Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/125

Masses and absolution and the use
Of mystic wafer are to thee unknown.
How then could nature teach thee true religion,
Depriv'd of these? Nature can teach to sin,
But 'tis the Priest alone can teach remorse, 405
Can bid St. Peter ope the gates of Heaven,
And from the penal fires of purgatory
Absolve the soul. Could nature teach thee this?
Or tell thee that St. Peter holds the keys,
And that his successors' unbounded power 410
Extends o'er either world? Altho' thy life
Of sin were free, if of this holy truth
Ignorant, thy soul in liquid flames must rue
Transgression."
Thus he spake, the applauding look
Went round. Nor dubious to reply the Maid 415
Was silent.
"Fathers of the holy church,
If on these points abstruse a simple maid
Like me, should err, impute not you the crime