Louis— You betray it? How?
By holding back the truth about the dwarf?
Abbot—I hide the light.
Louis— You hide it as a seed
Which, if the people eat, the famine spreads,
But which, if planted, wide the harvest waves.
Your own heart tells you you are right in this.
Abbot—But when, when is the feeding to begin?
If I to-day withhold the seed, who knows
That I will not to-morrow withhold the yield,
And so continue, building larger barns?
Meanwhile the people in the valley die.
Louis—But God, who sees your purpose in it all,
Sees the day coming when this rock shall be
A beacon, and this region full of light.
Abbot—'Twill never be while Benedict is here.
Louis—Oh, but look yonder, Father! Three hours ago
Black clouds besieged the east, and lo, now Day
Stands on the mountain tops and sees them not.
Where Night has gone there's room for Benedict.
Abbot—I know that, Louis; but the years go by.
And oh, to use the little breath I have
In doing what I never did before!
How is it I cannot tell them what is true?
Louis—'Twould crush in seed the abbey you would build.
Abbot—How can an abbey rise upon a lie?