In the convent there was a change! Of cold, gray stone, The same cloisters and belfry and spire. A stranger and alone "Have I been Prior Of this convent in the wood, But for that space Never have I beheld thy face!" The heart of the Monk Felix fell: And wandered forth alone, Listening all the time To the melodious singing The bells of the convent ringing "Years!" said a voice close by. Fastened against the wall; He was the oldest monk of all. For a whole century Had he been there, Serving God in prayer, The meekest and humblest of his creatures. He remembered well the features Of Felix, and he said, Speaking distinct and slow: One hundred years ago, When I was a novice in this place, There was here a monk, full of God's grace, Who bore the name Of Felix, and this man must be the same." And straightway They brought forth to the light of day A volume old and brown, A huge tome, bound In brass and wild boar's hide, Wherein were written down The names of all who had died In the convent, since it was edified. Just as the old monk said, That on a certain day and date, One hundred years before, Had gone forth from the convent gate The Monk Felix, and never more Had entered that sacred door. He had been counted among the dead! And they knew, at last, That, such had been the power Of that celestial and immortal song, A hundred years had passed, And had not seemed so long As a single hour! ELSIE comes in with flowers. Here are flowers for you, But they are not all for you. ELSIE. Some of them are for the Virgin And for Saint Cecilia. As thou standest there, PRINCE HENRY. Thou seemest to me like the angel But these will fade. Themselves will fade, But not their memory, ELSIE. PRINCE HENRY. And memory has the power To re-create them from the dust. They remind me, too, Of martyred Dorothea, Who from celestial gardens sent Flowers as her witnesses To him who scoffed and doubted. Do you know the story ELSIE. Of Christ and the Sultan's daughter? That is the prettiest legend of them all. Then tell it to me. But first come hither. PRINCE HENRY. Lay the flowers down beside me, Early in the morning The Sultan's daughter ELSIE. Walked in her father's garden, PRINCE HENRY. Just as thou hast been doing And as she gathered them, ELSIE. She wondered more and more Who was the Master of the Flowers, And made them grow Out of the cold, dark earth. "In my heart," she said, "I love him; and for him Would leave my father's palace, PRINCE HENRY. Dear, innocent child! It reappears once more, As a birth-mark on the forehead When a hand suddenly Is laid upon it, and removed! And at midnight, As she lay upon her bed, She heard a voice Call to her from the garden, ELSIE. And, looking forth from her window She saw a beautiful youth Standing among the flowers. It was the Lord Jesus; And she went down to him, Out of my Father's kingdom I am the Master of the Flowers. Shall be of bright red flowers." And asked the Sultan's daughter And when she answered him with love, And she said to him, "O Love! how red thy heart is, Followed him to his Father's garden. PRINCE HENRY Wouldst thou have done so, Elsie? Yes, very gladly. ELSIE. |