Classic Poem

H UGO , Eric , and O RION . Enter U RSULA , A GATHA , and Nuns Ursula:

Hugo, we reject thine offers;
 Not that we can buy
Safety from the Church's coffers,
 Neither can we fly.
Far too great the price they seek is;
 Let their lawless throng
Come, we wait their coming; weak is
 Man, but God is strong. Eric:

Think again on our proposals;
 It will be too late
When the robbers hold carousals
 On this side the gate. Ursula:

For myself I speak and others
 Weak and frail as I,
We will not desert our brothers
 In adversity. Hugo (to the Nuns):

Does the Abbess thus advance her
 Will before ye all? A Nun:

We will stay. Hugo:

Is this thine answer,
 Agatha? The wall
Is a poor protection truly,
 And the gates are weak,
And the Norsemen most unruly.
 Come, then. A Nun (to Agatha):

Sister, speak! Orion (aside to Hugo):

Press her! She, her fears dissembling,
 Stands irresolute;
She will yield—her limbs are trembling,
 Though her lips are mute. Eric:

Hark! their savage war-horn blowing
 Chafes at our delay. Hugo:

Agatha, we must be going.
 Come, girl! Agatha (clinging to Ursula):

Must I stay? Ursula:

Nay, my child, thou shalt not make me
 Judge; I cannot give
Orders to a novice. Agatha:

Take me,
 Hugo! let me live! Eric (to Nuns):

Foolish women! will ye tarry,
 Spite of all we say? Hugo:

Must we use our strength and carry
 You by force away? Ursula:
Bad enough thou art, Sir Norman,
 Yet thou wilt not do
This thing. Shame!—on men make war, man,
 Not on women few. Eric:

Heed her not—her life she barters,
 Of her free accord,
For her faith; and, doubtless, martyrs
 Have their own reward. Ursula:
In the Church's cause thy father
 Never grudged his blade—
Hugo, did he rue it? Orion:

Rather!
 He was poorly paid. Hugo:
Abbess, this is not my doing,
 I have said my say;
How can I avert the ruin,
 Even for a day,
Since they count two hundred fairly,
 While we count a score;
And thine own retainers barely
 Count a dozen more? Agatha (kneeling to Ursula):

Ah! forgive me, Lady Abbess,
 Bless me ere I go;
She who under sod and slab is
 Lying, cold and low,
Scarce would turn away in anger
 From a child so frail;
Not dear life, but deadly danger,
 Makes her daughter quail. Hugo:

Eric, will those faces tearful
 To God's judgment seat
Haunt us? Eric:

Death is not so fearful. Hugo:

No, but life is sweet—
 Sweet, for once, to me, though sinful. Orion (to Hugo):

Earth is scant of bliss;
Wisest he who takes his skinful
 When the chance is his. (To Ursula):
Lady Abbess! stay and welcome
 Osric's savage crew;
Yet when pains of death and hell come,
 Thou thy choice may'st rue. Ursula (to Orion):
What dost thou 'neath roof-trees sacred?
 Man, or fiend, depart! Orion:

Dame, thy tongue is sharp and acrid,
 Yet I bear the smart. Ursula (advancing and raising up a crucifix):

I conjure thee by this symbol
 Leave us! Hugo:

Ha! the knave,
He has made an exit nimble:
 Abbess! thou art brave.
Yet once gone, we're past recalling;
 Let no blame be mine.
See, thy sisters' tears are falling
 Fast, and so are thine. Ursula:

Fare ye well! The teardrop splashes
 Vainly on the ice,
Ye will sorrow o'er our ashes
 And your cowardice. Eric:

Sorry am I, yet my sorrow
 Cannot alter fate;
Should Prince Otto come to-morrow,
 He will come too late. Hugo:

Nay, old comrade, she hath spoken
 Words we must not hear;
Shall we pause for sign or token—
 Taunted twice with fear?
Yonder, hilt to hilt adjusted,
Stand the swords in which we trusted
Years ago. Their blades have rusted,
 So, perchance, have we.
Ursula! thy words may shame us,
Yet we once were counted famous,
Morituri, salutamus,
 Aut victuri, te!