The Purgatory of St. PatrickCalderón de la Barca, Pedro
Religion
The Purgatory of St. Patrick
Calderón de la Barca, Pedro
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463? -- Drama
"The invincible Soldier being now deliver'd from the Snares of the
unclean Spirits, saw before his Eyes an High Wall raised to the
Skies, the Beauty and Structure whereof was beyond Estimation. Its
Gate was adorn'd with costly Jewels, and divers precious Mettals,
that afforded a most agreeable Prospect. Having approached, as it
were within Half a Mile to it, the Gate seem'd to open, and sent
forth so sweet a smell, that, as it seem'd to him, if all the Earth
had been turn'd into Spice, it could hardly afford so agreeable a
perfume, which so refresh'd his tired Limbs and Spirits, that he
believed he could with ease undergo again all the Torments he had
endured. And looking in at the Gates, he discover'd a Door which
excelled the brightness of the Sun. As he stood then at a little
distance from the Gate, there came out to meet him so beautiful, so
great, and so orderly a Procession, as was never to be parallel'd to
his thinking in this World, with Crosses, Wax Tapers, Banners, and
Golden Palm Branches in the Hands of the Men that led this
Procession. After these follow'd Men of all Degrees and Orders, some
Archbishops, some Bishops, Abbots, Monks, Chanons, Priests, and
Clerks of every Degree, all cloathed in the sacred Apparel proper to
their Respective Degrees and Orders; and like in Shape and Colour to
those they wore, when they serv'd God here on Earth. Being come up
to the Soldier, they all embraced him with unspeakable joy, and
conducted him into the Gate with a concert of so Melodious an
Harmony, as could not be equalled by any in this World.
"When the Musick ceased, and the Procession ended, two Archbishops
took the Soldier apart, in order, as was thought to shew him this new
World and the Glory of it, but first they blessed God, who had
strengthen'd his soul with so much constancy, in all the Torments
thro' which he passed, and which he so resolutely bore.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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