The Wonder-Working Magician Part 25

JUSTINA. What, then, wouldst thou?

CYPRIAN. I invoked thee not. What errand Has thou come on?

JUSTINA. Why thus seek me?

I to thee no thought directed.

CYPRIAN. Ah! I sought thee not, Justina.

JUSTINA. Nor here at thy call I entered.

CYPRIAN. Then why here?

JUSTINA. I am a prisoner.-- Thou?

CYPRIAN. I, too, have been arrested.

But, Justina, say what crime Could thy virtue have effected?

JUSTINA. It is not for any crime, It is from their deep resentment, Their abhorrence of Christ's faith, Whom I as my G.o.d confess here.

CYPRIAN. Thou dost owe Him that, Justina, For thy G.o.d was thy defender, He watched o'er thee in His goodness.

Get my prayers to Him accepted.

JUSTINA. Pray with faith, and He will listen.

CYPRIAN. Then with that I will address Him.

Though a fear, that's not despair, Makes me for my great sins tremble.

JUSTINA. Oh! have confidence.

CYPRIAN. My crimes are So immense.

JUSTINA. But more immense are His great mercies.

CYPRIAN. Then, will He Pardon have on me?

JUSTINA. 'Tis certain.

CYPRIAN. How, if my soul surrendered To the Demon's self, as purchase Of thy beauty?

JUSTINA. Oh, there are not Stars as many in the heavens, Sands as many on the sh.o.r.e, Sparks within the fire as many, Motes as many in the beam, On the winds so many feathers, As the sins He can forgive.

CYPRIAN. I believe it, and am ready Now a thousand lives to give Him.-- But I hear some people enter.

SCENE XXIV.

FABIUS, leading in MOSCON, CLARIN, and LIVIA, as prisoners; CYPRIAN and JUSTINA.

FABIUS. With your master and your mistress Here remain confined together.

[Exit.

LIVIA. If THEY fancy to be Christians, What have WE done to offend them?

MOSCON. Much: 'tis crime enough for us That we happen to be servants.

CLARIN. Flying peril in the mountain, I find here a greater peril.

SCENE XXV.

A Servant.--THE SAME.

SERVANT. The Lord Governor Aurelius Summons Cyprian to his presence, And Justina.

JUSTINA. Ah! how happy, If 'tis for the wished-for ending.

Do not, Cyprian, be disheartened.

CYPRIAN. Faith, zeal, courage, all possess me: For if life must be the ransom Of my slavery to the devil, He who gave his soul for thee, Will he not give G.o.d his person?

JUSTINA. I once said that I could love thee But in death, and since together, Cyprian, we now must die, What I promised I present thee.

[They are led out by the Servant.

SCENE XXVI.

MOSCON, LIVIA, and CLARIN.

MOSCON. How contentedly to die They go forth.

LIVIA. Much more contented Are we three to remain alive.

CLARIN. Not much more; for we must settle Our account now, though I own The occasion might be better, And the place too, still 'twere wrong To neglect the time that's present.

MOSCON. What account pray?