Manfred is alone in a gallery of his Gothic castle in the Alps, brooding about his tortured spirit and grieving the loss of his beloved, Astarte. He is an educated man, but reflects on how philosophy, science, and all other branches of learning have failed to provide him solace. In his anguish, Manfred decides to call to the “spirits of the unbounded Universe,” and is frustrated when at first they do not appear (32). He tries again with a stronger invocation spell and seven spirits materialize, representing the earth, the ocean, the air, night, the mountains, the wind, and the star of Manfred’s birth.

The spirits ask what Manfred wants, and he tells them he wants forgetfulness “Of that which is within me; read it there— / Ye know it, and I cannot utter it” (37). The spirits tell him they do not have the power to grant his request and Manfred, annoyed, dismisses them. The seventh spirit momentarily takes the form of an Astarte-like woman before dissolving. Manfred collapses into agony at the fleeting sight, and recites a long poetic spell in which he states his resolution to die.