Polyeucte Part 9

Nearchus lured him on?

STRAT.

The tempter he; Such friendship leads to death, or infamy.

Oh, cursed friend, who, in dear love's despite, Has torn him from thine arms--his neophyte!

He dragged him to the front;--baptized, annealed-- He fights for Christ!--The secret is revealed.

PAUL.

Which I would know--and straightway had thy blame!

STRAT.

Ah! I foresaw not this--their deed of shame!

PAUL.

Ere dull despair o'ermaster all my fears, Oh, let me gauge the worth of woman's tears!

For, if the daughter lose, the wife may gain,-- Or Felix may relent, if Polyeucte mock my pain; If both are adamant unto my prayer, Then--then alone--take counsel from despair!

How pa.s.sed the temple sacrifice? Hide naught, my friend, tell all!

STRAT.

The horror and the sacrilege must I, perforce, recall?

To say the words, to think the thoughts, seems blasphemy and shame; Yet will I tell their infamy,--their deed without a name.

To silence hushed, the people knelt, and turned them to the East; Then impious Polyeucte and his friend mock sacrifice and priest.

They every holy name invoked jeer with unbridled tongue, To laughter vile the incense rose--'tis thus our hymn was sung; Both loud and deep the murmurs rang, and Felix' face grew pale, Then Polyeucte mad defiance hurls, while all the people quail.

'Vain are your G.o.ds of wood and stone!' his voice was stern and high-- 'Vain every rite, prayer, sacrifice' so ran his blasphemy.

'Your Jupiter is parricide, adulterer, demon, knave, 'He cannot listen to your cry, not his to bless or save.

'One G.o.d--Jehovah--rules alone, supreme o'er earth and heaven, 'And ye are His--yes, only His--to Him your prayers be given!

'He is our source, our life, our end,--no other G.o.d adore, 'To Him alone all prayer is due, then serve Him evermore!

'Who kneels before a meaner shrine, by devil's power enticed, 'Denies his Maker and his King, denies the Saviour Christ.

'He is our source, our guide, our end, our prophet, priest and king; 'Twas He that nerved Severus' arm,--His praise let Decius sing.

'Jehovah rules the battle-field ye call the field of Mars, 'He only grants a glorious peace, 'tis He guides all our wars.

'He casts the mighty from his seat, He doth the proud abase,-- 'They only peace and blessing know who love and seek His face.

'His sword alone is strong to strike, His shield our only guard.

'He will His bleeding saints avenge, He is their sure reward.

'In vain to Jove and feeble Mars your full libations pour-- 'Oh, kneel before the might ye spurn, the G.o.d ye mock--adore!'

Then Polyeucte the shrine o'erthrows, the holy vessels breaks, Nor wrath of Jove, nor Felix' ire, his fatal purpose shakes.

Foredoomed by Fate, the Furies' prey--they rush, they rend, they tear, The vessels all to fragments fly--all p.r.o.ne the offerings fair; And on the front of awful Jove they set their impious feet, And order fair to chaos turn, and thus their work complete.

Our hallowed mysteries disturbed, our temple dear profaned, Mad flight and tumult dire let loose, proclaim a G.o.d disdained.

Thus pallid fear broods over all, presaging wrath to come, While Felix--but I mark his step!--'tis he shall speak the doom.

PAUL.

How threatening, how dark his mien! How lightning-fraught his eye!

Where wrath and grief, revenge and pain, do strive for mastery!

(Enter Felix.)

FELIX.

O insolence undreamed!--Before my very eyes!-- Before the people's gaze! It is too much!--he dies!

PAUL.

O father!--on my knees!

(Kneels.) Unsay that word!

FELIX.

Nearchus' doom I speak,--not his, thy lord.

Though all unworthy he to be my son, Yet still he bears the name that he hath won; Nor crime of his nor wrath of mine shall ever move Thy father's heart to hate the man thou crown'st with love!

PAUL.

Ne'er vainly have I sued for pity from my sire!

FELIX.

And yet meet food were he for righteous ire!

To recount an act so fell my feeble words too weak, But thou has heard the tale my lips refuse to speak From her, thy maiden; she hath told thee all.

PAUL.

Nearchus goaded--planned--and he shall fall!

FELIX.

So taught by torture of his vilest friend, Shall Polyeucte mark of guilt the certain end, When of the frenzied race he sees the goal, The dread of torture shall subdue his soul!

Who mocked the thought of death, when death he views, Will choose an easier mate--and rightly choose.

That shadowy guest, that doth his soul entice, Once master, glues all ardour into ice, And that proud heart, which never meekness knew, When face to face with Death--will learn to sue!

PAUL.

What! Thinkest thou his soul can ever blench?

FELIX.

Death's mighty flood must every furnace quench!

PAUL.

It might! It may!--I know such things can be!

A Polyeucte changed--debased--forsworn I see!

O, changeful Fortune! changeless Polyeucte move, And grant a boon denied by father's love!

FELIX.

My love too plain--myself too weakly kind, Let him repent and he shall pardon find; Nearchus' sin is his,--and yet the grace He shall not win, thy Polyeucte may embrace!

My duty--to a father's love betrayed Hath of thy sire a fond accomplice made; A healing balm I bring for all thy fears, I look for thanks, and lo--thou giv'st me tears!

PAUL.

I give no thanks--no cause for thanks I find; I know the Christian temper--know their mind, They can blaspheme, but ah, they cannot lie!

They know not how to yield--but they can die!

FELIX.

As bird in hand, he holds his pardon still.

PAUL.

The bird escapes, when 'tis the owner's will.

FELIX.

He death escapes--if so he do elect.

PAUL.