174
APPENDIX.
“ | The angel of Christ Jesu, to whom my heavenly Lord |
Hath given my soul in keeping, is ever by my side; | |
If thou dost me dishonor, he will unsheath his sword, | |
And smite thy bcdy fiercely, at the crying of thy bride; | |
Invisible he standeth; his sword like fiery flame, | |
Will penetrate thy bosom, the hour that sees my shame.” | |
The Moslem heard her with a smile; the earnest words she said, | |
He took for bashful maiden's wile, and drew her to his bower: | |
In vain Theresa prayed and strove,—she pressed Abdalla's bed, | |
Perforce received his kiss of love, and lost her maiden flower. | |
A woful woman there she lay, a loving lord beside, | |
And earnestly to God did pray, her succor to provide. | |
The angel of Christ Jesu her sore complaint did hear, | |
And plucked his heavenly weapon from out his sheath unseen, | |
He waved the brand in his right hand, and to the King came near, | |
And drew the point o'er limb and joint, beside the weeping Queen: | |
A mortal weakness from the stroke upon the King did fall; | |
He could not stand when daylight broke, but on his knees must crawl. | |
Abdalla shuddered inly, when he this sickness felt, | |
And called upon his barons, his pillow to come nigh; | |
“Rise up,” he said “my liegemen,” as round his bed they knelt, | |
“And take this Christian lady, else certainly I die; | |
Let gold be in your girdles, and precious stones beside, | |
And swiftly ride to Leon, and render up my bride.” | |
When they were come to Leon, Theresa would not go | |
Into her brother's dwelling, where her maiden years were spent; | |
But o'er her downcast visage a white veil she did throw, | |
And to the ancient nunnery of Las Huelgas went. | |
There, long, from worldly eyes retired, a holy life she led; | |
There she, an aged saint, expired; there sleeps she with the dead.” |
D.
The following extract from Spinoza is worthy of attention, as expressing the view which a man of the largest intellectual scope may take of woman, if that part of his life to which her influence appeals, has been left unawakened.
He was a man of the largest intellect, of unsur-