Hild. Henry of Germany, wilt thou perform the same

And leave thine innocence to the power of Heaven?

Hen. (Stands boldly up and confronts Hild.) Most mighty

Hildebrand, Prelate of Holy Rome,

Though to refuse thy gage be to acknowledge

His consciousness of human frailty,

Henry of Germany, whate’er his sins,

Hath too much sense of Heaven’s mighty justice

To desecrate the eternal bending Ear

By such blasphemings. I am no priest of God,