But say how bravely was his death revenged. Vengeance! in that good word doth Julian make His testament; your faithful swords must give The will its full performance. Leave me now, I have done with worldly things. Comrades, farewell, And love my memory! They with copious tears Of burning anger, grief exasperating Their rage, and fury giving force to grief, Hasten’d to form their ranks against the Moors. Julian meantime toward the altar turn’d His languid eyes: That Image, is it not St. Peter, he inquired, he who denied His Lord and was forgiven?... Roderick rejoin’d, It is the Apostle; and may that same Lord, O Julian, to thy soul’s salvation bless The seasonable thought! The dying Count Then fix’d upon the Goth his earnest eyes, No time, said he, is this for bravery, As little for dissemblance. I would fain Die in the faith wherein my fathers died, Whereto they pledged me in mine infancy.... A soldier’s habits, he pursued, have steel’d My spirit, and perhaps I do not fear This passage as I ought. But if to feel That I have sinn’d, and from my soul renounce The Impostor’s faith, which never in that soul Obtain’d a place, ... if at the Saviour’s feet, Laden with guilt, to cast myself and cry, Lord, I believe! help thou my unbelief!... If this in the sincerity of death Sufficeth, ... Father, let me from thy lips Receive the assurances with which the Church Doth bless the dying Christian. Roderick raised His eyes to Heaven, and crossing on his breast His open palms, Mysterious are thy ways And merciful, O gracious Lord! he cried, Who to this end hast thus been pleased to lead My wandering steps! O Father, this thy son Hath sinn’d and gone astray: but hast not Thou Said, When the sinner from his evil ways Turneth, that he shall save his soul alive, And Angels at the sight rejoice in Heaven? Therefore do I, in thy most holy name, Into thy family receive again Him who was lost, and in that name absolve The Penitent.... So saying on the head Of Julian solemnly he laid his hands. Then to the altar tremblingly he turn’d, And took the bread, and breaking it, pursued, Julian! receive from me the Bread of Life! In silence reverently the Count partook The reconciling rite, and to his lips Roderick then held the consecrated cup.