ઃઃ

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;

66

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

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.

But cold his feet, and cold his hands;
And at his heart there lay
An icy coldness unrelieved,
While he pray'd the livelong day.

A long, long day! It past away
In dreadful expectation;

Yet free throughout the day was he
From outward molestation.

Nor sight appear'd, nor voice was heard,
Tho' every moment both he fear'd;
The Spirits of the Air
Were busy the while in infusing
Suggestions of despair.

And he in strong endeavour still Against them strove with earnest will; Heart-piercing was his cry,

Heart-breathed his groaning; but it seem'd That the source of tears was dry.

And now had evening closed;
The dim lamp-light alone

On the stone cross, and the marble walls,
And the shrines of the Martyrs, shone.

Before the Cross Eleëmon lay:
His knees were on the ground;
Courage enough to touch the Cross
Itself, he had not found.

But on the steps of the pedestal
His lifted hands were laid;
And in that lowliest attitude
The suffering sinner pray'd.

A strong temptation of the Fiend,
Which bade him despair and die,
He with the aid of Scripture
Had faithfully put by;

And then, as with a dawning hope,
He raised this contrite cry:

"Oh that mine eyes were fountains!
If the good grace of Heaven
Would give me tears, methinks I then
Might hope to be forgiven!"

To that meek prayer a short loud laugh
From fiendish lips replied:

Close at his ear he felt it,

And it sounded on every side.

From the four walls and the vaulted roof A shout of mockery rung;

And the echoing ground repeated the sound, Which peal'd above, and below, and around, From many a fiendish tongue.

The lamps went out at that hideous shout, But darkness had there no place,

For the room was fill'd with a lurid light That came from a Demon's face.

A dreadful face it was, . . too well
By Eleemon known !

Alas! he had seen it when he stood
Before the dolorous Throne.

« Eleëmon! Eleëmon !”
Sternly said the Demon,
"How have I merited this?
I kept my covenant with thee,
And placed thee in worldly bliss!

"And still thou mightest have had, Thine after-days to bless, Health, wealth, long life, and whatsoe'er The World calls happiness.

"Fool, to forego thine earthly joys,
Who hast no hope beyond!
For judgement must be given for me,
When I sue thee upon the Bond.

"Remember I deceived thee not;
Nor had I tempted thee;

Thou camest of thine own accord,
And didst act knowingly!

"I told thee thou might'st vainly think To cheat me by contrition,

When thou wert written down among
The Children of Perdition!

"So help me, Satan!' were thy words When thou didst this allow;

I help'd thee, Eleëmon, then,..
And I will have thee now !"

At the words of the Fiend, from the floor
Eleëmon in agony sprung;

Up the steps of the pedestal he ran,
And to the Cross he clung

And then it seem'd as if he drew,
While he claspt the senseless stone,
A strength he had not felt till then,
A hope he had not known.

So when the Demon ceased,
He answer'd him not a word;
But looking upward, he
His faithful prayer preferr'd:

"All, all, to Thee, my Lord
And Saviour, I confess!

And I know that Thou canst cleanse me
From all unrighteousness!