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29

The Sinner

I saw one crouching in a place of gloom,
Loaded with chains, abject and miserable.
A prayer broke from him: suddenly the room
Lightened, and lo, an angel veritable
Straight from God's presence. Th' iron ponderable
Shrivelled like web-work of Arachne's loom;
He stretched his limbs, he changed that living tomb
For space and light and airs esperitable.
I saw him kneeling, weeping praise to God.
I looked again: the prisoner, lately free,
Of his own will had entered that dark door
Again—again his limbs the fetters wore
By his own will. O Jesu! can Thy blood,
Can all the might of Heaven save him, or me?

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