In Germany from the Leipsic Disputation to the Diet at Worms - James Aitken Wylie

the yoke of Rome. Rome had lost the battle. After
this it mattered absolutely nothing what her
champions in the Diet might do with Luther. They
might burn him, but to what avail? The fatal word
had already been spoken; the decisive blow had
been struck. A stake could neither reverse the
defeat they had sustained, nor conceal, although it
might enhance, the glory of the victory that Luther
had won. Grievous, inexpressibly grievous, was
their mortification. Could nothing be done?
Luther was bidden withdraw for a little; and
during his absence the Diet deliberated. It was easy
to see that a crisis had arisen, but not so easy to
counsel the steps by which it was to be met. They
resolved to give him another opportunity of
retracting. Accordingly he was called in, led again
in front of the emperor's throne, and asked to
pronounce over again–now the third time–his YES
or NO. With equal simplicity and dignity he replied
that "he had no other answer to give than that
which he had already given." In the calmness of his
voice, in the steadfastness of his eye, and in the
leonine lines of his rugged German face, the
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