Page:Lesbia Newman - Dalton - 1889.djvu/287

 life is their lot for two precious years, and they who were being trained for the altar parade the streets in a grotesque uniform, and fill the taverns with profane songs and jests. All this might be borne; but they are taking away our livelihood, by making it depend on the voluntary offerings of those who are daily becoming more estranged from us, and who insist upon our reversing all the customs and morals which our great history has handed down. Turn whither you will, ruin stares us in the face, insult is heaped upon us, and our total destruction within a very short time can only be averted by a miracle. Egressus est a filia Sion omnis decor ejus-facti sunt principes ejus velut arietes non inventientes pascua; et abierunt alsque fortitudine ante faciem subsequentis.’

The cardinal resumed his seat, but had quite marred the effect of this magnificent passage from the Lamentation, by taking out his snuff-box again in the middle of it.

‘But, Cardinal Power, have you no advice to offer in the emergency?’ asked the pontiff mildly. ‘Our evils are only too apparent; we would gladly hear how they are to be met.’

‘That is what I am ready to do, Holy Father,’ he replied, rising again, ‘but I feared to encroach upon the nights of other speakers. However, since you graciously give me leave, I will state my views as to the Church’s future. To assist you out of the present trouble is not in my power: I cannot work miracles of that kind. You will all have to leave this place in a few hours for a foreign land, and you do not need me to tell you that any show of resistance could only expose you to popular derision, and fill the comic newspapers of the week with amusing pictures. There is nothing for it but to submit with dignity and go. With your consent, I will go with you, for I have a mission which must not be neglected. Do you wish to hear, brethren, what that