"Thus to conceal thy crime from me, The worst is better known than fear'd. And the Merciful will cleanse thee Like an aspen leaf he trembled ; Bespake compassion, ere his lips "O dearly loved, as dearly bought, Too much the Vision hath reveal'd, "On thee, methinks, and only thee Abhor me not, renounce me not, . My life, my love, my all! "And Cyra, sure if ever cause 'T would be for that lost wretch who sold His hope of Heaven for thee! "Thou seest a miserable man Given over to despair, Who has bound himself by his act and deed To the Prince of the Powers of the Air." She seized him by the arm, And hurrying him into the street, "Come with me to the Church," she cried, "And to Basil the Bishop's feet!" VII. PUBLIC must be the sinner's shame So Basil said, when he ordain'd And never had such dismay been felt "The miserable sinner, Eleëmon, Who for love hath sold himself to the Demon, His guilt before God and man declares; And beseeches all good Christians To aid him with their prayers." Many were the hearts compassionate Open his hand had been, And liberal of its store; And the prayers of the needy arose They too whom Cyra's secret aid And from many a gentle bosom Sorely such aid he needed then! So hard a thing for him it seem'd The fatal Bond, which, while retain'd, "Dost thou believe," he said, "that Grace Itself can reach this grief?" With a feeble voice, and a woeful eye, "Lord, I believe !" was the sinner's reply, The Bishop then crost him on the brow, And told him if he did his part "Alone in the holy Relic-room "The trial may be long, and the struggle strong, Yet be not thou dismay'd; For thou mayest count on Saints in Heaven, "And in thy mind this scripture bear 'When the wicked man turneth away from his sin He shall save his soul alive!' "Take courage as thou lookest around And night and day, continue to pray, "Let me be with him!" Cyra cried ; In this sore trial I at least My faithful part may bear: My presence may some comfort prove, "Nay, Daughter, nay; it must not be! Tho' dutiful this desire; He may, by Heaven's good grace, be saved, But only as if by fire; 66 Sights which should never meet thine eye And fiendish voices proffer words He led him to the Relic-room; And Cyra with the Nuns remain'd Alone was Eleëmon left His lips were parch'd, his head was hot, His eyeballs throbb'd with heat; And in that utter silence He could hear his temples beat. |