University of Virginia Library

Scene V.

Oxford, interior of a Prison.
Cranmer, Ridley, Latymer.
RIDLEY.
We stand upon the confines of two worlds;
Which are as kingdoms in hostility.
Here every passion, here all woes are banded;
And from the throne of death an Anarch rules.
There infinite peace, beneath the shield of faith;
Angelick knowledge; immortality!
At length we stoop o'er the dividing ridge,
After sore labour. Fear not to descend.
Our grievous perils past, all sorrows o'er.
The kingdom of our God unfolds! Hosanna!

LATYMER.
Thank God that I have lived to see this day,
And bless him from the midst of purging fires!
Brother, through God's grace, we this day shall kindle,
Throughout this English land, a light whereby
True Faith shall shine for ever.

RIDLEY.
Praise to Him,
Our Strength alone!—Thou art reserved, dear Cranmer—
God give our Captain courage for the fight!

CRANMER.
My soul is sad. I need your dying prayers.
Too prosperous, too dainty in my ways,
I have been, for this reverse. The coming doom
Shakes me, as shames a soldier of the cross.

RIDLEY.
Kneel, and pour forth thy fainting spirit in prayer,
When we go forth. Think not of what we suffer:
But gaze upon the vision of our glory,
Till thou shalt long to share it.

CRANMER.
Not as thine
Is my poor heart; but sluggish as my blood
Creeps my slow mind. God shapes us wonderfully!
We seem both formed alike; yet that free spirit
Which sparkles in thine eyes looks dull from mine.
Are we indeed slaves of our elements?

RIDLEY.
In truth the moral and the physical
Are wondrously compacted: God's good purpose
Pervading all.

LATYMER.
Come, brother; it is time
To wean our thoughts from Earth. To prayer—to prayer!
So shall our psalms rise on our flames to Heaven!
Dear Cranmer take our last embrace. Be firm,
And faithful to the end!

[Exeunt Ridley and Latymer.
CRANMER
[alone].
Incarnate Spirits
Of martyrdom! ye will ascend the pile
As 'twere Elijah's chariot:—this poor heart,
The while with palpitating terrors torn.
O cease, ye earthly tremours! Faith, support me!
Surely I have not called on God aright?
—Alas! alas! that, knowing well my fault,
I have not strength to mend it—I will pray!—

[He retires to a side oriel, kneels, rises, looks from the window.
Enter Gardiner, who watches unobserved.
CRANMER.
O God! was it in kindness or despite
They placed me here? My heart was not prepared
To quit, without a pang, this fair, fair world.
Look on that breadth of woodland; breezy hills;
And waters that wind through, like placid thoughts.
Here could I live a hermit, praising God:
Forgetful of all cares;—the carnal pomps
Of Lambeth;—court cabals. Go forth, my soul—
And commune with the things thou lov'dst in youth.
Oh! is it not a goodly thing to hold
Discourse with the great forest, face to face;
Near murmuring waters, with free-warbling birds,
And throng of insect life that veils the porch
Of the great Temple? Then our souls converse
With that Intelligence diffused through all!—
Who thinks of cunning stops, metals or woods,
Or the trained finger, when the organ's breath
Blows perfect music through capacious domes?—
Our spirit commingles with the spirit of sound,
Participant of all its harmonies.
Thus penetrates the soul all that is good
And beautiful in Nature: drawing from all
The flavour and the aliment of joy.
How great his goodness, sharing all perfections
Among his creatures:—wisdom that proportions
Each to his want! O! love Him—He is thine—
And thou art His! His arms surround—His grace
Protects—His liberalities enrich thee!—
[Loud shouting outside.
I wake—O miserable man!—behold!
Does God indeed protect thee? Hark those yells—
Great God! that fearful death! the most abhorred!
[He beats the ground.
Hide me, cold stones! thou gelid Earth, ope for me!
[Starts up again.
I must look on it—ha! it drags me forward
[A sudden glare.
With a wild fascination—see—they gather
Around—a ring of fiends!—O women! women!
What brings ye there?—is this a sight? I'm blasted!
[He reels back.
The smoke—breaks off—the flames—O Latymer!
I am very faint—too much!—I cannot bear it.

GARDINER.
Nor need you, master Cranmer. In your ear;
One little word.

[Whispers.
CRANMER.
Avoid thee, Satan!

GARDINER.
Pshaw!
You are to blame. Hard words shall not avail you.
But I forgive. You weep away your brains.

CRANMER.
Gardiner, I am ashamed that you should see
A Christian thus.

GARDINER.
Tut, man! the bravest soldier
Would shake to see a brother roast alive:
Especially, if waiting for his turn.
Why, what a fool are you to take your turn!
You will not bear it. You being head of all
These hereticks, ay you they'll torture slowly.
Sick fancy shudders to behold thee—blackening
And withering mid the coals—and hear thy shrieks—
And all so soon!

CRANMER.
When, when?—

GARDINER.
Perhaps—to morrow

CRANMER.
I cannot bear it. I'll sign—anything!

GARDINER.
Then this—go to! Your hand shakes: take more time.
Why men will say—No matter what they say,
Now it is done.

CRANMER.
And am I safe?

GARDINER.
'Tis likely

CRANMER.
Is it not certain?

GARDINER.
Only probable.
But I shall be your friend. Trust not in Pole!

CRANMER.
Palter not with me. Why not trust in Pole?
I have ever found him gentle.

GARDINER.
Men are mortal.

CRANMER.
Pole's in good health—

GARDINER.
Yet prophecies go round
That he stands foremost on death's calendar.

CRANMER.
He shall outlive us both.

GARDINER.
I think not so.
Enough—If you uphold what's here subscribed,
You may be saved.

CRANMER.
Yet lost eternally!

GARDINER.
Possibly both ways, if you so speak to others.
We shall see—we shall see! God keep you, Dr. Cranmer!

[Exit.
CRANMER.
Oh madman! recreant! I am lost for ever!

[Scene closes.