Blind Spain hastes blindly forward, eager for Her Hellward plunge. Our need is absolute. Conclusion to these monster heresies Or their most imminent consequence!--The throne, Which is derived directly from high God, Meseems should champion God in any cause; And if it will not, we will make it to.-- O Spain, Spain, Spain! awake! arise! and crush These multiplying madnesses that mouth Their paradoxes at the Cross and shriek Their blasphemies e'en in the face of Christ!-- O miserable Religion, is thy pride So fallen here! thy tenement of strength So powerless! Then where's security, When steadfast principle is insecure, And God's own pillars rock and none resists?-- But I have tempered, at a certain heat, A heart of womanhood; and so have wrought The metal of a mind within the forge Of holy discourse, that Toledo's steel Springs not more true than my reforming blade, Which shall carve worship to a perfect whole.-- Imperial Isabella! patroness! Protectress of pure faith! sweet Catholic! Our Church's dear concern! its bell, its book, Tribunal, and its godly Act of Faith! Hear how my soul cries out and speaks for thee!-- My lord and brothers, hear me and perpend: This need is first: to make her sceptered Queen Of wide Castile. To make (the second need), Him, whom Ximenes, my friend Cordelier Shall serve as minister, King Ferdinand, Her wedded consort. And the third great need, The last,--which yet is first,--to scour from Spain These Moors, who make a brimstone-odious lair Of that rich region of Granada, which, Like some vile sore of scaly leprosy, Scabs Spain's fair face. Delay not. Let the Church Divide attention then 'twixt heretics And unclean Jews. So; wash her garments clean!-- King Henry falls. God and Saint Dominick Aid our endeavor! and the Holy See Build firm foundations!--Let the corner-stone Of our most Holy Inquisition here Be mortared with the blood of heretics That its strong structure may endure!--And he, This Torquemada, the Dominican, Made Grand Inquisitor and Cardinal, This monk who writes you now, whose spirit feels That God inspires him with His own desires, Shall blaze God's name in blood upon the world. * * * * * +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber Notes: | | | | P. 31. "fragant firmament", changed 'fragant' to 'fragrant'. | | Original text can be found here: | | https://archive.org/details/poemscawein01cawerich | +----------------------------------------------------------------+