Запретный лес
XX. The Judgment
Fordycehaddroppedhisplaidfromhisshoulders,andstoodupwithraisedarm,hiseyesburninginhispaleface.Hisreputeasasaintwassowellestablishedthatatanytimehewouldhavecommandedsilence,butnowhespokeinaquietsodeepthathishearersseemedtobefrozenintheirseats.EventheModeratorstoppedintheactofsettlinghisbands,andhishandremainedathisthroat.
"Iwillspeakandnotbesilent,"saidthevoice."ThewomanwhomyouwouldaccusewithyourfoultonguesisthisdaywithherLordinParadise.WellIkennedher--shewasKatrineYesterandsheabodeatCalidon--therewasnonelikeherforgentlenessandgrace.ShewasthepromisedwifeofDavidSempill--andinthetimeofcalamitysheleftherbiendwellingandhersecurelifeandwroughtamongthepoorfolkofWoodilee--ay,asChristleftHisFather’shousetosuccoursinfulmen....Sheisfarayontusforevermore,andintheNewJerusalemshewillbesoneartheThronethatblessedwillIbeifIgetaglimpseofher."
Thewords--whichwhenrememberedlaterwereaccountedahorridblasphemy--castatthemomentastrangespelloverhishearers.Thehushwasbrokenbymanyturningtheirheads,asiftheycouldnotendurethesightofthatpropheticface.EventheModeratordroppedhiseyes;Chasehopestaredatthespeakerwithhalfasmileonhislips.
"Fools,fools!"thevoicewenton."Ihavebeenowerlongsilentbecauseoftheinfirmitiesofmyflesh.OnecameamongyoupreachingChristandyouhavestonedhim,astheJewsstonedStephenoutsidethewallsofJerusalem.
