Page:Rolland - A musical tour through the land of the past.djvu/123

Rh had strange presentiments. He had to conceal himself, to weep.

"When the night fell she began to complain." She asked for a priest. "It was as though I was dreaming. I could not believe it, I did not wish to go in search of him. But as she insisted I went at last." She said: "My beloved, my dear Telemann, I pray thee, from the bottom of my heart, to forgive me if ever I have made thee suffer." She protested her love with a touching tenderness. "Instead of replying, I wept bitterly. … The priest came. Then I learned what it was to pray. Her dear mouth was a door to heaven. Jesus alone was her consolation. Jesus alone was her life. Jesus alone was her salvation." She never ceased to call upon Him. "His Name never left her lips until death was upon her tongue. … She was holding my hand and said to me: 'I thank thee a thousand times for thy faithful love. Thy heart is mine. I take it with me to Heaven…' They wished her to sleep. She refused, singing, in her beautiful voice: 'I will not forsake Jesus, He loves me and I love Him. I will not forsake Jesus.' She sang, joyously, with arms outstretched and smiling face. … "Fatigue overcame her. She fell into a sleep, in which she remained for two hours. My grief had partly disappeared; consoled, I awaited a happy day. Her sweet repose was broken; she began, in a faint voice: 'My Jesus has spoken to me in a dream.' … then she complained that the lights were no longer as bright as before. She bowed her head and fell asleep happily in Christ…"

And now what can he say? "If I say: 'the sky crushed me, the air stifled me, there was a