The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 1 - George MacDonald

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desolate and silent. I can gather

        So much, and little more:—This Julian

        Is one of some distinction; probably rich,

        And titled Count. He had a love-affair,

        In good-boy, layman fashion, seemingly.—

        Give me the woman; love is troublesome!—

        She loved him too, but falsehood came between,

        And used this woman for her minister;

        Who never would have peached, but for a witness

        Hidden behind some curtain in her heart—

        An unsuspected witness called Sir Conscience,

        Who has appeared and blabbed—but must conclude

        His story to some double-ghostly father,

        For she is ghostly penitent by this.

        Our consciences will play us no such tricks;

        They are the Church's, not our own. We must

        Keep this small matter secret. If it should

        Come to his ears, he'll soon bid us good-bye—

        A lady's love before ten heavenly crowns!

        And so the world will have the benefit

        Of the said wealth of his, if such there be.

        I have told you, old Godfrey; I tell none else

        Until our Abbot comes.

        1st Monk.

                              That is to-morrow.

        Another group near the bottom of the table, in which is ROBERT.

        1st Monk.

        'Tis very clear there's something wrong with him.

        Have you not marked that look, half scorn, half pity,

        Which passes like a thought across his face,

        When he has listened, seeming scarce to listen,

        A while to our discourse?—he never joins.

        2nd Monk.

        I know quite well. I stood beside him once,

        Some of the brethren near; Stephen was talking:

        He chanced to say the words, Our Holy Faith.

        "Their faith indeed, poor fools!" fell from his lips,

        Half-muttered, and half-whispered, as the words

        Had wandered forth unbidden. I am sure

        He is an atheist at the least.

        3rd Monk (pale-faced and large-eyed).

                                       And I

        Fear he is something worse. I had a trance

        In which the devil tempted me: the shape

        Was Julian's to the very finger-nails.

        Non nobis, Domine! I overcame.

        I am sure of one thing—music tortures him:

        I saw him once, amid the Gloria Patri,

        When the whole chapel trembled in the sound,

        Rise slowly as in ecstasy of pain,

        And stretch his arms abroad, and clasp his hands,

        Then slowly, faintingly, sink on his knees.

        2nd Monk.

        He does not know his rubric; stands when others

        Are kneeling round him. I have seen him twice

        With his missal upside down.

        4th Monk (plethoric and husky).

                                    He blew his nose

        Quite loud on last Annunciation-day,

        And choked our Lady's name in the Abbot's throat.

        Robert.

        When he returns, we must complain; and beg

        He'll take such measures as the case requires.

      SCENE III.—Julian's cell. An open chest. The lantern on a stool, its candle nearly burnt out. JULIAN lying on his bed, looking at the light

        Julian.

        And so all growth that is not toward God

        Is growing to decay. All increase gained

        Is but an ugly, earthy, fungous growth.

        'Tis aspiration as that wick aspires,

        Towering above the light it overcomes,

        But ever sinking with the dying flame.

        O let me live, if but a daisy's life!

        No toadstool life-in-death, no efflorescence!

        Wherefore wilt thou not hear me, Lord of me?

        Have I no claim on thee? True, I have none

        That springs from me, but much that springs from thee.

        Hast thou not made me? Liv'st thou not in me?

        I have done naught for thee, am but a want;

        But thou who art rich in giving, canst give claims;

        And this same need of thee which thou hast given,

        Is a strong claim on thee to give thyself,

        And makes me bold to rise and come to thee.

        Through all my sinning thou hast not recalled

        This witness of thy fatherhood, to plead

        For thee with me, and for thy child with thee.

        Last night, as now, I seemed to speak with him;

        Or was it but my heart that spoke for him?

        "Thou mak'st me long," I said, "therefore wilt give;

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