Chapter VII: Part VI

So perished for their faith in Christ,
This righteous couple; for their foes
Beseeching pardon; blessing God
That they were reckoned among those
Worthy to die for Christ, whose place
Is with the Holiest face to face.

Beside the pile stood Marien
Weeping sad human tears,
Yet strengthening, comforting the while,
And soothing all their fears.

And as she spoke, her countenance
With heavenly lustre beamed,
And all around her youthful form
Celestial beauty streamed.

Men looked on her with wondering awe,
As on an angel’s face,
And pity, and love, and sweet remorse,
In every heart had place.

Throughout the city rang the tale
Of this divinest child;
And for her sake unto her faith
Many were reconciled.

Unto the synod came these things;
And “here let her be brought,
To answer for herself,” they said,
“And suffer as she ought.”

As Christ among the doctors stood,
So she among these men,
Stern, rugged-browed, and deeply versed
In parchment and in pen;
Meekly she stood; when they reviled,
Reviling not again.

Yet with sweet words and argument,
Rather of love than lore,
She pleaded for the faith, as ne’er
Pled youthful tongue before.

All were amazed who heard her words;
And straightway spoke each one
Unto his neighbor, “Through this child
May mighty things be done!”

Then threatning words anon grew soft,
“And thou with us shalt go,”
They said, “and with the poor and vile,
No longer suffer woe.

“Thou shalt be clothed in purple robes,
In gold and linen fine;
Shalt eat the daintiest food; shalt drink
The spirit-gladdening wine.

“And with us in proud palaces,
A crowned queen shalt be;
Leave but these men, for they are poor,
And can do nought for thee!

“Behold the stake at which they burn--
The iron rack behold--
Are these the men to make thee rich
With silver and with gold.

“Come with us, glorious Marien,
And in our places high,
We will exalt thee as a queen,
Will deck thee royally!”

“Nay,” said sweet Marien, “as a queen
It is not I may bide;
I am not won with power nor gold,
Nor aught of human pride.

“Who clothes the lilies of the field,
Will cloth me, even as they;
Who hears the ravens when they cry,
Will feed me day by day!”

But still the tempters kept with her;
And “come away,” they said,
And she unto a sumptous dome
With royal pomp was led.

They showed her all that palace proud;
They showed her store of gold;
They told her of a hundred realms,
And wealth a hundred-fold.

“And all this shall be thine,” they said,
“All this be thine, and more,
So thou wilt bind thyself to us,
And leave the weak and poor!

“Thou that art weak and poor thyself,
A crowned queen shalt be!”
Said Marien, “In the wilderness
The Tempter came, and he
Offered to Jesus Christ such gifts
As now ye offer me!”

Those rugged brows grew dark, “Come now
With us,” they fiercely said,
“And see what never daylight saw,
The halls of dool and dread!”

Then unto chambers hidden, vast,
Mysterious, far from view,
They led her; there was set the rack,
The knotted cord, the screw,
And many a horrid instrument,
Whose dark ensanguined hue
Told of their purpose, “These,” said they,
“Many strange wonders do!

“Look well; could’st thou endure these things?
Strong men have died ere now
Under their torment; men were they,
A little child art thou!”

Then Marien meekly answered, “What
God suffereth you to dare,
He, to whom darkness is as light,
Will strengthen me to bear!”

“Come onward yet,” they said; and down
Damp, broken stairs they went;
Down, down to hidden vaults of stone,
Through vapours pestilent.

And then with sullen iron keys
They opened doors of stone;
And heavy chained captives there
They showed her, one by one.

Old, white-haired men; men middle-aged,
That had been strong of limb;
But each, now pallid, hollow-eyed,
Like spectres worn and dim.

And many, as the dull door oped,
Ne’er lifted up the head;--
Heart-broken victims of long pain,
Whose very hope was dead.

Others with feverish restlessness
Sprang up, and with quick cry,
That thrilled the hearer to the soul,
Demanded liberty.

With bleeding heart went Marien on;
And her conductors spake,
“These are our victims; these await
The rack, the cord, the stake.

“And as these are, so shalt thou be
If thou our will gainsay;
Accept our service, pride, and power;
Or, on this very day,
Racked, prisoned, poor, and miserable,
Thou shalt be, even as they!”

Down on the floor sank Marien,
And, “Oh, dear Lord!” she cried,
“Assist thy poor and trembling one
This awful hour to bide;
Let me be strong to do thy will,
Like him who bowed, and died!”

“They took her:--of that prison house
The secrets who may say?--
Racked, fettered, captived, in their power,
The gentle Marien lay;
Captive within their torture-halls
A long night and a day!