Act the Third: Scene VIII

FIRST CANON. See, the waters of the lakeMove although no breeze doth blow:Without doubt to-day some pilgrimRoweth to this island shore.

SECOND CANON. Come unto the strand to seeWho can be so brave and boldAs to seek our gloomy dwelling,Crossing the dark waters o'er.

LUIS. Here my boat, my coffin, rather,On the billows I bestow.Who his sepulchre has everSteered, as I, through fire and snow?What a pleasant spot is this!Here has Spring, methinks, invokedFlowers of high and low degreeTo assemble at her court.But this dismal mountain here,How unlike the plain below!Yet they are the better friendsBy the contrasts that they show.there the mournful birds of preyHoarsely croak, presaging woe,Here the warblers in their joyCharm us with their tuneful notes.There the torrents leaping headlongFright us with their frenzied roar,Here the crystal streamlets glidingMirror back the sun's bright gold.Half way 'twixt that uglinessAnd this beauty, I beholdA plain building whose grave frontFear and love at once provokes.

FIRST CANON. Happy wanderer, who hereHast arrived with heart so bold,Come unto my arms.

LUIS. The groundThat you tread on suits me more.Oh, for charity conduct meTo the Prior of your fold,To the Abbot of this convent.

FIRST CANON. Though unworthy, you beholdHim in me. Speak. What's your wish?

LUIS. Father, if my name I told,I'm afraid that swiftly flying,With a terror uncontrolled,You would leave me: for my worksAre so shocking to unfold,That to see them not, the sunWraps him round in mourning robes.I am an abyss of crimes,A wild sea that has no shore;I am a broad map of guilt,And the greatest sinner known.Yes, in me, to tell it brieflyIn one comprehensive word(Here my breath doth almost fail me),Luis Enius behold!I come here this cave to enter,If for sins so manifoldAught can ever satisfy,Let my penance thus atoneTo the Bishop of HiberniaI've confessed, and am absolved,Who informed of my intentionWith a gracious love consoledAll my fears, and unto theeSent these letters I unfold.

FIRST CANON. Do not in a single dayTake, my son, a step so bold,For these things require precautionMore than can at once be told.Stay here as our guest some days,Then at leisure we can bothSee about it and decide.

LUIS. No, my father, no, oh, no!Never from the ground I'll rise,Where here prostrate I am thrown,Till you grant to me this good.It was God that touched my soul,And inspired me to come here;Not a vain desire to know,Not ambition to find outSecrets God, perchance, withholds.Do not baffle this intention,For the call is heaven's alone.Oh, my father! yield in pity,With me in my griefs condole,Give my sorrows consolation,Heal the anguish of my soul.

FIRST CANON. Luis, you have not consideredwhat you ask of me; you knowNothing of the infernal tormentsYou must bear: to undergoThese your strength is insufficient.Many are there, more the woe!Who go in, but few, alas!Who return.

LUIS. Your threats forebodeMuch; but still they fright not me;For I do protest, I goBut to purge away my sins,Which if numbered are much moreThan the atoms of the sunAnd the sands upon the shore.I will ever have my hopeFirmly fixed upon the Lord,At whose holy name even hellIs subdued.

FIRST CANON. The fervid glowOf your words compels me nowTo unlock the awful doors.Luis, you behold the cave:See!

LUIS. Oh, save me, gracious God!

FIRST CANON. What! dismayed?

LUIS. No, not dismayed;Still it scared me to behold.

FIRST CANON. I admonish you again,For no lesser cause to go,Than a firm belief that thereFor your sins you may atone.

LUIS. Father, I am in the cave:Listen to my voice once more,Men and wild beasts, skies and mountains,Day and night, and sun and moon,To you all I here protest,Ay, a thousand times make known,That I enter here to sufferTorments for my sins untold;For so great, so dread a penanceIs but little to atoneFor such sins as mine, believingThat the cave salvation holds.

FIRST CANON. Enter then, and in your mouth,As within your heart's deep core,Be the name of Jesus.

LUIS. BeWith me, Lord, O gracious Lord,For here, armed but with Thy faith,I am pitted 'gainst my foeIn the open field. That nameWill my enemy o'erthrow.Crossing myself many timesI advance. Oh, save me, God!

FIRST CANON. Of the many who have enteredNone has equal courage shown.Oh, enable him, just Jesus,To resist the demon hostAnd their wiles, relying everUpon Thee, divinest Lord.