The Purgatory of St. Patrick Part 11

And remember that at farthest But an hour remains in which You must give me sure and ample Signs of punishment and glory, Or you die. These mighty marvels Of your G.o.d here let them come, Where the truth we can examine For ourselves. And if we neither Heaven or h.e.l.l deserve to have here, Show us, then, this Purgatory, Which is different from the latter, So that here we all may know His omnipotence and grandeur.

Mind, G.o.d's honour rests upon you, Tell Him to defend and guard it.

[Exeunt all but PATRICK.

SCENE XV.

PATRICK.

PATRICK. Here, mighty Lord, dart down thy searching glance, Arm'd with the dreadful lightnings of Thine ire, Wing'd with Thy vengeance, as the bolt with fire, And rout the squadrons of fell ignorance: Come not in pity to the hostile band, Treat not as friends Thy enemies abhorr'd, But since they ask for portents, mighty Lord, Come with the blood-red lightnings in Thy hand.

Of old Elias asked with burning sighs For chastis.e.m.e.nt, and Moses did display Wonders and portents; in the self-same way Listen, O Lord, to my beseeching cries, And though I be not great or good as they, Still let my accents pierce the listening skies!

Portents and chastis.e.m.e.nt, both day and night I ask, O Lord, may from Thy hand be given, That Purgatory, h.e.l.l and Heaven, May be revealed unto these mortals' sight.

SCENE XVI.

A Good Angel at one side, and on the other a Bad Angel. -- PATRICK.

BAD ANGEL [to himself]. Fearful that the favouring skies May accede to Patrick's prayer, And discover to him where Earth's most wondrous treasure lies, Like a minister of light, Full of scorn, I hither fly It to chill and nullify.

Covering with my poison blight His pet.i.tion.

GOOD ANGEL. Then give o'er, Cruel monster; for in me His protecting angel see.

But be silent, speak no more.-- [to him.

Patrick, G.o.d has heard Thy prayer, He has listen'd to thy vows, And, as thou hast asked, allows Earth's great secrets to lie bare.

Seek along this island ground For a vast and darksome cave, Which restrains the lake's dark wave.

And supports the mountains round; He who dares to go therein, Having first contritely told All his faults, shall there behold Where the soul is purged from sin.

He shall see, with mortal eyes, h.e.l.l itself, where those who die In their sins for ever lie In the fire that never dies.

He shall see, in blest fruition, Where the happy spirits dwell.

But of this be sure as well -- He who without due contrition Enters there to idly try What the cave may be, doth go To his death; he'll suffer woe, While the Lord doth reign on high, Who thy soul this day shall free From this poor world's weariness.

It is thus that G.o.d doth bless Those who love His name like thee.

He shall grant to thee in pity, Bliss undreamed by mortal men, Making thee a denizen Of His own celestial city.

He shall to the world proclaim His omnipotence and glory, By the wondrous Purgatory Which shall bear thy sainted name.

Lest thou think the promise vain Of this miracle divine, I will take this shape malign, Which came hither to profane Thy devotion, and within This dark cavern's dark abyss Fling it,-- there to howl and hiss In the everlasting din.

[They disappear.

PATRICK. Glory, glory unto Thee, Mighty Lord; the heavens proclaim, Miracles attest Thy name, Wonders show that Thou must be.-- [Calling.

King!

SCENE XVII.

The King, PHILIP, LESBIA, LEOGAIRE, The Captain, People. -- PATRICK.

KING. What would'st thou?

PATRICK. Come with me Through this mountain woodland drear, Thou and all thy followers here, Thou and they shall see therein The dark place reserved for sin, And rewards delightful sphere.

They shall have a pa.s.sing view Of a sight no tongue can tell, An unending miracle, To whose greatness shall be due Their amazement ever new Who its secrets shall unveil.

Yes, a perfect image pale In the wonders guarded here, Shall they see with awe and fear, Of the realms of bliss and bale.

[Exit, followed by all.

SCENE XVIII.

A REMOTE PART OF THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE MOUTH OF A HORRIBLE CAVE.

THE SAME.

KING. Look, O Patrick, for you go Turning towards a part forbidden, Where the light of the sun is hidden Even in the noon-tide's glow.

Through this wilderness of woe Even the hunter in pursuit Of his prey ne'er placed a foot On its trackless wild walks green, Since for ages it has been Shunned alike by man and brute.

PHILIP. We for many and many a year, Who have lived here from our youth, Never dared to learn the truth Of the secrets hidden here; For the entrance did appear In itself enough to make Even the bravest heart to quake.

No one yet has dared to brave The wild rocks that guard this cave, Or the waters of this lake.

KING. And for auguries we heard, Borne the troubled wind along, Oft the sad funereal song Of some lone nocturnal bird.

PHILIP. Be the rash attempt deferred.

PATRICK. Let not causeless fear arise; For a treasure of the skies Here is hidden.

KING. What is fear?

Could it ever me come near In an earthquake's agonies?

No; for though the flames should break As from some sulphureous lake, And the mountains' sides run red From the molten fires outshed, They could ne'er my courage shake, Never make me fear.

SCENE XIX.

POLONIA. -- THE SAME.

POLONIA. Oh, stay, Wandering from the path astray, Hapless crowd, rash, indiscreet, Turn away your erring feet, For misfortune lies that way.