Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/125

 Masses and absolution and the use Of mystic wafer are to thee unknown. How then could nature teach thee true religion, Depriv'd of these? Nature can teach to sin, But 'tis the Priest alone can teach remorse, Can bid St. Peter ope the gates of Heaven, And from the penal fires of purgatory Absolve the soul. Could nature teach thee this? Or tell thee that St. Peter holds the keys, And that his successors' unbounded power Extends o'er either world? Altho' thy life Of sin were free, if of this holy truth Ignorant, thy soul in liquid flames must rue Transgression." Thus he spake, the applauding look Went round. Nor dubious to reply the Maid Was silent. "Fathers of the holy church, If on these points abstruse a simple maid Like me, should err, impute not you the crime Rh