The Equinox (Volume I, Number V)

THE SCORPION with God and His holy church. My own chaplain shall baptize her and administer the sacrament. Glory to God in the Highest for one more soul torn from the grasp of Satan. My beloved daughter, behold you now at peace with God and with His holy church. Your sins are forgiven you. But the secular arm is not yet satisfied ; your crimes, the crimes 10 which you have confessed, must be expiated according to law, The sentence of the Court is that you be handed over to the secular arm ; and I beg of you [turning lo the Representative of the King efferum/em], the Court begs of you, that you will deal mercifully with the prisoner, without shedding of blood. REPRESENTATIVE OF K. OF ]. A stake shall be prepared. [T0 the soldiers] Remove the prisoner to the strongest dungeon, and let the guard be trebled. Witchcraft has many tricks. BISHOP. The Court is dissolved. My lords, will you please breakfast with me? [JUDGES murmur assent. RINALDO. Thank you, my lord, but I have my bellyful. [The other: exchange glances andgo out. RINALDO is left alone. He goes to theflare oftorture] There is blood on the floor, It fell from her lip that she hit through. . . . Pilate washed his hands in water. Had I power I would wash mine in blood, in the blood of these monsters of cruelty—no, of stupidity. But I am too old. I gave all for power, and I used all my power to reconcile, to heal, to amend the matter. So at the end I find myself a toothless dog. Bigotry I could have beaten : it is this moun— tain of stupidity that crushes me. Shall I summon my 103