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This, their example,--Pagan--follow thou!
To Pluto bend, to Aphrodite bow!
For this I broke their altars, rased their shrine,-- Yea, for those crimes that thou dost call divine!
And what I did, that would I do once more Before Severus--Decius,--nay, before The eyes of all men;--so would I proclaim One G.o.d alone adored,--one Holiest Name!
FELIX.
At last my bounties yield to wrath most stern, most just.
Die! or the G.o.ds adore!
POLY.
A Christian I!
FELIX.
Thou must Adore the G.o.ds I say! Adore, or die!
POLY.
I am a Christian.
FELIX.
This is thy reply?
Ye Guards, do my behest--prepare the knife!
PAUL.
Where goes he?
FELIX.
To his death!
POLY.
Ah, no to life!
(To Pauline.) Remember me! Farewell, Pauline, farewell!
PAUL.
Nay, I will follow thee--to heaven or h.e.l.l!
FELIX.
Begone! For all our ills this one redress!
(Exeunt Pauline, Polyeucte and Guards.) (Enter Albin)
O task ungrateful to my gentle mind!
Well did he say, 'Be cruel to be kind!'
The people I defy, ah, let them rage!
Severus may in war of words engage.
Yes, I have saved myself--I mean _the State_, To wilful man there comes relentless fate; My conscience pure of all reproach,--for I Have lied and stormed to shake his constancy.
To give his hot young blood due time to cool I played the coward--nay, I played the fool!
Why did he thus a.s.sail the G.o.ds and me With insult, and with horrid blasphemy?
But interest helped me, and resentment too.
Else had I found my duty hard to do!
ALBIN.
Soon mayst thou this thy dear-bought victory rue, For thou hast done what thou canst ne'er undo!
Unworthy deed for Roman knight! ah, me!
(Aside.) I would that I could add, 'unworthy _thee_!'
FELIX.
Manlius and Brutus both a son have slain, And neither did thereby his glory stain; The part that is diseased--that part we bleed, So is the State from knaves and caitiffs freed.
ALBIN.
Revenge and pressing peril thee unman, Else--couldst thou bless a deed all men must ban?
When she, thy widowed daughter, comes--the air Of heaven will echo to her deep despair!
FELIX.
Thou dost remind me she with Polyeucte went-- I know not with what mind, with what intent: But her despair awakes my fond alarm, Go, Albin, go, and guard my child from harm!
She might the execution of the law Impede: I would not that his death she saw.
Try to console her--Go! what dost thou fear?
(Enter Pauline)
ALBIN.
I need not go, for ah--Pauline is here!
PAUL.
Tyrant, why leave thy butchery half done?
Come, slay thy daughter, thou hast slain thy son!
For, hear!--His villainy--or worth--is mine!
Why stay thy hand while I my neck incline?
Thy sword in me shall find a kindred food, I too am new baptized, baptized in blood!
These drops that fell from off the murderous knife, Have made the martyr's widow a true wife.
I see!--I feel!--I know! My darkest night Is o'er--to break in purest heavenly light.
I too, at last, am Christ's: that word says all, Those hands were pierced for me--I hear His call: Death--lovely death--thy beckoning hand I hail!
Oh, help my pa.s.sage, or thy schemes may fail!
Dread Decius! Fear Severus! Fear thy fall!
Oh, speed me to my lord--my love--my all!
My husband calls me to his happier land-- See!--there Nearchus at his side doth stand!
Lead me to these--the G.o.ds by thee confest, Some shrines spared Polyeucte, I will break the rest!
There, there the G.o.ds thou fearest I will brave, Oh, bare thy knife!--no other gift I crave.
_Thou_ hast my master been: another Lord Claims my obedience now; yes, raise thy sword!
Revolt is holy when for Christ we fight,-- My day has dawned, the day that knows no night!
Once more I cry--'Christ only has my heart!'
Thy bliss and mine secure! Let me depart!
Keep thou thy kingdom! Safe its treasure hold!
My kingdom there--with Christ--within the fold!
(Enter Severus)
SEV.
Unnatural sire, whose craft leads to the grave, The slaves of fear themselves alone enslave.
Yes, Polyeucte is slain, and slain by thee,-- A sacrifice to greed and treachery.
I offered rescue from the opening tomb, Base doubts enthralled thee, didst seal his doom; I prayed, I threatened, thou wouldst not believe, Deceiver thou, so must all men deceive.
