)
O God, who sufferedst on the cross, inspire
Their souls as thou hast mine !
O God, who sufferedst on the cross, inspire
Their souls as thou hast mine !
Krasinski - The Undivine Comedy
To all the brethren loudly cry : To arms !
{Exit Iridion. ^
Metella. My Lord is here ! . . . He comes again to
earth.
The sword of victory flashes in His hands,
His last words were. To arms! To arms! Ye priests.
Bones of the dead, ami living warriors,
And all ye people of the Lord, cry out:
To arms! To arms! Men, follow me! To arms I
{She hurries forward. )
SCENE n. Another fart of the catacombs. Simeon of
Corinth. A roll of parchment, a crucifix, and a death's-
head stand on a tablet near him.
Simeon. With one day's bound to rule o'er all the
world !
IRIDION. 363
Not that material earth glittering with gold,
Groaning in chains; but that realm infinite
Of souls; — to reign there in Thy name, O Lord!
Like a vast sea of light, this thought unrolls
Before me. I ever float toward this great sea,
Struggling through torrents of oppression, pain,
Cleaving the gloomy waves with greater force;
Each hour the tide bears me more swiftly on !
All that is matter, Christ, I would subject to Thee !
There are the deserts, mountains, cities, streams,
The cries of merchants, clamors of the kings:
My soul, made in Thy image, then would float
Above them, ruling and embracing all.
Ordain them prayer or silence, thought or sleep,
Joy, fear, repentance, — I would reign with Christ! . . .
Iridion {enters). I greet you, son of Hellas ! Doubly
brother !
Simeon. You come at last !
Iridion. I am in time to act.
Simeon. Have you seen Victor? Will he move with us?
Iridion. The superannuated child who rules us?
His gentleness is weakness; weakness, obstinacy!
Simeon. His flock will not move on in unknown fields
Witliout the shepherd. Greek, he must be won!
Iridion. We will delay our onset till the last,
Then with despairing prayers surround him suddenly;
All unprepared his fears may force him on,
Or God's own Spirit shine into his heart.
Simeon. I'll go and throw myself before his feet;
Perhaps the hot sparks breathing from my heart
Will kindle his cold brain.
Iridion. His eyes are dim,
His soul asleep; we must go on without him.
Surmount all obstacles; thus only can
We hope to win deliverance from shame!
Simeon. All will be as you've prophesied! Hark!
Hear
You not the sound of many mingling voices?
As I ordained, they meet upon the space
Which separates the holy Cliristian graves
From the wide cemeteries of the pagans.
364 IRTDION.
Tndioji. Simeon, take up this mystic crucifix,
And bear their God, still unavenged, before them!
Simeon {seizing the crucifix). Alas! how blind and
groveling I have been !
I thought that man must bear wrong patiently ;
That to win Heaven, he must bear shame and pain !
{He takes up the death' s-head. ) Look on these fleshless
temples; into these
Dim caverns from which shone a lustrous eye,
The joy and light of my once happy life !
The Bishop had consented to unite us
In holy bonds; we were so young and happy;
Another day had made her mine forever!
But at the dead of night a centurion came,
And dragged the helpless innocent away
To fight with wild beasts in the Flavian circus: —
This skull alone was left me from the tiger's jaws!
I struggled with resistance, rage, despair,
As if with Lucifer, wild as a fiend !
At last I bowed before the Holy Lamb,
And gave to Jesus all my fiery soul.
{He places the skull upo? i the tablet. )
Rest, hapless maiden, rest! The dawn is near.
The Resurrection trump about to sound,
And soon thou wilt arise in loveliness
From thy red bed of death !
Iridion. Revenge! Revenge!
Where swarm the bees, let vengeance fall the first !
{Exeunt Simeon and Iridion. )
SCENE in. Spacious vaults in the catacombs. The walls
are filled with pagan cenotaphs and inscriptions, the ground
is almost covered zaith grave-mounds, tombstones, and mon-
umental pillars. It has been the receptacle of the pagan
dead, and no Christian inscriptions are 7oithin it. The
Christians enter, bearing torches.
CHORUS OF YOUNG DISCIPLES.
Wretched is he who is of woman born :
His days are few, and ever full of woe !
IRIDION. 365
Even on the cross He cannot turn for thorns,
Nor tear away His hands for cruel nails!
His sister darkness is: His grave is with the worm!
CHORUS OF OLD DISCIPLES.
Holy ! Holy ! Holy ! Just are all Thy judgments !
From martyr-sires, Thou bring'st new generations
Of Christian sons ! Thou coverest the mounds
Of our dead bones with the fresh green of spring,
The flowers of young life ! And Thou wilt found,
From the dying life-flood of our willing veins.
Thy holy kingdom, justice, for our children!
CHORUS OF YOUNG DISCIPLES.
Send us a Comforter, and let Him stand
On the high places of the earth, and plant
His feet upon the neck of our proud foes !
{Enter Simeon ««^Iridion. )
Simeon. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost,
Peace be upon you all !
CHORUS OF OLD DISCIPLES,
O Simeon !
Why is he who is with thee, lately clad
In the catechumen's peaceful robes, now girt
With armor, glittering with steel?
Teach him repentance is the truest shield.
And prayer the only armor for a Christian.
Simeon {to Iridion'). Step on this mound, and answer
for yourself!
I will meanwhile invoke the Holy Spirit.
Jridion. Let him who doubts trust not to his now
wisdom,
But look upon the signs, remembering
The Promised Days, which were to precede the last
Of woes on earth ! Tiiis hour Time ends his silence;
The tortures of the Just are over now ;
Graves will no longer for our martyrs ope ;
Our virgins no more fill the tiger's maw;
366
IRIDION.
The dead bones quicken, mount to Heaven's blue !
Arise, ye Cliristians, cowering in the dust !
Tremble, ye rulers, who increase our pangs 1
For all " the valleys shall exalted be,
And the high places of the earth laid low ! "
Young Disciples. O son of promise, may the Lord be
with thee !
Iridion. The lightnings of Jehovah are with us :
From our humiliation springs our inspiration !
Our trust is in the mercy of the Son,
The glorious power of the triune God !
If ye will aid me with your wills and prayers,
Our strength will be increased a thousand-fold.
Strike as one man for vengeance ! Even to-night
Division seals the doom of the cursed city !
The son of madness totters on his throne.
The praetorians turn away from him their hearts,
The storm-tost people know not by what wind
To steer their course; like waves before the tumult,
They rise and fall ; but soon the heavy wings
Of the black tempest will swoop down on them,
Awaking all the lightnings of their passions !
Look how the clouds are piling above Rome
Which murders prophets, crucifies the saints !
The legions throughout Asia revolt ;
The Alemanni on the Rhine rebel ;
Csesar and Alexander stand prepared
For their last struggle. The one cries ''Jupiter ! "
The other summons Mithras to his aid !
What matters it to us which of them conquers.
Since both will equally blaspheme our Lord ?
Such are the signs long since predicted you ;
Look up, and see them glittering in the sky !
Will firmly, you are free ; and Christ shall rule I
CHORUS OF OLD DISCIPLES.
Who gave thee the commission to conduct us ?
Who stamped thy brow with the seal of the Holy Word?
Where is the anointed shepherd of our flock?
Will he point to thee, saying clearly to us:
Behold the Leader whom the Lord hath armed ?
IRIDION. 367
Simeon {standing upon a tomb). I bear him witness !
{He holds aloft the crucifix. )
Flow on, ye tears of Christ !
Open afresh, ye gaping, bleeding wounds !
Behold the Lord, regarding not the proud,
Whom you would fetter at the thrones of men !
But God is conqueror of the gates of death !
Men without hearts, sleep on, if sleep you can ;
Cumber like stocks and stones His living way,
To you I speak not ! You who do not burn
To see the new Jerusalem descend
Upon the waves of time, — to you I speak not !
I call on those for whom He suffered shame
And anguish, till woe grew to such a height
The sun ia horror veiled his radiant face !
Ah ! since that night of terror, who defends
The Son of man ? . . . who strikes for Jesus Christ ?
He hungered — there were none to give Him food 1
Thirsted — but there were none to give Him drink !
Naked — none came to clothe or comfort Him !
But every day and every passing hour
The nations of the earth conspire against Him,
Scorn His disciples, crucify anew !
CHORUS OF THE YOUNG.
Curses upon the worshipers of Moloch !
Iridion. Let not the appointed hour escape us,
brothers 1
Gaze not upon it as the gleam of wings
Whirring above our heads, fading in distance ;
Nor as the lightning flash, scathing the sky,
To vanish 'midst the clouds ! O brothers, seize.
And clasp these moments to your heart of hearts !
Press from them that which never will return !
Strike from them noio the glittering spark of life.
For they contain the germs of our whole future ;
Long centuries are wrapped within their shroud ;
They hold the hope of all humanity, —
These centuries are yours, — if you know how to grasp
them !
368 IRIDION.
CHORUS OF OLD DISCIPLES.
The flame of prayer is dying in our souls ;
A mystic veil darkens the sky above us ;
Save us, O Lord, from all the Devil's wiles !
Iridion. This is mere weakness ! Summon all your
strength !
I call on you by chains your fathers wore ;
By Nero's butcheries; the arena's bloody sands;
The victims of the amphitheatre ;
Your daughters' shame, — shake off these craven fears !
Be men ! And Rome is yours !
CHORUS OF YOUNG DISCIPLES.
Thy voice, like trumpet-thunders, stirs our souls,
Driving us up to the surface of the earth ;
But our hearts throb, and our hair stands on end !
Simeon of Corinth, speak ! what seest thou ?
Simeon. I gaze with the eyes of John, to whom ap-
peared
The new Jerusalem of the Elect. He sleeps
In his lone grave, and angels bend above him.
To-day or else to-morrow, he will rise.
And then I will retire that he may lead you.
But now 'tis I who call you, prophesy.
CHORUS.
Simeon, strange clouds are sweeping o'er thy brow,
The black cross quivers in thy trembling hands
Like swaying branch upborne by stormy winds !
Simeon. The spirit lifts me up — and bears me on !
My feet are on the ruins of a city.
Idols are overturned like new-mown grass ;
On piles of broken arms, eagles of gold
Lie shattered without beaks or wings; I see
Imperial purple strewn about in rags.
Covered with cobwebs, like flax on the grass.
The fire is out within the vestal's lamp;
Unbraidcd hang the tresses of her hair;
'J'he long robes of the consuls float no more ;
The Caesars' jeweled crown is soaked in gore ;
IRIDION. 369
Flames run along the heaps of festering corpses,
And flying chariots vanish in the distance !
{He falls upon his knees.
)
O God, who sufferedst on the cross, inspire
Their souls as thou hast mine ! kindle their hearts
With the consuming fire of battle !
{Rising from his knees. )
High Heaven is overflowing with your prayers, —
The foaming waves repulse the infidels.
The souls of martyrs, of the massacred.
Are placed before the altar which forever burns
Around the Great White Throne : I see Him shine
Who sits upon that Throne ; He counts them all ;
He finds their number all completed now ;
The crimson Book of Martyrdom is closed,
Death banished, and a loud voice cries : " Henceforth
You witness unto Christ through life and victory ! "
CHORUS (kneeling).
Christ ! Christ ! our hearts throb wild within our breasts !
Forsake us not in this our hour of doubt,
Reveal to us what Thou would' st have us do !
Iridion. O ye of little faith, can ye still doubt ?
{He points to the crucifix. )
Lift up your eyes ! gaze on your dying Lord !
His lips are open still ; do you not hear
The last cry breaking from his anguished soul ?
"My Father, why hast Thou forsaken me ! "
Brothers, will you again abandon Him to-day?
CHORUS OF THE YOUNG.
No ! No !
Iridion {starts and utters a sharp cry). Ha ! what
stands there ?
Simeon. Thou growest pale !
Iridion. Look, 'neath the vaults, where light and dark-
ness meet !
32
370
IRIDION.
One of the Chonis. Some one approaches us with light,
quick tread.
{Metella glides rapidly forward. Her veil is displaced, and
her long hair floats ofi the wind. )
Simeon. We greet thee, virgin ! Bride of the eternal
love !
CHORUS.
Whence comest thou so late, and all alone,
With wild disheveled hair?
(^Metella stops near the tomb where Iridio7i stands. )
Simeofi. Greek, finish quickly what thou hast begun !
Iridion {to Metella). Dost recognize rae ? Remem-
berest thou my words ?
{She sees him and shrieks. )
A Man. Heard you that piercing shriek ?
Other Voices. It fills our hearts with awe !
Iridion. Silence ! she speaks !
Metella. Thou didst reveal Thyself!
Thy wings were swords on which the angels rode !
Thy mighty words came crashing through my ears ;
Since then I run forever to and fro
And cry as angels bid {turning to the people) : To arms !
to arms !
Iridion {aside). Through thee I conquer, Masinissa !
{Addressing the people. ) Hear !
A woman's spirit has divined before you
The mysteries of Heaven ! wash off the shame
In the hot blood of the idolaters !
{He places his hand on the head of Metella. )
Become the living voice of promised glory !
Before our people lift the veil of time !
Metella. I saw him armed with dazzling lightning . . .
He went forth conquering, and to conquer all . . .
I looked into his face, and grew immortal . , .
CHORUS OF THE OLD.
Is it a vision ? Hast thou a spirit seen ?
Has it yet vanished, or is it present still?
IRIDION.
' 371
Metella. I saw him armed with lightning . . . he
marched and fought,
And triumphed everywhere . . . naught could resist
him . . .
The arrows from his bow compassed the earth . . .
Terror surrounds him as a cloak a king . . .
And when he moves, pale Death accompanies him !
{She hurries onward. )
A Voice. Her long hair floats and flutters like a mist
Amid this surging sea of heads and torches !
Iridion. Where wilt thou go ? Metella, answer me !
Metella. Where the light cannot pierce, my voice
shall reach :
To arms ! to arms !
Simeon. To arms !
All. To arms ! To arms !
Metella. O Darkness, rend your walls before my cry !
Dead rocks remove, — bear witness to the Lord !
Simeon. Urged by the spirit on, she disappears.
Many Voices. And we will follow her to victory !
Iridion. You know the Palace of Amphilochus ;
Whoe'er shall there present himself and say:
"Sigurd, the son of Crimhild," shall receive
Immediately a javelin, sword, and helmet.
Remember: "Sigurd, son of Crimhild. "
First Barbarian. Was Crimhild, Odin's priestess,
child of Sigurd,
Once famous in the distant Chersonesus ?
Second Barbarian. Our sires invoked that name with
love and awe.
Third Barbarian. Our kinsmen from the cold sea of
the North
Chanted to us in the dense Saxon woods
Her funeral hymn. She was from Silver-Land.
Iridion. She was my mother ! Ye are all ray brothers !
{He comes down from the tomb, and moves among the Bar-
barians. )
Give me your hands ! We have abandoned all
Our ancient errors ; let the errors still,
Once common to our fathers, weave new ties
372 ■ IRIDION.
Between their sons !
In the name of Christ, be faithful to me, Brothers !
CHORUS OF BARBARIANS.
Oh, son of Crimhild ! Son of Silver-Land !
From freemen come free pledges never broken !
The blue-eyed, fair-haired, sturdy sons of the North
Will not betray thee ! To thee they give their bodies,
As they have given their souls to their new God !
Iridion. The son of Sigurd thanks his faithful breth-
ren !
CHORUS OF BARBARIANS.
'Tis centuries since Herminius began
The combat against Rome, — the southern elephant !
His bones rest in the woods of Irminsul.
On ! on ! Before a wandering spirit drove us forth
From our dark pines, we had already heard
Our Bards announce the ruin of proud Rome.
Iridion our Herminius shall be !
Lead us to battle ! Lead us to destroy
The palaces of treacherous Italy !
{Subterranean noises are heard. A wild storm rages, ac-
companied by an earthquake. )
Simeon. Why ragest thou, O Earth ? thou mother of
Dead bodies, not of living souls?
Iridion. Earth's voice
Announces judgment on the idolaters !
CHORUS OF THE OLD.
O Simeon ! hear'st thou not the voice of God
In anger, in these dreadful thunderings?
Simeon. The wrath of God is here announced, — I
bless it !
The Almighty rises — the Abyss cries mercy !
{Subterranean fioises increase, with consequent alarm and
confusion. )
The very rocks are shuddering in affright,
And the winds hiss like serpents ! The Furies send
Tempests before them, as they haste to claim
IRIDION. 373
Their ancient worshipers ! Their dead lie here !
Their graves are yawning wide and bottomless !
Hosanna ! See, the Day of Judgment dawns !
CHORUS OF THE YOUNG.
Now keep thy promise, Hieronymus !
The will of Christ reveals itself through thee !
Iridion. Mithras and Jove go thundering down to-
gether,
As we, the faithful Christians, march to plant
The Holy Cross upon the Capitol !
My treasures all are yours ! My blood to its last drop !
Swear then to follow me !
CHORUS OF THE OLD.
Swear not ! Woe ! woe !
CHORUS OF THE YOUNG.
We swear ! We swear it in the name of Christ !
Iridion. You'll know no rest, no prayers, nor feed upon
The Body of the Lord, until you plant
His sacred Cross upon the Capitol !
CHORUS OF THE YOUNG.
We swear !
BARBARIANS.
We swear !
CHORUS OF THE OLD.
Earth yawns to swallow sacrilege !
( The tumult continues to increase. Crashing and subter-
ranean noises ; torches flicker and go out; mounds,
stones, and pillars totter; the old graves of the pagans
yawn; groups of Christians are srvallowed up; fires
break from the earth and panic prevails. ')
Iridion.
