Brewer's: Manfred

Count Manfred, son of Count Sigismund, sold himself to the Prince of Darkness, and had seven spirits bound to do his bidding, viz. the spirits of “earth, ocean, air, night, mountains, winds,” and the star of his own destiny. He was wholly without human sympathies, and lived in splendid solitude among the Alpine mountains. He once loved the Lady Astarte (2 syl.) who died, but Manfred went to the hall of Arimanes to see and speak to her phantom, and was told that he would die the following day. The next day the Spirit of his Destiny came to summon him; the proud count scornfully dismissed it, and died. (ByronManfred.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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