f the Empty Womb, thou dost not demand the
bootless offering of chaste loins, thou dost not sing the praises of
Lenten follies; thou alone receivest the carnal supplications and
petitions of poor and avaricious families. Thou determinest the mother
to sell her daughter, to give her son; thou aidest sterile and reprobate
loves; Guardian of strident Neuroses, Leaden Tower of Hysteria, bloody
Vase of Rape!

"Master, thy faithful servants, on their knees, implore thee and
supplicate thee to satisfy them when they wish the torture of all those
who love them and aid them; they supplicate thee to assure them the joy
of delectable misdeeds unknown to justice, spells whose unknown origin
baffles the reason of man; they ask, finally, glory, riches, power, of
thee, King of the Disinherited, Son who art to overthrow the inexorable
Father!"

Then Docre rose, and erect, with arms outstretched, vociferated in a
ringing voice of hate:

"And thou, thou whom, in my quality of priest, I force, whether thou
wilt or no, to descend into this host, to incarnate thyself in this
bread, Jesus, Artisan of Hoaxes, Bandit of Homage, Robber of Affection,
hear! Since the day when thou didst issue from the complaisant bowels of
a Virgin, thou hast failed all thine engagements, belied all thy
promises. Centuries have wept, awaiting thee, fugitive God, mute God!
Thou wast to redeem man and thou hast not, thou wast to appear in thy
glory, and thou sleepest. Go, lie, say to the wretch who appeals to
thee, 'Hope, be patient, suffer; the hospital of souls will receive
thee; the angels will assist thee; Heaven opens to thee.' Impostor! thou
knowest well that the angels, disgusted at thine inertness, abandon
thee! Thou wast to be the Interpreter of our plaints, the Chamberlain of
our tears; thou wast to convey them to the Father and thou hast not done
so, for this intercession would disturb thine eternal sleep of happy
satiety.

"Thou hast forgotten the poverty thou didst preach, enamoured vassal of
Banks! Thou hast seen the weak crushed beneath the press of profit; thou
hast heard the death rattle of the timid, paralyzed by famine, of women
disembowelled for a bit of bread, and thou hast caused the Chancery of
thy Simoniacs, thy commercial representatives, thy Popes, to answer by
dilatory excuses and evasive promises, sacristy Shyster, huckster God!

"Master, whose inconceivable ferocity engenders life and inflicts it on
the innocent whom thou darest d