They know naught of dissonance.
Take man's wondrous frame, for instance,
Surely that majestic structure
Once conception doth exhibit.

CYPRIAN. If man's maker then were one
He some vantage must have given him
O'er the others; and if they
All are equal,--'tis admitted
That they are so, from the fact
Of their mutual opposition
To each other,--when the thought
Of creating man was hinted
By one god, another could
Say, "No, no, I do not wish it."
Then if God must be all hands,
Time might come when they would differ,
One creating, one undoing,
Ere the other's work was finished,
Since the power of each was equal,
But unequal were their wishes.
Which of these two powers would conquer?

DEMON. On impossible and false issues
There can be no argument;--
But your premises admitting,
Say what then?

CYPRIAN. That there must be
One sole God, all hands, all vision,
Good Supreme, supreme in grace,
One who cannot err, omniscient,
One the highest, none can equal,
Not beginning, yet the Beginner,
One pure essence, one sole substance,
One wise worker, ozone sole willer;--
And though He in one or two
Or more persons be distinguished,
Yet the sovereign Deity
Must be one, sublime and single,
The first cause of every cause,
The first germ of all existence.

DEMON. How can I deny so clear,
[They rise.
So conclusive a position?

CYPRIAN. Do you feel it?

DEMON. Who would not
Feel to find another quicker
In the rivalry of wit?--
And though I am not deficient
In an answer, I restrain it,
Hearing steps approaching hither
Through the wood; besides 'tis time
I proceeded to the city.

CYPRIAN. Go in peace.

DEMON. Remain in peace.--
[Aside.
So involved in study IS he,
That I now must wean him from it,
Weaving round him the bewitchment
Of rare beauty. Since I have leave
To attempt my fires to kindle
In Justina's breast, one stroke,
Thus, two vengeances shall give me.
[Exit.

CYPRIAN. Never saw I such a man.
But since still my people linger,
I, the cause of so much doubt,
Will now strive to reconsider.

[He resumes his reading, without perceiving
the approach