Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/133

Rh His tall gaunt form in those unseemly weeds, Spake more than eloquence. His hollow voice Brake silence, saying, &quot; I am Tannhauser. For seven years I lived apart from men. Within the Venusberg.&quot; A horror seized The assembled folk ; some turbuleiitly rose ; Some clamored, &quot; From the presence cast him forth! &quot; But the knight never ceased his steady gaze Upon the Pope. At last, &quot;I have not spoken To be condemned,&quot; he said, &quot; by such as these. Thou, spiritual Father, answer me. Look thou upon me with the eyes of Christ. Can I through expiation gain my shrift, And work mine own redemption? &quot; &quot; Insolent man! &quot; Thundered the outraged Pope, &quot; is this the tone Wherewith thou dost parade thy loathsome sin? Down on thy knees, and wallow on the earth! Nay, rather go ! there is no ray of hope, No gleam, through cycles of eternity, For the redemption of a soul like thine. Yea, sooner shall my pastoral rod branch forth In leaf and blossom, and green shoots of spring, Than Christ will pardon thee.&quot; And as he spoke, He struck the rod upon the floor with force That gave it entrance twixt two loosened tiles, So that it stood, fast-rooted and alone. The knight saw naught, he only heard his judge