Part 18 (2/2)

_Lucifer_. Do you, brother Paul, Creep under the window, close to the wall, And open it suddenly when I call.

Then seize the villain by the hair, And hold him there, And punish him soundly, once for all.

_Friar Cuthbert_. As St. Dustan of old, We are told, Once caught the Devil by the nose!

_Lucifer_. Ha! ha! that story is very clever, But has no foundation whatsoever.

Quick! for I see his face again Glaring in at the window pane; Now! now! and do not spare your blows.

(FRIAR PAUL _opens the window suddenly, and seizes_ SIEBALD. _They beat him._)

_Friar Siebald_. Help! help! are you going to slay me?

_Friar Paul_. That will teach you again to betray me!

_Friar Siebald_. Mercy! mercy!

_Friar Paul_ (_shouting and beating_). Rumpas bellorum lorum, Vim confer amorum Morum verorum, rorun.

Tu plena polorum!

_Lucifer_. Who stands in the doorway yonder, Stretching out his trembling hand, Just as Abelard used to stand, The flash of his keen, black eyes Forerunning the thunder?

_The Monks (in confusion)_. The Abbot! the Abbot!

_Friar Cuthbert (to the girl)_. Put on your disguise!

_Friar Francis_. Hide the great flagon From the eyes of the dragon!

_Friar Cuthbert_. Pull the brown hood over your face, Lest you bring me into disgrace!

_Abbot_. What means this revel and carouse?

Is this a tavern and drinking-house?

Are you Christian monks, or heathen devils, To pollute this convent with your revels?

Were Peter Damian still upon earth, To be shocked by such unG.o.dly mirth, He would write your names, with pen of gall, In his Book of Gomorrah, one and all!

Away, you drunkards! to your cells, And pray till you hear the matin-bells; You, Brother Francis, and you, Brother Paul!

And as a penance mark each prayer With the scourge upon your shoulders bare; Nothing atones for such a sin But the blood that follows the discipline.

And you, Brother Cuthbert, come with me Alone into the sacristy; You, who should be a guide to your brothers, And are ten times worse than all the others, For you I've a draught that has long been brewing You shall do a penance worth the doing!

Away to your prayers, then, one and all!

I wonder the very, convent wall Does not crumble and crush you in its fall!

THE NEIGHBORING NUNNERY.

_The_ ABBESS IRMINGARD _sitting with_ ELSIE _in the moonlight._

_Irmingard_ The night is silent, the wind is still, The moon is looking from yonder hill Down upon convent, and grove, and garden; The clouds have pa.s.sed away from her face, Leaving behind them no sorrowful trace, Only the tender and quiet grace Of one, whose heart had been healed with pardon!

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