The Heretic's Tragedy: A Middle-Age Interlude

9As infinite a justice too.

10John, Master of the Temple of God,

11 Falling to sin the Unknown Sin,

12What he bought of Emperor Aldabrod,

13 He sold it to Sultan Saladin:

14Till, caught by Pope Clement, a-buzzing there,

15 Hornet-prince of the mad wasps' hive,

16And clipt of his wings in Paris square,

17 They bring him now to be burned alive.

18 [And wanteth there grace of lute or

19 clavicithern, ye shall say to

20 confirm him who singeth —

21 We bring John now to be burned alive.

22In the midst is a goodly gallows built;

23 'Twixt fork and fork, a stake is stuck;

24But first they set divers tumbrils a-tilt,

25 Make a trench all round with the city muck;

26Inside they pile log upon log, good store;

27 Faggots no few, blocks great and small,

28Reach a man's mid-thigh, no less, no more, —

29 For they mean he should roast in the sight of all.

30 We mean he should roast in the sight of all.

31Good sappy bavins that kindle forthwith;

32 Billets that blaze substantial and slow;

33Pine-stump split deftly, dry as pith;

34 Larch-heart that chars to a chalk-white glow:

35They up they hoist me John in a chafe,

36 Sling him fast like a hog to scorch,

37Spit in his face, then leap back safe,

38Sing "Laudes" and bid clap-to the torch.

39 Laus deo — who bids clap-to the torch.

40John of the Temple, whose fame so bragged,

41 Is burning alive in Paris square!

42How can he curse, if his mouth is gagged?

43 Or wriggle his neck, with a collar there?

44Or heave his chest, which a band goes round?

45 Or threat with his fist, since his arms are spliced?

46Or kick with his feet, now his legs are bound?

47 — Thinks John, I will call upon Jesus Christ.

48Jesus Christ — John had bought and sold,

49 Jesus Christ — John had eaten and drunk;

50To him, the Flesh meant silver and gold.

51 (Salva reverentia.)

52Now it was, "Saviour, bountiful lamb,

53 "I have roasted thee Turks, though men roast me!

54"See thy servant, the plight wherein I am!

55 "Art thou a saviour? Save thou me!"

56 'Tis John the mocker cries, "Save thou me!"

57Who maketh God's menace an idle word?

58 — Saith, it no more means what it proclaims,

59Than a damsel's threat to her wanton bird?

60 For she too prattles of ugly names.

61 — Saith, he knoweth but one thing — what he knows?

62 That God is good and the rest is breath;

63Why else is the same styled Sharon's rose?

64 Once a rose, ever a rose, he saith.

65 O, John shall yet find a rose, he saith!

66Alack, there be roses and roses, John!

67 Some, honied of taste like your leman's tongue:

68Some, bitter; for why? (roast gaily on!)

69 Their tree struck root in devil's-dung.

70When Paul once reasoned of righteousness

71 And of temperance and of judgment to come,

72Good Felix trembled, he could no less:

73 John, snickering, crook'd his wicked thumb.

74 What cometh to John of the wicked thumb?

75Ha ha, John plucketh now at his rose

76 To rid himself of a sorrow at heart!

77Lo, — petal on petal, fierce rays unclose;

78 Anther on anther, sharp spikes outstart;

79And with blood for dew, the bosom boils;

80 And a gust of sulphur is all its smell;

81And lo, he is horribly in the toils

82 Of a coal-black giant flower of hell!

83 What maketh heaven, That maketh hell.

84So, as John called now, through the fire amain,

85 On the Name, he had cursed with, all his life —

86To the Person, he bought and sold again —

87 For the Face, with his daily buffets rife —

88Feature by feature It took its place:

89 And his voice, like a mad dog's choking bark,

90At the steady whole of the Judge's face —

91 Died. Forth John's soul flared into the dark.

92 God help all poor souls lost in the dark!