The Wonder-Working Magician Part 24

FLORUS. Something serious it must be.

LELIUS. This confusion is occasioned (Hear a singular adventure), Sir, by Cyprian, who being absent Many days again has entered*

Antioch completely mad.

[footnote] *Asonante in e-e which continues to the end.

FLORUS. It was doubtless the fine essence Of his mind that thus has brought him To this lamentable ending.

PEOPLE [within]. Ware the madman! ware the madman!

SCENE XXI.

CYPRIAN, half naked; People.--THE SAME.

CYPRIAN. Never was I more collected; It is you yourselves are mad.

GOVERNOR. Cyprian, what is all this ferment?

CYPRIAN. Governor of Antioch, Viceroy of great Caesar Decius, Florus, Lelius, my young friends, Whom I valued and respected, Proud n.o.bility, great people, To my words be all attentive: I am Cyprian, I am he Once so studious, and so learned, I the wonder of the schools, Of the sciences the centre.

What I gained from all my studies Was one doubt, a doubt that never Left my wildered mind a moment, Ever troubling and perplexing.

I Justina saw, and seeing, To her charms my soul surrendered, And for soft voluptuous Venus Left the wise and learn'd Minerva.

Baffled by Justina's virtue, I, pursuing though rejected, And from one extreme to another Pa.s.sing on as pa.s.sion led me, To my guest, who from the sea Found my feet a port of shelter, For Justina pledged my soul, Since at once he charmed my senses And my intellect, by giving Love its hopes, and thought its treasures.

From that hour, as his disciple Lived I in these lonely deserts, And to his laborious teaching I am for a power indebted, By which I can move even mountains And in different places set them: Yet although these mighty wonders I can do to-day, I'm helpless By the voice of my desire To draw towards me one fair vestal.

And the cause why I am powerless To subdue that beauteous virgin Is that by a G.o.d she's guarded, Whom, now knowing by His blessed Grace bestowed, I come to acknowledge As the Infinite, the Eternal.

Yes, the great G.o.d of the Christians I now openly confess here.

And though true it is I am Still of h.e.l.l the slave and servant, Having with my very blood Signed a certain secret cedule, Yet my blood that blood may blot out In the martyrdom I'm expecting.

If you are a judge, if Christians You pursue with b.l.o.o.d.y vengeance, I am one: for in these mountains A grave venerable elder The first sacrament conferring With its sacred sign impressed me.

This being so, why wait? Your orders Give unto the b.l.o.o.d.y headsman, Tell him here to strike this neck And from it my head dissever.

Try my firmness as you will, For I, resolute and determined, Will endure a thousand deaths Since this truth at last I've learned, That without the great G.o.d, whom Now I seek, adore, and reverence, Human glories are but ashes, Dust, smoke, wind, delusive, empty.

[He falls as if in a swoon, with his face to the ground.

GOVERNOR. So absorbed, so lost in wonder, Cyprian, has thy daring left me, That considering modes of torture I have yet not one selected.

Rise. Bestir thee.

[Spurns him with his foot.

FLORUS. As a statue Formed of ice he lies extended

SCENE XXII.

Soldiers, JUSTINA.--THE SAME.

A SOLDIER. Here, your Highness, is Justina.

GOVERNOR [aside]. I must go, her face unnerves me.-- With this living corse here lying [Aside to his retinue.

Let us leave her for the present.

For the two being here confined, It may alter their intentions, Seeing that they are condemned Both to die: if not, 'tis certain, That unless they adore our G.o.ds Frightful torments soon shall end them.

LELIUS [aside]. I remain 'twixt love and fear Quite bewildered and suspended.

FLORUS [aside]. So affected have I been, I scarce know what most affects me.

[Exeunt all, except JUSTINA.

SCENE XXIII.

JUSTINA; CYPRIAN, insensible on the ground.

JUSTINA. What! without a word you leave me?

When I come here, calm, contented, Even to die. Ah! wishing death, Am I then of death prevented?-- [She perceives CYPRIAN.

But my punishment is, doubtless, Thus locked up to face the terrors Of a slow and lingering death, With the body of this wretch here Left alone, my sole companion Being a corse. O thou, re-entered Into thy original earth, Happy wert thou, if thy sentence Was pa.s.sed on thee for the faith I adore!

CYPRIAN [recovering consciousness]. O proud avenger Of your G.o.ds, why wait, the thread Of my life to cut?...

[He perceives JUSTINA, and rises.

Heaven bless me!-- [Aside.

Can I trust my eyes? Justina!

JUSTINA [aside]. Cyprian, do I see? O Heaven!

CYPRIAN [aside]. No, it is not she, my thought Fills the void air with her presence.

JUSTINA [aside]. No, it is not he, the wind Forms this phantom to divert me.

CYPRIAN. Shadow of my fantasy...

JUSTINA. Of my wish, delusive spectre...

CYPRIAN. Terror of my startled senses...

JUSTINA. Horror of my heart's dejection...

CYPRIAN. What, then, wouldst thou?