Classic Poem

Public must be the sinner's shame,
As heinous his offence;
So Basil said, when he ordain'd
His form of penitence.

And never had such dismay been felt
Through that astonish'd town,
As when, at morn, the Crier went
Proclaiming up and down, —

" The miserable sinner, Eleimon,
Who for love hath sold himself to the Demon,
His guilt before God and man declares;
And beseeches all good Christians
To aid him with their prayers. "

Many were the hearts compassionate
Whom that woful petition moved;
For he had borne his fortune meekly,
And therefore was well beloved.

Open his hand had been,
And liberal of its store;
And the prayers of the needy arose,
Who had daily been fed at his door.

They, too, whom Cyra's secret aid
Relieved from pressing cares,
In this her day of wretchedness,
Repaid her with their prayers.

And from many a gentle bosom,
Supplications for mercy were sent,
If haply they might aid
The wretched penitent.

Sorely such aid he needed then!
Basil himself, of living men
The powerfulest in prayer,
For pity, rather than in hope,
Had bidden him not despair.

So hard a thing for him it seem'd
To wrest from Satan's hand
The fatal Bond, which, while retain'd,
Must against him in judgment stand.

" Dost thou believe, " he said, " that Grace,
Itself can reach this grief? "
With a feeble voice, and a woful eye,
" Lord, I believe! " was the sinner's reply;
" Help thou mine unbelief! "

The Bishop then cross'd him on the brow,
And cross'd him on the breast;
And told him, if he did his part
With true remorse and faithful heart,
God's mercy might do the rest.

" Alone in the holy Relic-room
Must thou pass day and night,
And wage with thy ghostly enemies
A more than mortal fight.

" The trial may be long, and the struggle strong,
Yet be not thou dismay'd;
For thou mayst count on Saints in Heaven,
And on earthly prayers for aid.

" And in thy mind this scripture bear
With steadfast faithfulness, whate'er
To appall thee may arrive, —
" When the wicked man turneth away from his sin,
He shall save his soul alive!"

" Take courage as thou lookest around
On the relics of the blest;
And night and day, continue to pray,
Until thy tears have wash'd away
The stigma from thy breast! "

" Let me be with him! " Cyra cried;
" If thou mayst not be there;
In this sore trial I at least
My faithful part may bear:

" My presence may some comfort prove,
Yea, haply some defence;
O Father, in myself I feel
The strength of innocence! "

" Nay, Daughter, nay; it must not be!
Though dutiful this desire;
He may by Heaven's good grace be saved,
But only as if by fire; —

" Sights which should never meet thine eye
Before him may appear;
And fiendish voices proffer words
Which should never assail thy ear;
Alone must be this trance sustain;
Keep thou thy vigils here! "

He led him to the Relic-room;
Alone he left him there;
And Cyra with the Nuns remain'd
To pass her time in prayer.

Alone was Eleimon left
For mercy on Heaven to call;
Deep and unceasing were his prayers,
But not a tear would fall.

His lips were parch'd, his head was hot,
His eyeballs throbb'd with heat;
And in that utter silence
He could hear his temples beat.

But cold his feet, and cold his hands;
And at his heart there lay
An icy coldness unrelieved,
While he pray'd the livelong day.

A long, long day! It pass'd away
In dreadful expectation;
Yet free throughout the day was he
From outward molestation.

Nor sight appear'd, nor voice was heard,
Though every moment both he fear'd;
The Spirit of the Air
Were busy the while in infusing
Suggestions of despair.

And he in strong endeavor still
Against them strove with earnest will;
Heart-piercing was his cry,
Heart-breathed his groaning; but it seem'd
That the source of tears was dry.

And now had evening closed;
The dim lamp-light alone
On the stone cross, and the marble walls,
And the shrines of the Martyrs, shone.

Before the Cross Eleimon lay:
His knees were on the ground;
Courage enough to touch the Cross
Itself, he had not found.

But on the steps of the pedestal
His lifted hands were laid;
And in that lowliest attitude
The suffering sinner pray'd.

A strong temptation of the Fiend,
Which bade him despair and die,
He with the aid of Scripture
Had faithfully put by;
And then, as with a dawning hope,
He raised this contrite cry: —

" O that mine eyes were fountains!
If the good grace of Heaven
Would give me tears, methinks I then
Might hope to be forgiven! "

To that meek prayer a short, loud laugh
From fiendish lips replied:
Close at his ear he felt it,
And it sounded on every side.

From the four walls and the vaulted roof
A shout of mockery rung;
And the echoing ground repeated the sound,
Which peal'd above, and below, and around,
From many a fiendish tongue.

The lamps went out at that hideous shout,
But darkness had there no place,
For the room was fill'd with a lurid light
That came from a Demon's face.

A dreadful face it was, — too well
By Eleimon known!
Alas! he had seen it when he stood
Before the dolorous Throne.

" Eleimon! Eleimon! "
Sternly said the Demon,
How have I merited this?
I kept my covenant with thee,
And placed thee in worldly bliss!

" And still thou mightest have had,
Thine after-days to bless,
Health, wealth, long life, and whatsoe'er
The World calls happiness.

" Fool, to forego thine earthly joys,
Who hast no hope beyond!
For judgment must be given for me,
When I sue thee upon the Bond.

" Remember I deceived thee not;
Nor had I tempted thee:
Thou camest of thine own accord,
And didst act knowingly!

" I told thee thou mightst vainly think
To cheat me by contrition,
When thou wert written down among
The Children of Perdition!

" " So help me, Satan!" were thy words
When thou didst this allow;
I help'd thee, Eleimon, then, —
And I will have thee now! "

At the words of the Fiend, from the floor
Eleimon in agony sprung;
Up the steps of the pedestal he ran,
And to the Cross he clung.

And then it seem'd as if he drew,
While he clasp'd the senseless stone,
A strength he had not felt till then,
A hope he had not known.

So when the Demon ceased,
He answer'd him not a word;
But, looking upward, he
His faithful prayer preferr'd:

" All, all, to Thee, my Lord
And Savior, I confess!
And I know that Thou canst cleanse me
From all unrighteousness!

" I have turned away from my sin;
In Thee do I put my trust;
To such Thou hast promised forgiveness,
And Thou art faithful and just! "

With that the Demon disappear'd;
The lamps resumed their light;
Nor voice nor vision more
Disturb'd him through the night.

He stirr'd not from his station,
But there stood fix'd in prayer;
And when Basil the Bishop enter'd
At morn, he found him there.