"That great Day of wrath and terror! That last Day of woe and doom, Like a thief that comes at midnight On the sons of men shall come; When the pride and pomp of ages All shall utterly have passed, And they stand in anguish owning That the end is here at last!"
Richard heard, and his heart grew chill. Still the clear voices sang on, till the words smote him:—
"Then to those upon the left hand That most righteous Judge shall say: 'Go, you cursèd, to Gehenna And the fire that is for aye.'"
Richard bowed his head and rocked with grief. But when he looked again up toward the storied windows and saw the Virgin standing bathed in light, her eyes seemed soft and pitiful. Still he listened as the music swelled on:—
"But the righteous, upward soaring, To the heavenly land shall go 'Midst the cohorts of the angels Where is joy forevermo': To Jerusalem, exulting, They with shouts shall enter in: That true 'sight of peace' and glory That sets free from grief and sin, Christ, they shall behold forever, Seated at the Father's hand As in Beatific Vision His elect before Him stand."
Richard sprang to his feet. "Ai!" were his words, half aloud; "if hewing my way to the earthly Jerusalem I may gain sight of the heavenly, what joy! what joy!"
A hand touched him gently on the shoulder. He looked about, half expecting to see a priest; his eye lit on a cavalier, soberly dressed, with his hood pulled over his head. In the gloom of the church Richard could only see that he was a man of powerful frame and wore a long blond beard.
"Fair knight," said the stranger, in the Languedoil, in a voice low, but ringing and penetrating, "you seem mightily moved by the singing; do you also wish to win the fairer Holy City by seeking that below? I heard your words." There was something in the tone and touch that won confidence without asking. And Richard answered:—
"Gallant sir, if God is willing that I should be forgiven by going ten score times to Jerusalem, and braving twelve myriad paynims, I would gladly venture."
The strange knight smote his breast and cast down his eyes. "We are all offenders in the sight of God, and I not the least. Ah! sweet friend, I know not how you have sinned. At least, I trust you have not done as I, borne arms against Holy Church. What grosser guilt than that?"