High-hearted man, sublime even in thy guilt,
Whose passions are thy crimes, whose angel-sin
Is pride that rivals the star-bright apostate’s.—
Wild admiration thrills me to behold
An evil strength, so above earthly pitch—
Descending angels only could reclaim thee—
This is uttered before Bertram has murdered Aldobrand; but that being done, the exaltation of the venerable prelate remains the same:
This majesty of guilt doth awe my spirit—
Is it th’embodied fiend who tempted him
Sublime in guilt?