 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
Thus to the King
The Council judgment sent: ‘That Maid is true:
In her we find no ill but good alone,
Faith, courage, love, pure life and upright heart.
Your Grace instructs us that, untaught by men,
She knew you, and that vow divulged to none.
Next you demand, were these things miracles?
Sir, miracles will glorify God's Church
Till flames the last roof on the Judgment Day;
But to distinguish miracles unquestioned
From others fancy-feigned is hard. Your Grace
Fitliest will act trusting at once this Maid
And testing her. Let counsellors none approach her:
Loose rein concede her. If her work be God's
'Twill tell its tale ere long.’
The Council judgment sent: ‘That Maid is true:
In her we find no ill but good alone,
Faith, courage, love, pure life and upright heart.
Your Grace instructs us that, untaught by men,
She knew you, and that vow divulged to none.
Next you demand, were these things miracles?
Sir, miracles will glorify God's Church
341
But to distinguish miracles unquestioned
From others fancy-feigned is hard. Your Grace
Fitliest will act trusting at once this Maid
And testing her. Let counsellors none approach her:
Loose rein concede her. If her work be God's
'Twill tell its tale ere long.’
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |