* * * * *
SCENE X.
The procession advances to the cave; the gates are opened by the
Prior and his assistants. LUIS ENIUS comes forth, astonished.-- THE
SAME.
PRIOR. And those of heaven, O Lord, keep open wide
To penitent tears and sighs.
May this poor sinner from these dungeons rise,
This dark and dismal place,
Where never shines the radiance of Thy face.
POLONIA. The gate is opened.
PRIOR. Oh, what happiness!
PHILIP. 'Tis Luis!
LUIS. Bless me, heaven! in pity bless!
Ah! is it possible that I am here
Again on earth after so many a year,
And that once more I see
The light of the sun?
CAPTAIN. How rapt!
LEOGAIRE. How dazed is he!
PRIOR. Embrace us all, my son.
LUIS. My arms were prison chains to every one.
Polonia, since thou'rt here,
Thy pity I may claim without a fear.
And thou, O Philip, know
That thrice an angel saved thee from the blow
Of my sharp sword: two nights I watched for thee
To slay thee; may my error pardoned be.
Now flying from myself, oh, let me hide,
And in some wilderness abide --
Far from the world in solitude and pain,
For he who saw what I have seen would feign,
So suffering live, so die.
PRIOR. Then on the part of God, O Enius! I
Command thee what thou hast seen at once to say.
LUIS. So sacred a command I must obey:--
And that the startled world may now begin
A better course, and man from mortal sin
My words may waken like some midnight wail,
Listen, O grave assembly to my tale.
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