CHAPTER XII.
THE VISION.
Before daybreak on the following morning, Garnet, who had been engagedin earnest conference with Catesby during the whole of the night,repaired to the sacred spring for the purpose of bathing within it, andperforming his solitary devotions at the shrine of the saint. Onascending the steps of the structure, he perceived Guy Fawkes kneelingbeside the fountain, apparently occupied in prayer; and, being unwillingto disturb him, he paused. Finding, however, after the lapse of a fewminutes, that he did not move, he advanced towards him, and was about tolay his hand upon his shoulder, when he was arrested by the veryextraordinary expression of his countenance. His lips were partly open,but perfectly motionless, and his eyes, almost starting from theirsockets, were fixed upon the boiling waters of the spring. His handswere clasped, and his look altogether was that of one whose facultieswere benumbed by awe or terror.
Aware of the fanatical and enthusiastical character of Fawkes, Garnethad little doubt that, by keeping long vigil at the fountain, he hadworked himself into such a state of over-excitement as to imagine hebeheld some preternatural appearance; and it was with some curiositythat he awaited the result. Glancing in the same direction, his eyerested upon the bottom of the well, but he could discern nothing exceptthe glittering and blood-streaked pebbles, and the reflection of theearly sunbeams that quivered on its steaming surface. At length, aconvulsion passed over the frame of the kneeler, and heaving a deep sighhe arose. Turning to quit the spring, he confronted Garnet, anddemanded, in a low voice--
"Have you likewise seen the vision, father?"
Garnet made no reply, but regarded him steadfastly.
"Has the blessed Winifred appeared to you, I say?" continued Fawkes.
"No," answered Garnet; "I am but just come hither. It is for you, myson,--the favoured of Heaven,--for whom such glorious visions arereserved. I have seen nothing. How did the saint manifest herself toyou?"
"In her earthly form," replied Fawkes; "or rather, I should say, in thesemblance of the form she bore on earth. Listen to me, father. I camehither last night to make my couch beside the fountain. After plunginginto it, I felt marvellously refreshed, and disposed myself to rest onthat stone. Scarcely had my eyes closed when the saintly virgin appearedto me. Oh! father, it was a vision of seraphic beauty, such as the eyeof man hath seldom seen!"
"And such only as it is permitted the elect of Heaven to see," observedGarnet.
"Alas! father," rejoined Guy Fawkes, "I can lay little claim to such anepithet. Nay, I begin to fear that I have incurred the displeasure ofHeaven."
"Think not so, my son," replied Garnet, uneasily. "Relate your vision,and I will interpret it to you."
"Thus then it was, father," returned Fawkes. "The figure of the saintarose from out the well, and gliding towards me laid its finger upon mybrow. My eyes opened, but I was as one oppressed with a nightmare,unable to move. I then thought I heard my name pronounced by a voice sowondrously sweet that my senses were quite ravished. Fain would I haveprostrated myself, but my limbs refused their office. Neither could Ispeak, for my tongue was also enchained."
"Proceed, my son," observed Garnet; "I am curious to know what ensued."
"Father," replied Guy Fawkes, "if the form I beheld was that of SaintWinifred,--and that it was so, I cannot doubt,--the enterprise on whichwe are engaged will fail. It is _not_ approved by Heaven. The visionwarned me to desist."
"You cannot desist, my son," rejoined Garnet, sternly. "Your oath bindsyou to the project."
"True," replied Fawkes; "and I have no thought of abandoning it. But Iam well assured it will not be successful."
"Your thinking so, my son, will be the most certain means of realizingyour apprehensions," replied Garnet, gravely. "But let me hear the exactwords of the spirit. You may have misunderstood them."
"I cannot repeat them precisely, father," replied Fawkes; "but I couldnot misapprehend their import, which was the deepest commiseration forour forlorn and fallen church, but a positive interdiction against anyattempt to restore it by bloodshed. 'Suffer on,' said the spirit; 'bearthe yoke patiently, and in due season God will avenge your wrongs, andfree you from oppression. You are thus afflicted that your faith may bepurified. But if you resort to violence, you will breed confusion, andinjure, not serve, the holy cause on which you are embarked.' Such,father, was the language of the saint. It was uttered in a tone sotender and sympathizing, that every word found an echo in my heart, andI repented having pledged myself to the undertaking. But, when I tellyou that she added that all concerned in the conspiracy should perish,perhaps you may be deterred from proceeding further."
"Never!" returned Garnet. "Nor will I suffer any one engaged in it toretreat. What matter if a few perish, if the many survive? Our bloodwill not be shed in vain, if the true religion of God is restored. Nay,as strongly as the blessed Winifred herself resisted the impiousravisher, Caradoc, will I resist all inducements to turn aside from mypurpose. It may be that the enterprise _will_ fail. It may be that we_shall_ perish. But if we die thus, we shall die as martyrs, and ourdeaths will be highly profitable to the Catholic religion."
"I doubt it," observed Fawkes.
"My son," said Garnet, solemnly, "I have ever looked upon you as onedestined to be the chief agent in the great work of redemption. I havethought that, like Judith, you were chosen to destroy the Holofernes whooppresses us. Having noted in you a religious fervour, and resolutionadmirably fitting you for the task, I thought, and still think youexpressly chosen by Heaven for it. But, if you have any misgiving, Ibeseech you to withdraw from it. I will absolve you from your oath; and,enjoining you only to strictest secrecy, will pray you to depart atonce, lest your irresolution should be communicated to the others."
"Fear nothing from me, father," rejoined Fawkes. "I have noirresolution, no wavering, nor shall any engaged with us be shaken by myapprehension. You have asked me what I saw and heard, and I have toldyou truly. But I will speak of it no more."
"It will be well to observe silence, my son," answered Garnet; "forthough you, like myself, are unnerved, its effect on others might beinjurious. But you have not yet brought your relation to an end. How didthe figure disappear?"
"As it arose, father," replied Fawkes. "Uttering in a sweet but solemnvoice, which yet rings in my cars, the words, 'Be warned!' it glidedback to the fountain, whose waves as it approached grew still, andgradually melted from my view."
"But when I came hither, you appeared to be gazing at the spring," saidGarnet. "What did you then behold?"
"My first impulse on awakening about an hour ago," replied Fawkes, "wasto prostrate myself before the fountain, and to entreat the intercessionof the saint, who had thus marvellously revealed herself to me. As Iprayed, methought its clear lucid waters became turbid, and turned tothe colour of blood."
"It is a type of the blood of slaughtered brethren of our faith, whichhas been shed by our oppressors," rejoined Garnet.
"Rather of our own, which shall be poured forth in this cause," retortedFawkes. "No matter. I am prepared to lose the last drop of mine."
"And I," said Garnet; "and, I doubt not, like those holy men who havesuffered for their faith, that we shall both win a crown of martyrdom."
"Amen!" exclaimed Fawkes. "And you think the sacrifice we are about tooffer will prove acceptable to God?"
"I am convinced of it, my son," answered Garnet. "And I take the saintedvirgin, from whose blood this marvellous spring was produced, to witnessthat I devote myself unhesitatingly to the project, and that I firmlybelieve it will profit our church."
As he spoke, a singular circumstance occurred, which did not fail toproduce an impression on both parties,--especially Guy Fawkes. A violentgust of wind, apparently suddenly aroused, whistled through the slendercolumns of the structure, and catching the surface of the water dashedit in tiny waves against their feet.
"The saint is offended," observed Fawkes.
"It would almost seem so," replied Garnet, after a
pause. "Let usproceed to the chapel, and pray at her shrine. We will confer on thismatter hereafter. Meantime, swear to me that you will observe profoundsecrecy respecting this vision."
"I swear," replied Guy Fawkes.
At this moment, another and more violent gust agitated the fountain.
"We will tarry here no longer," said Garnet, "I am not proof againstthese portents of ill."
So saying, he led the way to the chapel. Here they were presently joinedby several of the female devotees, including Viviana, Anne Vaux, andLady Digby. Matins were then said, after which various offerings weremade at the shrine of the saint. Lady Digby presented a small tablet setin gold, representing on one side the martyrdom of Saint Winifred, andon the other the Salutation of our Lady. Anne Vaux gave a smallenamelled cross of gold; Viviana a girdle of the same metal, with apendant sustaining a small Saint John's head surrounded with pearls.
"Mine will be a poor soldier's offering," said Guy Fawkes, approachingthe shrine, which was hung around with the crutches, staves, andbandages of those cured by the healing waters of the miraculous spring."This small silver scallop-shell, given me by a pilgrim, who died in myarms near the chapel of Saint James of Compostella, in Spain, is thesole valuable I possess."
"It will be as acceptable as a more costly gift, my son," repliedGarnet, placing it on the shrine.
Of all the offerings then made, that silver scallop-shell is the onlyone preserved.