“He would not swear?”
“Never!”
“Pope,” said More, “I beg you to let me write to Erasmus. To-morrow I shall be no more! You are the last living man to whom I shall be able to speak.”
“Ah! Sir Thomas,” cried Pope
uneasily, “if that letter were seized, what would become of me?”
“Let me write a few words on this leaf,” replied Sir Thomas, looking at a leaf of white paper belonging to the book which contained his condemnation—“a word on this leaf,” he continued. “Pope, you can cut it off and send it later when there will be no danger for you. Nay, good Pope, grant me this favor,” he added. “I have neither pen nor ink; but I have here a piece of charcoal, which I have already tried to sharpen.”
“Ah! Sir Thomas,” replied Pope, “I have not the heart to refuse you; however, I shall have cause, perhaps, to repent it.”
“No! no!” cried Sir Thomas. “If you cannot send him this last farewell without being afraid, you can burn it.”
“Write, then; I consent,” said Pope; and he handed the death-warrant to Sir Thomas, who had returned it to him.
More seized it, and wrote the following words: