DEM. What hast thou seen below to reconcile thee To the dark moiety of thy strange fate? PER. Where have I been, mother? what have I seen? The downward pathway to the gates of death: 920 The skeleton of earthly being, stript Of all disguise: the sudden void of night: The spectral records of unwholesome fear:-- Why was it given to me to see these things? The ruin'd godheads, disesteem'd, condemn'd To toil of deathless mockery: conquerors In the reverse of glory, doom'd to rule The multitudinous army of their crimes: The naked retribution of all wrong:-- Why was it given to me to see such things? 930 DEM. Not without terror, as I think, thou speakest, Nor as one reconcil'd to brook return. PER. But since I have seen these things, with salt and fire My spirit is purged, and by this crystal crown Terror is tamed within me. If my words Seem'd to be tinged with terror, 'twas because I knew one hour of terror (on the day That took me hence) and with that memory Colour'd my speech, using the terms which paint The blindfold fears of men, who little reckon 940 How they by holy innocence and love, By reverence and gentle lives may win A title to the fair Elysian fields, Where the good spirits dwell in ease and light And entertainment of those fair desires That made earth beautiful ... brave souls that spent Their lives for liberty and truth, grave seers Whose vision conquer'd darkness, pious poets Whose words have won Apollo's deathless praise, Who all escape Hell's mysteries, nor come nigh 950 The Cave of Cacophysia. DEM. Mysteries! What mysteries are these? and what the Cave? PER. The mysteries of evil, and the cave Of blackness that obscures them. Even in hell The worst is hidden, and unfructuous night Stifles her essence in her truthless heart. DEM. What is the arch-falsity? I seek to know The mystery of evil. Hast thou seen it? PER. I have seen it. Coud I truly rule my kingdom Not having seen it? DEM. Tell me what it is. 960 PER. 'Tis not that I forget it; tho' the thought Is banisht from me. But 'tis like a dream Whose sense is an impression lacking words. DEM. If it would pain thee telling ... PER. Nay, but surely The words of gods and men are names of things And thoughts accustom'd: but of things unknown And unimagin'd are no words at all. DEM. And yet will words sometimes outrun the thought. PER. What can be spoken is nothing: 'twere a path That leading t'ward some prospect ne'er arrived. 970 DEM. The more thou holdest back, the more I long. PER. The outward aspect only mocks my words.