(_He looks down the street._)
FATHER BENEDICT-- 'Twas marvelous.
As I came down I passed the jagged cliff
You tumbled over, and there a while I paused
Entranced, as it were, by unseen Presences.
(_The boy, who climbed down from the tree upon the
arrival of the Priest, leads the ass out,
left._)
The mountains wore a new and hallowed look
In the morning light. I would give half my life
To have stood upon the peaks that night and seen
God's ministers drop shining down the sky
And blaze the gorge. But God works in the dark.
At night His golden ladders are let down
And deeds are done and no man knoweth how.
At dawn we see the severed hills, the seas
Huddled aghast at some vast mountain head
That yesterday lay fathoms in the deep.
So quietly He worketh in the night
That mountain ranges rise and no babe wakes.
Who can say: "Yonder God is"?
OSWALD-- None, Father.
FATHER BENEDICT-- None.
The hand that executes His purposes
Is hidden like the purposes themselves.
He dwelleth in the storm and in the calm,
Yet both look round and say: "Where dwelleth He?"
The sun that shines on all, shines not on Him.
He goeth forth at night and doth His will,
Yet the moon sees Him not. I rode along
Thinking upon your providential
Escape from death that night and of the work
God hath reserved for me in the great chase,
For half the glory is mine. I prayed our Lord
That if it be His will I might catch some
Glimpse of the dogs far off. I could not see
My hand before my eyes in spirit, but
With eyelids down, rode on, probing the dark,
Sounding deep in my soul the ocean of God,
And finding there bottomless waters.
The night of ebony and the golden dawn,
The deed the past holds and the future's deed,
Rose half way up the sky and called across
Fathomless spaces: "Who are you?" And I
Thought answer: "Thou art Fall; and thou, with hair
Bright with the morning and with frightened eyes
Fleeing the noise of dogs behind thee, thou
Art Resurrection and the Peace of God."
Connection I could find none. Stark and lone
They stood upon the twilight fields of air,
Strangers, each looking in the face of each,
When through the gloaming came a glittering link
Star-like with the image of our Lord
Bleeding in silver on a silver cross,
A marriage ring that married them, and I
Deep in my soul knew the Eternal and
Saw Prophesy grappling the North and heard
Heathendom hiss and coil and loose her folds;
And then a voice filling the heavens: "Well done."
Speaking to me, for the glory is mine.
Your crucifix has not been found yet?
OSWALD-- No.
FATHER BENEDICT--And will not be.
OSWALD-- It must be in the brook.
I had it in my hand just as I fell.
FATHER BENEDICT--'Tis in the hand of God where it shall be
Until the morning breaks of that great day
When Heathendom shall tumble down to hell.
Then it shall dangle bloody from the sky
While all the mountains shake.
OSWALD-- What do you mean?
FATHER BENEDICT--The mountains trembled in the tempest.
OSWALD-- When?
FATHER BENEDICT--
During the great chase. (_A pause._) Is it possible
You start upon the chase with darkened eyes?
OSWALD--I do not understand you.
FATHER BENEDICT--(_Aside._) Can it be
They have not told him of the dream? Mum, then.
OSWALD--Brother Andrew told me.
FATHER BENEDICT-- And you understand
On whom this dark calamity shall fall?
OSWALD--It has already fallen.
FATHER BENEDICT-- Already fallen!
You think the stag is down, then, do you?
OSWALD-- Stag?
FATHER BENEDICT--You think the chase is run?
(_Oswald looks at him blankly._) You seem to think
The dream has been fulfilled.
OSWALD-- I do. How not?
This last calamity fulfilled the dream.
FATHER BENEDICT--Fulfilled? Nay, nay. The chase has not begun.
The bruised stag is resting in the grove.
The hounds of Hell have yet to strike the trail,
And when they do, my feet are on the hills,
And the loud talbot's baying shall be still.
OSWALD--You speak as one whose joy is in the chase.
FATHER BENEDICT-- (_Glaring at him._)
You mean by that that I--
OSWALD-- I mean, Father,
You speak as those that chase the deer with hounds--
FATHER BENEDICT--You mean to intimate that I lead the dogs?
OSWALD--As hunters do. (_The Priest searches the monk's_
_face._) You spoke of a stag and a trail.
FATHER BENEDICT--To show you that the dream is not fulfilled.
OSWALD--Have you not heard it, then? The train is lost.