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HEAVEN AND EARTH
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A monologue from the play by Lord Byron
download the complete text of this play
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| NOTE: Heaven and Earth is now a public domain work and may be performed without royalties. |
- AHOLIBAMAH: Let them fly!
- I hear the voice which says that all must die,
- Sooner than our white-bearded patriarchs died;
- And that on high
- An ocean is prepared,
- While from below
- The deep shall rise to meet heaven's overflow.
- Few shall be spared,
- It seems; and, of that few, the race of Cain
- Must lift their eyes to Adam's God in vain.
- Sister! since it is so,
- And the eternal Lord
- In vain would be implored
- For the remission of one hour of woe,
- Let us resign even what we have adored,
- And meet the wave, as we would meet the sword,
- If not unmoved, yet undismay'd,
- And wailing less for us than those who shall
- Survive in mortal or immortal thrall,
- And, when the fatal waters are allay'd,
- Weep for the myriads who can weep no more.
- Fly, seraphs! to your own eternal shore,
- Where winds nor howl nor waters roar.
- Our portion is to die,
- And yours to live for ever:
- But which is best, a dead eternity,
- Or living, is but known to the great Giver.
- Obey him, as we shall obey;
- I would not keep this life of mine in clay
- An hour beyond his will;
- Nor see ye lose a portion of his grace,
- For all the mercy which Seth's race
- Find still.
- Fly!
- And as your pinions bear ye back to heaven,
- Think that my love still mounts with thee on high,
- Samiasa!
- And if I look up with a tearless eye,
- 'Tis that an angel's bride disdains to weep,—
- Farewell! Now rise, inexorable deep!
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