_Par._ Hear it? I can say Beforehand all this evening's conference! 'T is this way, Michal, that he uses: first, Or he declares, or I, the leading points Of our best scheme of life, what is man's end And what God's will; no two faiths e'er agreed As his with mine. Next, each of us allows Faith should be acted on as best we may; Accordingly, I venture to submit My plan, in lack of better, for pursuing The path which God's will seems to authorize. Well, he discerns much good in it, avows This motive worthy, that hope plausible, A danger here to be avoided, there An oversight to be repaired: in fine, Our two minds go together--all the good Approved by him, I gladly recognize, All he counts bad, I thankfully discard, And naught forbids my looking up at last For some stray comfort in his cautious brow. When lo! I learn that, spite of all, there lurks Some innate and inexplicable germ Of failure in my scheme; so that at last It all amounts to this--the sovereign proof That we devote ourselves to God, is seen In living just as though no God there were; A life which, prompted by the sad and blind Folly of man, Festus abhors the most; But which these tenets sanctify at once, Though to less subtle wits it seems the same, Consider it how they may. _Mich._ Is it so, Festus? He speaks so calmly and kindly: is it so? _Par._ Reject those glorious visions of God's love And man's design; laugh loud that God should send Vast longings to direct us; say how soon Power satiates these, or lust, or gold; I know The world's cry well, and how to answer it. But this ambiguous warfare ... _Fest._ ... Wearies so That you will grant no last leave to your friend To urge it?--for his sake, not yours? I wish To send my soul in good hopes after you; Never to sorrow that uncertain words Erringly apprehended, a new creed Ill understood, begot rash trust in you, Had share in your undoing. _Par._ Choose your side, Hold or renounce: but meanwhile blame me not Because I dare to act on your own views, Nor shrink when they point onward, nor espy A peril where they most ensure success. _Fest._ Prove that to me--but that! Prove you abide Within their warrant, nor presumptuous boast God's labor laid on you; prove, all you covet, A mortal may expect; and, most of all, Prove the strange course you now affect, will lead To its attainment--and I bid you speed, Nay, count the minutes till you venture forth! You smile; but I had gathered from slow thought-- Much musing on the fortunes of my friend-- Matter I deemed could not be urged in vain; But it all leaves me at my need: in shreds And fragments I must venture what remains.