Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-14
which self-denial, humility, sincerity and
simplicity were the chief duties"
THE IMMCLATION OF CONSTANCE
DE BEVERLEY

pOSeQ II sacramento Mdfcn lotE, at the LOAF
Exhibition, Croker Art Gallery.J
A den which, chilling every sense
Of feeling, hearing, sight,
Was called the Vault of Penitence,
Excluding air and light:
But though, III the mCnastic pile,
Did Of the penitential aisle
Some vague tradition go,
Few only, save the Abbot, knew
Where the place lay and still more few
Where those who had from him the clue
To that dread vault to go.
Victim and eXecutioneT
Were blindfold when transported there.
IN low dark rounds the arches hung,
From the RIDE rock the side Walls sprung
The grayeStOneS rudely sculptured DER
Half sunk i'll earth by time well wore
were oil the pavement Of the floor.
The inildeW-drOpS fell, one by one,
With tinkling splash upon the stone:
a creSset, in an iron chain,
Which served 70 light the drear domain
With damp ana darkness seemed TO strive
As If It scarce might keep alive,
And yet il dimly served to show
The awful Conclave met below.
There. net TO doom il secrecy,
Were placed the heads of conVe MS three;
All servants of saint Benedict,
The statutes of whose order strict
On iron table lay
In long black dress on seats of stone,
Behind were these three judges shown
By the pale cresSet's ray;
Before them stood d guilty pair.
But, though an equal fate they share,
Yet one alone deserves our caIe.
Her sex Il pGge's dress belcd;
The cloak and doublet. loosely tied
Obscured her charms. but could not hide.
Her cap down DER her face she drew,
And, on her doublet breast,
She tried to hide her badge OF blue,
Lord Marmions falcon crest
But st the PrioresS' command,
\ monk undid the silken band
That tied hCr trCSSes fair,
And raised the bonnet from her head
And down her slender form they spread
In ringlets rich and rare.
Constance de Beverley they know,
Sister profeSse1 OF Fontevrdud,
Whom the church numbered with the dead
For broken vows and convent fed
When thus her face was given &c view,
(Although so pallid was her hue
1t did CHASTITY contrast bear
To those bright ringlets fair)
Her lcok composed and steady eye
Bespoke a mutChlCSS cOaStarCy;
And there she stood so calm and pale
That, but her breathing did not fail,
And motion slight of eye ana head
And of her bosom warranted
That neither sense nor pulse she lacks,
You might have thought u form Of wax.
Wrought to the very life, was there,
50 still she was 50 pale 80 fair.
Her c0mrGdC was II Sordid soul,
such IS Goes murder for need,
Who, but for fear, knows no control,
Because his conscience, scared and foul,
Feels Lot the import Of his deed;
One whose brute feeling necr a.pires
Beyond his own more brute desires.
Such tools tlse tempter ever needs
To do the sayagcst OF deeds;
For them no yiSioned terrOTs 6sunt,
Their nights 10 fancied SpeCtres haunt;
One fear with them, OF all most base
The tear of tedth-alOle finds place.
oil o. 4 ir,t -fNfsl- ND
And shgmed not loud 10 mourn and howl.
His body on the 9Oor TO dash.
And crouch, like hound beneath the lash;
While his mute partner, standing near,
Waited her doom without n tear.
Yet we'll the luckless wretch might shrek,
Well might her palcness terror speak
For there was seen, i'll that dark wall,
Two inches, narrow, deep and tall.
Who enters at such griSly door
Shall ne'er, ween, ind exit more.
In each q slender meal was laid
Of roots, OF water, and of bread;
By each, in Benedlctine dress,
Two hagga:d monks stood mctioriess.
Who. holding high blazing torch
Showed the grim enhance of the porch;
Rejecting back the smoky lean,
The dark walls and arches CLEAN;
Hewn stones and cement were displayed.
And building tools in order laid.
And now that blind old Abbot rose,
To speak she Chapters doom
On those the wall was to enclose
Alive within the tomb;
Hut stopped, because that wOeful maid,
Gathering her powers TO speak essayed,
- speak not to lIuploTe yolIT grace;
sell know Tor one minute space
SUcccSsless might I sue.
nor do | speak your prayers TO gain
For il death of lingering pain
To cleanse my sins be penarce vain,
Vain are your masses, too
listened TO traitors tale,
l left the convent and the veil:
For three long years bowed my pride.
A hOrsc-bCy in his train to ride;
And well IGy fOily's need be gave.
Who forfeited, to be his slave,
All here and beyond the grave.
lie saw young ClaTa'S face more fair,
He knew her of broad lands the heir.
Forgot his VOWS, his faith foTswore.
And Constance was beloved no more
lis an old tale and often told;
But did my fate and wish agree,
Ne or had been read, in story old,
OF maiden true betrayed for gold,
That loved, or was avenged like nc,
And now my tongue the secret tells,
Not thet remorsc my bosom swells.
But to assure my soul that none
Shall ever wed with Marmion.
Had fortune ny last hope betrayed,
This packet, to the king conveyed,
Had given him to the hcadsman'5 stroke,
Although my heart that instant broke.
Now men of death, work forth your VIII
For can suffer ard be still;
And come he slow or come he fast,
1t is but Death who comes at last.
Yet dread me, from my living tomb,
Ie yassal slaves of bloody Romei
If MariOn's late remorse should wake.
Full soon such vengeance will he take
That you shall wish the fiery Dane
Had rather been your guest again.
Behind, darker hour ascendsl
The affairs quake, the crosier bends
The ire of 8 despotic king
Rides forth upon distractions wing;
Then shall these vaults, so strong and deep, /!
Burst open to the SeG-wind's sweep.
Some traveller then shall find my bones
Whitening amid disjoiuted stones.
And, ignorant OF priests cruelty,
Marvel such relics here should be" |
Fixed was her look. and stern her air.
Back from her shoulders styeamed her hair; |
The lock that wont her brow TO shade,
Stared up eTcCtly IRON her head:
Her figure seemed 10 rise more high
Her voice, despaiT's wild energy
Had given tone OF prophecy |
Appalled, the aslonished cOncluve safe;
With stupid eyes the men Of fate
Gazed on the light Inspired form,
And listened for the ayenging storm.
The Judges felt the victims dread !
No hand was moved, no word vas said,
Till thus the Abbot's doom was given,
Raising his sightless balls to heaven
" Sister, let thy sorrows cease:
Sinful brother, part in peace p
An hundred winding steps convey
That conclaye to the upper day;
But ere they breethed the fresher air,
They heard the shr!ekmg OF despair,
Aud many a StiEcd groan |
With speed their upward way they take
Such speed rs age and fear can make,
And cross d themselves for tcrror's sake
As hurrying lettering on;
Even IN the yesper's heavenly tone
They seemed to hear dying grOan,
And babe the passing knell to toll
For welfare of parting soul
SLOW o cr the midnight wave IL swung
NorthUmhTian rocks in answer runC;
To Narkworth cell the echoes rolled.
His beads the N8keiul hermit told
The Marlborough peasant raised his head,
But slept ere half prayer ne said
So far was heard the mighty kucll,
The stag sprung up on Chcyiot Fell
Spread his broad nOStril 10 the wind
Listed before aside, behind
Then couch him down beside the hind
And quaked among the mountain fern,
To hear that sound so dun and stern
-lSir Walter Scott
A Bad Subject.
,Oloncl Matcland was recently appointed |
mt Of well-known life insurance COM
y. The high standing of the Colonel
his excellent qualifications as bust
: man Immediately secured for him a
run Of business. The other