Volume 25 — THE CATHOLIC WORLD. VOL. XXV., No. 146.—MAY, 1877. (continued 2)

Pisistratus! avenge thee on his life

Whose bold embrace hath brought our daughter down!”

And her lord seemed to me benign and mild,

Answering with aspect that her fury stemmed:

“What should we do to one that harmed our child,

If one caressing her be so condemned?”

Next I saw people raging hot in ire,

174Slaying a youth with stones, and shouting loud:

“Martyr him! martyr him!” in tumult dire;

And I saw him drop down before the crowd

Dying, but lifting, ere he did expire,

Looks that might win compassion for his foes;

And with such eyes,—they seemed the doors of heaven!

Praying the most high Father that, for those

Who wrought such wrong, their sin might be forgiven.

Soon as my mind that from itself had swerved

Came back to true things that outside it lie,

I knew my dreams false, but their truth observed.

My leader then, who could perceive that I

Walked like a man by somnolence unnerved,

Said: “Come! what ails thee that thou canst not keep

Thy footing straight, but more than half a league

Hast moved, with faltering steps, as if by sleep

Or wine o’ercome, and eyes that show fatigue?”

I answered: “O sweet Father! I will tell,

If thou wilt hear me, all that I have seen,

While my limbs failed me and my strength so fell.”

And he replied: “Shouldst thou thy visage screen

Beneath an hundred masks, I still could spell

Each slightest thought of thine, and read thy dreams.

This vision came lest thou be self-excused

Thy heart from opening to the peace that streams

From love’s eternal fount o’er all diffused.

I did not ask 'what ails thee,’ as men speak,

Who look with mortal eye that cannot see

The soul without its body. Thou wast weak,

And I, to strengthen, reprehended thee.

So men are wont dull servants to reprove

That when their watch comes round are slow to stir.”

During these words we did not cease to move

On through the evening, and attentive were

To look beyond us, far as vision might,

Against the level sun’s o’erpowering rays;

And towards us, lo! a vapor, dun as night,

Little by little growing on our gaze,

Deprived us of pure air and dimmed our sight,

Nor was there shelter from the blinding haze.

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