"Thus to conceal thy crime from me,
It is no tenderness!

The worst is better known than fear'd.
Whatever it be, confess;

And the Merciful will cleanse thee
From all unrighteousness! "

Like an aspen leaf he trembled ;
And his imploring eye

Bespake compassion, ere his lips
Could utter their dreaded reply.

"O dearly loved, as dearly bought,
My sin and punishment I had thought
To bear through life alone;

Too much the Vision hath reveal'd,
And all must now be known!

"On thee, methinks, and only thee
Dare I for pity call;

Abhor me not, renounce me not, .

My life, my love, my all!

"And Cyra, sure if ever cause
Might be a sinner's plea,

'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
As heinous his offence;

So Basil said, when he ordain'd
His form of penitence.

And never had such dismay been felt
Thro' that astonish'd town,
As when, at morn, the Cryer went
Proclaiming up and down,

"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
Whom that woeful petition moved;
For he had borne his fortune meekly,
And therefore was well beloved.

Open his hand had been,

And liberal of its store;

And the prayers of the needy arose
Who had daily been fed at his door.

They too whom Cyra's secret aid
Relieved from pressing cares,
In this her day of wretchedness,
Repaid her with their prayers.

And from many a gentle bosom
Supplications for mercy were sent,
If haply they might aid
The wretched penitent.

Sorely such aid he needed then!
Basil himself, of living men
The powerfullest in prayer,
For pity, rather than in hope,
Had bidden him not despair.

So hard a thing for him it seem'd
To wrest from Satan's hand

The fatal Bond, which, while retain'd,
Must against him in judgement stand.

"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 crost him on the breast:.

And told him if he did his part
With true remorse and faithful heart,
God's mercy might do the rest.

"Alone in the holy Relic-room
Must thou pass day and night,
And wage with thy ghostly enemies
A more than mortal fight.

"The trial may be long, and the struggle strong, Yet be not thou dismay'd;

For thou mayest count on Saints in Heaven,
And on earthly prayers for aid.

"And in thy mind this scripture bear
With steadfast faithfulness, whate'er
To appall thee may arrive;

'When the wicked man turneth away from his sin He shall save his soul alive!'

"Take courage as thou lookest around
On the relics of the blest;

And night and day, continue to pray,
Until thy tears have wash'd away
The stigma from thy breast!"

"Let me be with him!" Cyra cried ;
"If thou mayest not be there,

In this sore trial I at least

My faithful part may bear:

My presence may some comfort prove,
Yea, haply some defence;
'O Father, in myself I feel
The strength of innocence !"

"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;

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Sights which should never meet thine eye
Before him may appear;

And fiendish voices proffer words
Which should never assail thy ear;
Alone must he this trance sustain ;
Keep thou thy vigils here!"

He led him to the Relic-room;
Alone he left him there;

And Cyra with the Nuns remain'd
To pass her time in prayer.

Alone was Eleëmon left
For mercy on Heaven to call;
Deep and unceasing were his prayers,
But not a tear would fall.

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.