Analysis of The Heretic's Tragedy

PREADMONISHETH THE ABBOT DEODAET.

The Lord, we look to once for all,
  Is the Lord we should look at, all at once:
He knows not to vary, saith Saint Paul,
  Nor the shadow of turning, for the nonce.
See him no other than as he is!
  Give both the infinitudes their due---
Infinite mercy, but, I wis,
  As infinite a justice too.
[_Organ: plagal-cadence._
  As infinite a justice too.

John, Master of the Temple of God,
  Falling to sin the Unknown Sin,
What he bought of Emperor Aldabrod,
  He sold it to Sultan Saladin:
Till, caught by Pope Clement, a-buzzing there,
  Hornet-prince of the mad wasps' hive,
And clipt of his wings in Paris square,
  They bring him now to be burned alive.
[_And wanteth there grace of lute or
clavicithern, ye shall say to confirm
him who singeth---_
  We bring John now to be burned alive.

In the midst is a goodly gallows built;
  'Twixt fork and fork, a stake is stuck;
But first they set divers tumbrils a-tilt,
  Make a trench all round with the city muck;
Inside they pile log upon log, good store;
  Faggots no few, blocks great and small,
Reach a man's mid-thigh, no less, no more,---
  For they mean he should roast in the sight of all.

We mean he should roast in the sight of all.

Good sappy bavins that kindle forthwith;
  Billets that blaze substantial and slow;
Pine-stump split deftly, dry as pith;
  Larch-heart that chars to a chalk-white glow:
Then up they hoist me John in a chafe,
  Sling him fast like a hog to scorch,
Spit in his face, then leap back safe,
  Sing ``Laudes'' and bid clap-to the torch.

_Laus Deo_---who bids clap-to the torch.

John of the Temple, whose fame so bragged,
  Is burning alive in Paris square!
How can he curse, if his mouth is gagged?
  Or wriggle his neck, with a collar there?
Or heave his chest, which a band goes round?
  Or threat with his fist, since his arms are spliced?
Or kick with his feet, now his legs are bound?
  ---Thinks John, I will call upon Jesus Christ.
[_Here one crosseth himself_

Jesus Christ---John had bought and sold,
  Jesus Christ---John had eaten and drunk;
To him, the Flesh meant silver and gold.
  (_Salv reverenti._)
Now it was, ``Saviour, bountiful lamb,
  ``I have roasted thee Turks, though men roast me!
``See thy servant, the plight wherein I am!
  ``Art thou a saviour?  Save thou me!''

'Tis John the mocker cries, ``Save thou me!''

Who maketh God's menace an idle word?
  ---Saith, it no more means what it proclaims,
Than a damsel's threat to her wanton bird?---
  For she too prattles of ugly names.
---Saith, he knoweth but one thing,---what he knows?
  That God is good and the rest is breath;
Why else is the same styled Sharon's rose?
  Once a rose, ever a rose, he saith.

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

Alack, there be roses and roses, John!
  Some, honied of taste like your leman's tongue:
Some, bitter; for why? (roast gaily on!)
  Their tree struck root in devil's-dung.
When Paul once reasoned of righteousness
  And of temperance and of judgment to come,
Good Felix trembled, he could no less:
  John, snickering, crook'd his wicked thumb.

What cometh to John of the wicked thumb?

Ha ha, John plucketh now at his rose
  To rid himself of a sorrow at heart!
Lo,---petal on petal, fierce rays unclose;
  Anther on anther, sharp spikes outstart;
And with blood for dew, the bosom boils;
  And a gust of sulphur is all its smell;
And lo, he is horribly in the toils
  Of a coal-black giant flower of hell!

What maketh heaven, That maketh hell.

So, as John called now, through the fire amain.
  On the Name, he had cursed with, all his life---
To the Person, he bought and sold again---
  For the Face, with his daily buffets rife---
Feature by feature It took its place:
  And his voice, like a mad dog's choking bark,
At the steady whole of the Judge's face---
  Died. Forth John's soul flared into the dark.

SUBJOINETH THE ABBOT DEODAET.

God help all poor souls lost in the dark!

A MIDDLE-AGE INTERLUDE.

ROSA MUNDI; SEU, FULCITE ME FLORIBU