The Spirit of Evil has asked permission to tempt Festus, but he occupies himself with teaching a system of divinity, an improved and transcendental Christianity. He does all in his power to elevate the thoughts of his pupil, and to enlarge the bounds of his knowledge--enables him to explore the whole universe, and solve the most profound mysteries. His talk is wild at times; he retains a diabolic taste for conflagrations, and the burning up of worlds, which, in this civilised epoch, he might have laid aside, with his horns and tail; but, upon the whole, he appears in the light of a most edifying companion, and a most serviceable spirit. Any young gentleman who, not satisfied with seeing the world, should be desirous of travelling through the universe as well, might reasonably congratulate himself on such a guide and companion. The title of some of the _Scenes_ will alone show what glorious revelations await those favoured mortals whom the Devil thinks proper to tempt. We have _Scene, the Surface_; _scene, the Centre_; _scene, Space_; _scene, Heaven_; _scene, Hell_; _scene, the Skies_; _scene, Elsewhere_; _scene, Everywhere!_ These localities, if such they are, could not possibly be described with a more sublime contempt for detail. One of the earliest scenes, however, of the drama, takes place in the humbler precincts of a _Country Town_, and strange enough is the part which Lucifer and Festus enact before a number of people gathered together in the market-place. Lucifer delivers a sermon to them in the style of Maw-worm; and Festus performs his part in this divine service, by delivering a long, and apparently a serious prayer, which, for aught we see, might be adopted by any Dissenting minister desirous of varying his extempore effusions. If there is any heresy, there is, at all events, no poetry in it which he would find it necessary to omit. But both these speakers soon ascend to higher regions of speculation, and to higher regions of the universe. They ascend into heaven--Lucifer still being able, it seems, to act here as master of the ceremonies. "_Lucifer._ All-being God! I come to Thee again, Nor come alone. Mortality is here. Thou bad'st me do my will, and I have dared To do it. I have brought him up to heaven. _God._ Thou canst not do what is not willed to be. Suns are made up of atoms, heaven of souls; And souls and suns are but the atoms of The body, I, God, dwell in. What wilt thou with him who is here with thee? _Lucifer._ Show him God. _God._ No being, upon part of whom the curse Of death rests--_were it only on his shadow_, Can look on God and live. _Lucifer._ Look, Festus, look! _Festus._ Eternal fountain of the Infinite, On whose life-tide the stars seem strewn like bubbles, Forgive me that an atomie of being Hath sought to see its Maker face to face, * * * * *