S. Cecilia.
Then, as we passed, we came on one whose face1
The whole world knows, so fine a soul and hand2
Knew her long since, and fixed her for our eyes—3
A maiden with rapt gaze, and at her side4
An idle music, listening half entranced5
To some celestial harmonies unheard6
Save by pure souls like hers. There was no need7
To name her name, as thus the tale began :8
“ Once in old Rome, long centuries ago,9
There lived a pair, noble in rank and soul,10
Who, though the Pagan idols still bare sway,11
Knelt not to them, holding the faith of Christ.12
And one fair girl was theirs, Cecilia,13
Nourished on thoughts of virgin purity14
Which filled her cloistered gaze. No earthly love15
Might touch her pure pale soul, which always viewed16
Lit only by the frosty moon of faith,17
The cold clear peaks of soaring duty pierce18
The still blue vault of heaven, as soar the snows19
Of lifeless Alp on Alp, where comes no herb20
Nor blade of green, but all the icy world21
Dreams wrapt in robes of sterile purity.22
“ For evermore to her rapt eyes the skies23
Stood open, evermore to her rapt ear24
Celestial music came, and strains unknown25
To mortal sense amid the throng of life26
Hushed all the lower tones and noise of earth27
With heavenly harmonies ; and the high notes28
Of the angelic chanting seraphim29
Would occupy her life, until her soul,30
Rapt by the ravishing sound, would seem to ’scape31
From her raised eyes, and float, and speed itself32
Between the rhythmic wings of harmony,33
Even to Heaven’s gate, and was transformed and lost34
Its earthly taint ; and sometimes on her lips35
Thin traces of the heavenly music dwelt,36
Which bound the listener fast, and of her skill37
Some half-remembered echoes, faint yet sweet,38
Were born again on lute or pipe, and linked39
The world with Heaven ; the immortal chanting quires40
With earth’s poor song ; the anthems of the blest41
With our poor halting voices, till the soul42
Of that fair virginal interpreter,43
Pierced with keen melodies, and folded round44
With golden links of gracious harmonies,45
Lived less for earth than Heaven, and to her thought46
It seemed a guardian angel stood by her47
In sleep or waking hours, so that no care48
For earth or earthly love might press on her.49
Such sweetness touched her voice, the sacred quire50
Would hearken pleased, and voices not of earth51
Mingled with hers harmonious, and she drew52
From voice and hand such descants as the skies53
Themselves had envied, as with pipe on pipe54
Conjoined with wedded notes and varying tones55
She made high music to our Lord in heaven.56
“ Now, when this maiden lost in dreaming thought57
Bloomed in full age, her father bade her wed58
A noble Roman youth, Valerian,59
A Pagan yet ; but she, whose filial love60
Constrained her to obey, beneath her robes61
Of marriage hid a robe of penance still,62
And to her husband, whom indeed she loved63
With wifely love, she told her wondrous tale—64
How night and day, whether she slept or woke,65
A mystic guardian, standing at her side,66
Kept watch and ward, unfailing. And when he67
Asked sight of him, and proof, she bade him seek68
The saintly Urban in the Catacombs,69
Where he lay hid, and he consenting went,70
And rose converted from his old unfaith71
And was baptized ; and when, a Christian now,72
He sought his home again, he heard within73
Enchanting music sweet, and strains divine ;74
And long time listening rapt, at last he came75
To his wife’s chamber, and beheld, indeed,76
His eyes being opened by his faith, a form77
Celestial standing by her, with a crown78
Of roses in each hand, in scent and hue79
Immortal, and the Angel as they knelt80
Crowned each with them—the crown of martyrdom.81
“ And then, because the Lord Valerian82
Obeyed so well, the Angel bade him ask83
What boon he would. And he : ‘ My lord, I have84
A brother of my love, Tiburtius ;85
Let him believe.’ And he made answer to him,86
‘ So shall it be, and ye shall both attain87
The martyr’s crown.’ And then he passed away.88
And presently Tiburtius, entering,89
Though yet he might not see the roses, knew90
Their fresh immortal sweetness, flood the air91
With fragrance, and he heard the gracious words92
Cecilia spake, and all her proofs inspired93
Of Heaven and of the truth, and so his heart94
Was touched and he baptized, and held the Faith.95
“ But when the Pagan Lord Almachius,96
The prefect, heard these things, he bade them cease97
To call on Christ, and when they would not, sent them98
To prison dungeons foul, and thence to death.99
Last, when the brothers died, his pitiless rage100
Summoned Cecilia. Her, with threats of pain101
And horrible death, he bade do sacrifice102
To the false gods. She, with a smile of scorn,103
Denied him ; and the people round who heard104
Her constancy, wept for the fate they knew105
Waited the fair girl-wife, and, bathed in tears,106
Confessed themselves to be like her, of Christ,107
Till the fierce prefect, mingling rage with fear,108
Spake thus : ‘ What art thou, woman, who dost dare109
Defy the gods ? ’ And she, with lofty scorn :110
‘ I am a Roman noble.’ He in wrath,111
‘ I ask thee of thy faith ? ’ And she : ‘ Oh, blind !112
See these whom my example drew to Christ,113
And be thou answered.’
“ Then with panic haste114
A headsman sent he whose keen axe should end115
That high undaunted courage. He, with fear116
And trembling hand, upon her slender throat117
And virgin breast planting three cruel strokes,118
Fled, leaving her for dead. But three days yet,119
Three precious days she lingered, strengthening all120
Her converts in the Faith, and to the poor121
Vowing her wealth ; and last of all she sent122
For Urban, and besought him of his grace123
That of her palace they should make a church124
For Christian worship.
“ Then she raised her voice125
In soaring hymns of praise, and with her sang126
The quire of Angels, chanting row on row127
Celestial strains, and the rapt hearers knew128
The sound of heavenly voices and the lyres129
Of the angelic company ; and yet,130
When her voice soared no longer, but was still,131
Fair dying echoes, fainter and more faint,132
Stole downward from the skies, and then were lost133
Within the heavens—the music of a soul134
Which swells the eternal concert and is blest.135
“ And still where once she sang, the unfailing grace136
Of music rises heavenward, day by day ;137
For, as she would, they built a stately church138
Above her. There, when centuries were past,139
The Pontiff Paschal found her body lie,140
Wrapt in a tissue of gold, and by her side141
Her husband and his brother.
“ And, again,142
After long centuries they built a shrine,143
And in it laid an image of the saint144
In Parian marble. On her side she rests145
As one asleep ; the delicate hands are crossed,146
Wrist upon wrist ; a clinging vestment drapes147
The virgin limbs, and round her slender throat148
A golden circlet masks her cruel wound.149
And there she lies for all to see ; but still150
Her voice is sounding in the Eternal Psalm151
Which the Church singeth ever, evermore,152
The Church on earth, the Church of Saints in Heaven.”153