The Golden Legend Part 8

But evil is only good perverted, And Lucifer, the Bearer of Light, But an angel fallen and deserted, Thrust from his Father's house with a curse Into the black and endless night.

_Prince Henry._ If justice rules the universe, From the good actions of good men Angels of light should be begotten, And thus the balance restored again.

_Lucifer._ Yes; if the world were not so rotten, And so given over to the Devil!

_Prince Henry._ But this deed, is it good or evil?

Have I thine absolution free To do it, and without restriction?

_Lucifer._ Ay; and from whatsoever sin Lieth around it and within, From all crimes in which it may involve thee, I now release thee and absolve thee!

_Prince Henry._ Give me thy holy benediction.

_Lucifer._ (_stretching forth his hand and muttering_), Maledictione perpetua Maledicat vos Pater eternus!

_The Angel_ (_with the aeolian harp_). Take heed! take heed!

n.o.ble art thou in thy birth, By the good and the great of earth Hast thou been taught!

Be n.o.ble in every thought And in every deed!

Let not the illusion of thy senses Betray thee to deadly offences.

Be strong! be good! be pure!

The right only shall endure, All things else are but false pretences!

I entreat thee, I implore, Listen no more To the suggestions of an evil spirit, That even now is there, Making the foul seem fair, And selfishness itself a virtue and a merit!

A ROOM IN THE FARM-HOUSE.

_Gottlieb_. It is decided! For many days, And nights as many, we have had A nameless terror in our breast, Making us timid, and afraid Of G.o.d, and his mysterious ways!

We have been sorrowful and sad; Much have we suffered, much have prayed That he would lead us as is best, And show us what his will required.

It is decided; and we give Our child, O Prince, that you may live!

_Ursula_. It is of G.o.d. He has inspired This purpose in her; and through pain, Out of a world of sin and woe, He takes her to himself again.

The mother's heart resists no longer; With the Angel of the Lord in vain It wrestled, for he was the stronger.

_Gottlieb_. As Abraham offered long ago His son unto the Lord, and even The Everlasting Father in heaven Gave his, as a lamb unto the slaughter, So do I offer up my daughter!

(URSULA _hides her face_.)

_Elsie_. My life is little, Only a cup of water, But pure and limpid.

Take it, O my Prince!

Let it refresh you, Let it restore you.

It is given willingly, It is given freely; May G.o.d bless the gift!

_Prince Henry._ And the giver!

_Gottlieb._ Amen!

_Prince Henry._ I accept it!

_Gottlieb._ Where are the children?

_Ursula._ They are already asleep.

_Gottlieb._ What if they were dead?

IN THE GARDEN.

_Elsie._ I have one thing to ask of you.

_Prince Henry._ What is it?

It is already granted.

_Elsie._ Promise me, When we are gone from here, and on our way Are journeying to Salerno, you will not, By word or deed, endeavor to dissuade me And turn me from my purpose, but remember That as a pilgrim to the Holy City Walks unmolested, and with thoughts of pardon Occupied wholly, so would I approach The gates of Heaven, in this great jubilee, With my pet.i.tion, putting off from me All thoughts of earth, as shoes from off my feet.

Promise me this.

_Prince Henry._ Thy words fall from thy lips Like roses from the lips of Angelo: and angels Might stoop to pick them up!

_Elsie._ Will you not promise?

_Prince Henry._ If ever we depart upon this journey, So long to one or both of us, I promise.

_Elsie._ Shall we not go, then? Have you lifted me Into the air, only to hurl me back Wounded upon the ground? and offered me The waters of eternal life, to bid me Drink the polluted puddles of this world?

_Prince Henry._ O Elsie! what a lesson thou dost teach me!

The life which is, and that which is to come, Suspended hang in such nice equipoise A breath disturbs the balance; and that scale In which we throw our hearts preponderates, And the other, like an empty one, flies up, And is accounted vanity and air!

To me the thought of death is terrible, Having such hold on life. To thee it is not So much even as the lifting of a latch; Only a step into the open air Out of a tent already luminous With light that s.h.i.+nes through its transparent walls!

O pure in heart! from thy sweet dust shall grow Lilies, upon whose petals will be written "Ave Maria" in characters of gold!

III.

A STREET IN STRASBURG.

_Night._ PRINCE HENRY _wandering alone, wrapped in a cloak._

_Prince Henry._ Still is the night. The sound of feet Has died away from the empty street, And like an artisan, bending down His head on his anvil, the dark town Sleeps, with a slumber deep and sweet.

Sleepless and restless, I alone, In the dusk and damp of these wails of stone, Wander and weep in my remorse!