Alyx of Montmorency (unmoved)—"If she does not abjure her heresy, she must perish!"
Abbot Reynier (in a thundering voice)—"Hardened heretics, the Church now delivers you to the secular arm! Enemies of God, may your death strike a salutary terror among your fellows!"
The Provost of the Army (to the executioner)—"Take your hot irons.—But leave one of his eyes to the old man who has just spoken. With it he shall guide the rest."
The executioner and his assistants seize at haphazard one of the prisoners. He is a young man. They bind him down upon a seat on the scaffold, while the executioner himself walks over to his furnace.
The Heretic (to the executioner's assistants)—"What are you going to do? Have mercy upon me!"
One of the Assistants—"We are going to put out both your eyes, heretic dog! Pagan!"
The Heretic (terrified)—"Oh, death rather—rather death than such a torture—mercy! (He vainly tries to snap his bonds and writhes convulsively, crying) Brothers! Help! They are going to put out our eyes. Oh, Lord, have mercy upon us!"
The Prisoners (to Montfort)—"Such a punishment is frightful. Have us rather burned—strangled! Mercy!"
Montfort (with a hollow voice)—"No mercy! Your blind souls are closed to the divine light. So shall your bodily eyes be forever closed to the light of day!"
A Heretic (whose teeth are chattering with terror)—"Seigneur, myself and several of our companions abjure. Mercy! Mercy!"