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

Автор

George MacDonald

Жанр

Зарубежная классика

Год написания книги

2018

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I will but love you more. I thought you had
Already told me suffering enough;
But not the half, it seems, of your adventures.
You have been a soldier!

Julian.
I have fought, my Lilia.
I have been down among the horses' feet;
But strange to tell, and harder to believe,
Arose all sound, unmarked with bruise, or blood
Save what I lifted from the gory ground.

[Sighing.]

My wounds are not of such.

[LILIA, loosening her arms, and drawing back a little with a kind of shrinking, looks a frightened interrogation.]

No. Penance, Lilia;
Such penance as the saints of old inflicted
Upon their quivering flesh. Folly, I know;
As a lord would exalt himself, by making
His willing servants into trembling slaves!
Yet I have borne it.

Lilia
(laying her hand on his arm).
Ah, alas, my Julian,
You have been guilty!

Julian.
Not what men call guilty,
Save it be now; now you will think I sin.
Alas, I have sinned! but not in this I sin.—
Lilia, I have been a monk.

Lilia.
A monk?

[Turningpale.]

I thought—

[Faltering.]

Julian,—I thought you said…. did you not say…?

[Very pale, brokenly.]

I thought you said …

[With an effort.]

I was to be your wife!

[Covering her face with her hands, and bursting into tears.]

Julian
(speaking low and in pain).
And so I did.

Lilia
(hopefully, and looking up).
Then you've had dispensation?

Julian.
God has absolved me, though the Church will not.
He knows it was in ignorance I did it.
Rather would he have men to do his will,
Than keep a weight of words upon their souls,
Which they laid there, not graven by his finger.
The vow was made to him—to him I break it.

Lilia
(weeping bitterly).
I would … your words were true … but I do know …
It never can … be right to break a vow;
If so, men might be liars every day;
You'd do the same by me, if we were married.

Julian
(in anguish).
'Tis ever so. Words are the living things!
There is no spirit—save what's born of words!
Words are the bonds that of two souls make one!
Words the security of heart to heart!
God, make me patient! God, I pray thee, God!

Lilia
(not heeding him).
Besides, we dare not; you would find the dungeon
Gave late repentance; I should weep away
My life within a convent.

Julian.
Come to England,
To England, Lilia.

Lilia.