Hunt. I must off! I’ll not again meet Olaf;
He’s not the facile fool that once he was:
But there’s that damning deed laid to his charge,
Will make Teresa curse both him and heaven!
[He goes out.
SCENE VII.
The following day—the interior of the chapel—Teresa on her knees before the image of the Virgin.
Mother of God, who borest
That cruel pang which made thy spirit bleed!
Who knew’st severest anguish, sorrow sorest,
Hear me in my great need!
My need is great, my woe is like thine own!
I am bereaved of mine only one!
Thou know’st I have no other!
Comfort me, oh my mother!
Kind Saviour, who didst shed
Tears for thy Lazarus dead;
Who raised the widow’s son from off his bier;
Who didst endure all woe
That human hearts can know,
Hear me, O hear!
Thou that art strong to comfort, look on me—
I sit in darkness, and behold no light!
Over my heart the waves of agony
Have gone, and left me faint! Forbear to smite
A bruised and broken reed! Sustain, sustain;
Divinest Comforter, to thee I fly,
Let me not fly in vain!
Support me with thy love, or else I die!
Father, who didst send down thy Well-Beloved,
To suffer shame and death that I might live,
Hear me, in this great sorrow not unmoved,
And if I sin, forgive!
Whate’er I had was thine!
A God of mercy thou hast ever been;
Assist me to resign;
And if I murmur, count it not for sin!
How rich I was, I dare not—dare not think;
How poor I am, thou knowest, who canst see
Into my soul’s unfathomed misery;
Forgive me if I shrink!
Forgive me if I shed these human tears!
That it so hard appears
To yield my will to thine, forgive, forgive!
Father, it is a bitter cup to drink!
[She bows her face, and after a time of
silence, rises.
My soul is strengthened! It shall bear
My lot, whatever it may be;
And from the depths of my despair
I will look up, and trust in Thee!
[She goes slowly out.
SCENE VIII.
Many weeks afterwards—a chamber of Olaf’s house—Olaf near death, lying upon his bed—Teresa sits beside him.
Olaf. For years of tyranny I do beseech
Thy pardon!—For thy meekness and thy truth
The unrepining patience, and the beauty
Of thy most holy life, my wife, I bless thee!
Ter. Thank God! affliction has been merciful!
My boy, thy death has saved thy father’s soul!
Olaf. And the great might of virtue in thyself;—
Thy resignation, and thy pitying pardon—
For these, receive my blessing ere I die—
These, which have been the means of my salvation!
Ter. Bless Him, my husband, who is strong to save!
Olaf. I do, I do!—and I rejoice in death;
Though, had my life been spared, I would have been
Both son and husband to thee!—Weep not thou—
We shall all three ere long be united—
I, the poor outcast else, be one with you!
Ter. Out of affliction has arisen joy,
And out of black despair immortal hope!
Olaf. [after a silence of some time.] Give me thy hand, sweet friend;—I fain would sleep;—
And if I wake no more, I still would know
Thou wilt be with me when I pass away!
Ter. May the kind, holy Mother bless thy sleep,—
And bless thy waking, be’t of life or death;
[Olaf remains perfectly quiet, and after
some time a light slumber comes over
Teresa, during which she hears dream-like
voices singing.
Oh human soul, ’tis done,
Past is thy trial; past thy woe and pain;
Nor is there mortal stain
Upon thy spirit-robes, redeemed one!
Spirit, that through a troubled sea
Of sin and passion hast been wildly tost,
And yet not lost,
With songs of triumph do we welcome thee!
Redeemed spirit, come,
Thine is a heavenly home!
Come, freed from human error;
From frailty, that did gird thee as the sea
Engirds the earth; from darkness, doubt and terror,
Which hung around the soul ere the light came;
From these we welcome thee!
Hark, heaven itself, rejoices,
Hark, the celestial voices
Shouting, like trumpet-peals, thy spirit-name!—
Oh gladly enter in,
Thou conqueror of sin,
The eternal city of the holy ones,
Where, brighter far than stars; or moons, or suns,
Thou shalt shine out before the Infinite!—
And see! a heavenly child,
With garments undefiled,
Streaming upon the air like odorous light,
Awaits to welcome thee!
Oh father, clasp thy boy,
Pour out thy soul in joy,
In love, which human frailty held in thrall;—
Boy, clasp thy father now,
Distrust and fear in heaven there cannot be,
For love enfoldeth all!
Oh happy pair, too long divided,
Pour out your souls in one strong sympathy!
Eternal Love your meeting steps hath guided,
Ne’er to be parted through eternity!
Ter. [Waking.] I know that he is dead; but this sweet omen,
These holy voices pealing joy in heaven,
Have taken the sting from death! My dear, dear husband,
I know that thou art blessed—art reunited
Unto our boy!
[She bends over the body for a few moments;
then kneeling down and covering her face,
she remains in silent prayer.