Her. His cheek is black—­but there is a faint beat Still lingering about the heart.  Some water.

      [They sprinkle MANFRED with water; after a pause, he gives
        some signs of life.

Manuel. He seems to strive to speak—­come—­cheerly, Count!  He moves his lips—­canst hear him?  I am old, And cannot catch faint sounds.

      [HERMAN inclining his head and listening.

Her. I hear a word Or two—­but indistinctly—­what is next?  What’s to be done? let’s bear him to the castle.

      [MANFRED motions with his hand not to remove him.

Manuel. He disapproves—­and ’twere of no avail—­ He changes rapidly.

Her. ’Twill soon be over.

Manuel. Oh! what a death is this! that I should live
To shake my gray hairs over the last chief
Of the house of Sigismund.—­And such a death! 
Alone—­we know not how—­unshrived—­untended—­
With strange accompaniments and fearful signs—­
I shudder at the sight—­but must not leave him.

Manfred. (speaking faintly and slowly.) Old man! ’tis not so difficult
          to die. [MANFRED having said this expires.

Her. His eyes are fixed and lifeless.—­He is gone.—­

Manuel. Close them.—­My old hand quivers.—­He departs—­ Whither?  I dread to think—­but he is gone!

[Footnote 1:  It will be perceived that, as far as this, the original matter of the third Act has been retained.]

[Footnote 2:  “Raven-stone (Rabenstein), a translation of the German word for the gibbet, which in Germany and Switzerland is permanent, and made of stone.”]

[Footnote 3:  This fine soliloquy, and a great part of the subsequent scene, have, it is hardly necessary to remark been retained in the present form of the Drama.]

[Footnote 4:  Altered in the present form, to “some strange things in them, Herman.”]

* * * * *

LETTER 278.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Rome, May 9. 1817.

     “Address all answers to Venice; for there I shall return in fifteen
     days, God willing.

“I sent you from Florence ‘The Lament of Tasso,’ and from Rome the third Act of Manfred, both of which, I trust, will duly arrive.  The terms of these two I mentioned in my last, and will repeat in this, it is three hundred for each, or six hundred guineas for the two—­that is, if you like, and they are good for any thing.

“At last one of the parcels is arrived.  In the notes to Childe Harold there is a blunder of yours or mine:  you talk of arrival at St. Gingo, and, immediately after, add—­’on the height is the Chateau of Clarens.’  This is sad work:  Clarens