbers – if I slumber – are no sleep,
But a continuance of enduring thought,
Which then I can resist not; in my heart
There is a Vigil – and these eyes but close
To look within – and yet I live, and bear
The aspect and the form of living men.
But Grief should be the Instructor of the wise;
Sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most
Must mourn the deepest o’er the fatal truth –
The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life.
Philosophy and science – and the springs
Of wonder – and the wisdom of the World –
I have essayed, and in my mind there is
A power to make these subject to itself,
But they avail not; I have done men good
And I have met with good even among men –
But this availed not; I have had my foes,
And none have baffled – many fallen before me –
But this availed not: Good – or evil – life –
Powers – passions – all I see in other beings
Have been to me as rain unto the sands;
Since that all nameless hour, I have no dread –

And feel the curse to have no natural fear,
Nor fluttering throb that beats with hopes or wishes,
Or lurking love of something on the Earth.
Now to my task. ––
Mysterious Agency!
Ye Spirits of the unbounded Universe!
Whom I have sought in darkness and in light,
Ye! who do compass earth about – and dwell
In subtler essence – Ye to whom the tops
Of mountains inaccessible are haunts,
And Earth’s and Ocean’s caves familiar things!
I call upon ye by the written charm
Which gives me power upon you – Rise! – Appear!

(a pause)

They come not yet. – Now by the voice of him
Who is the first among you – by this sign
Which makes you tremble – by the claims of him
Who is undying – Rise – Appear – Appear ––

(a pause)

If it be so. – Spirits of Earth and Air!
Ye shall not now elude me! By a power
Deeper than all yet urged – a tyrant–spell
Which had its birthplace in a Star condemned –
The burning wreck of a demolished World –
A wandering Hell in the eternal Space –
By the strong curse which is upon my Soul –
The thought which is within me and around me –
I do compel you to my will – Appear! –

A Star is seen at the darker end of the Gallery.
It is stationary – and a voice is heard singing.

깊은 곳의 진리는 논리가 아니라 직관 속에서 드러난다.

비탄이 현자들의 선생이 되어야 한다거나,

지식의 나무가 삶의 나무가 아니란 구절이 그렇다.

내 마음 속 세상의 모든 지식은 그 자체로서는 소용에 닿지 않는 것,

남을 위해 사용할 때만이 사람들 사이에서 선함으로 만난게 된다는 것이 그렇다.

그러나 이 또한 소용에 닿지 않는 것,

내가 세상에서 보는 선과 악 그리고 열정과 인생 모두

모래속에 스며드는 빗물 같은 것, 이란 것이 그렇다.

이 허무와 비탄을 멈추어 돌아보고 닦을 수 있다면

그러한 이타행을 통하여 무언가 얻게 될 것이고,

그것이야말로 얻지 않았으므로 얻은 것이 될 것이다. 금강경을 빌려서 말하자면.....