the complete poetical works-第154节
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He comes。 In the twilight he will not see
The difference between his priest and me！
In the same net was the mother caught！
PRINCE HENRY； entering and kneeling at the confessional。
Remorseful； penitent； and lowly；
I come to crave； O Father holy；
Thy benediction on my head。
LUCIFER。
The benediction shall be said
After confession； not before！
'T is a God…speed to the parting guest；
Who stands already at the door；
Sandalled with holiness； and dressed
In garments pure from earthly stain。
Meanwhile； hast thou searched well thy breast？
Does the same madness fill thy brain？
Or have thy passion and unrest
Vanished forever from thy mind？
PRINCE HENRY。
By the same madness still made blind；
By the same passion still possessed；
I come again to the house of prayer；
A man afflicted and distressed！
As in a cloudy atmosphere；
Through unseen sluices of the air；
A sudden and impetuous wind
Strikes the great forest white with fear；
And every branch； and bough； and spray；
Points all its quivering leaves one way；
And meadows of grass； and fields of rain；
And the clouds above； and the slanting rain；
And smoke from chimneys of the town；
Yield themselves to it； and bow down；
So does this dreadful purpose press
Onward； with irresistible stress；
And all my thoughts and faculties；
Struck level by the strength of this；
From their true inclination turn
And all stream forward to Salem！
LUCIFER。
Alas！ we are but eddies of dust；
Uplifted by the blast； and whirled
Along the highway of the world
A moment only； then to fall
Back to a common level all；
At the subsiding of the gust！
PRINCE HENRY。
O holy Father！ pardon in me
The oscillation of a mind
Unsteadfast； and that cannot find
Its centre of rest and harmony！
For evermore before mine eyes
This ghastly phantom flits and flies；
And as a madman through a crowd；
With frantic gestures and wild cries；
It hurries onward； and aloud
Repeats its awful prophecies！
Weakness is wretchedness！ To be strong
Is to be happy！ I am weak；
And cannot find the good I seek；
Because I feel and fear the wrong！
LUCIFER。
Be not alarmed！ The church is kind；
And in her mercy and her meekness
She meets half…way her children's weakness；
Writes their transgressions in the dust！
Though in the Decalogue we find
The mandate written； 〃Thou shalt not kill！〃
Yet there are cases when we must。
In war； for instance； or from scathe
To guard and keep the one true faith
We must look at the Decalogue in the light
Of an ancient statute； that was meant
For a mild and general application；
To be understood with the reservation
That in certain instances the Right
Must yield to the Expedient！
Thou art a Prince。 If thou shouldst die
What hearts and hopes would prostrate lie！
What noble deeds； what fair renown；
Into the grave with thee go down！
What acts of valor and courtesy
Remain undone； and die with thee！
Thou art the last of all thy race！
With thee a noble name expires；
And vanishes from the earth's face
The glorious memory of thy sires！
She is a peasant。 In her veins
Flows common and plebeian blood；
It is such as daily and hourly stains
The dust and the turf of battle plains；
By vassals shed； in a crimson flood；
Without reserve and without reward；
At the slightest summons of their lord！
But thine is precious； the fore…appointed
Blood of kings； of God's anointed！
Moreover； what has the world in store
For one like her； but tears and toil？
Daughter of sorrow； serf of the soil；
A peasant's child and a peasant's wife；
And her soul within her sick and sore
With the roughness and barrenness of life！
I marvel not at the heart's recoil
From a fate like this； in one so tender；
Nor at its eagerness to surrender
All the wretchedness； want； and woe
That await it in this world below；
For the unutterable splendor
Of the world of rest beyond the skies。
So the Church sanctions the sacrifice：
Therefore inhale this healing balm；
And breathe this fresh life into thine；
Accept the comfort and the calm
She offers； as a gift divine；
Let her fall down and anoint thy feet
With the ointment costly and most sweet
Of her young blood； and thou shalt live。
PRINCE HENRY。
And will the righteous Heaven forgive？
No action； whether foal or fair；
Is ever done； but it leaves somewhere
A record； written by fingers ghostly；
As a blessing or a curse； and mostly
In the greater weakness or greater strength
Of the acts which follow it； till at length
The wrongs of ages are redressed；
And the justice of God made manifest！
LUCIFER。
In ancient records it is stated
That； whenever an evil deed is done；
Another devil is created
To scourge and torment the offending one！
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！
Noble art thou in thy birth；
By the good and the great of earth
Hast thou been taught！
Be noble 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 God； 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 God。 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 God 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 petition； 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 the world？
PRINCE HENRY。
O Elsie！ what a lesson thou dost teach me！
The life which is； and that which is
