The Hidden Servants and Other Very Old Stories

Calmly, as of reason sure;
"All are tainted by his staying,
Let men know your hands are pure!

"For the shame and sorrow brought you,
Let him be to all as dead!
Harm sufficient has he wrought you!"
But the abbot shook his head.

For the sin which had undone him,
For much evil brought about,
He would lay a burden on him,
But he could not cast him out!

All night long the distant howling,
While he waked, of beasts of prey,
Made him think of demons prowling,
Come to snatch that soul away.

Said another: "I would rather
That his shame by all were seen.
Do not spare him, O my Father;
Let the blow be swift and keen!

"Let not justice be evaded!
Keep him, bound to labour hard,
With you, but apart degraded,
And from speech with all debarred!"

This the abbot not refusing,
Only wondered, while he thought,
Was there no one feared the losing
Of a soul the Lord had bought?

One, more thoughtless, recommended
That in prison closely pent
He should stay till life was ended!
But to this would none consent.

In the cell where first they closed him,
Shrinking back, as best he might,
From a window that exposed him
Sometimes to a passer's sight,

He, the black offender, waited,
From them parted since his fall:
Once beloved, now scorned and hated
By himself, he thought by all!

Nothing asking, nothing pleading,
Speechless, tearless, in despair;
But, like one in pain exceeding,
Moving ever here and there.

Little did his fate alarm him:
What had he to fear or shun?
What could others do to harm him
More than he himself had done?

But without were minds divided,
And the morning wore away;
Noon had come, and undecided
Still the heavy question lay.

Though they looked so stern and fearless,
Some with sinking hearts had come, —
Hearts that wept when eyes were tearless,
Pleaded when the lips were dumb.

One who had that morning seen him,
Seeking from their gaze to hide,
Tried from heavy doom to screen him;
But his reasons were denied.

He of other days was thinking, —
Happy days, and still so near! —
When that brother, shamed and shrinking,
Had to all their souls been dear.

Others tried their hearts to harden,
Felt their pity to be sin;
Silent, prayed the Lord to pardon
Kinder thoughts that rose within.

Some proposed and some objected,
While, the long debate to end,
One old Father they expected,
And on him would all depend.

He – their honoured, best adviser —
Dwelt in desert cave retired;
Older than the rest, and wiser:
Many thought his words inspired;

Said he knew what passed within them
When by sin or doubt assailed;
True it is, his words could win them,
Often, when all else had failed.

He would find what all were seeking,