Polyuecte [18]
at thy hand the judge may me require!
POLY. Nay, laugh not, Felix! He thy Judge will be, No refuge there for impious blasphemy! Nor kings nor clowns can 'scape His righteous ire, His slaughtered Saints of thee will He require!
FELIX. I'll slay no more;--by Hercules I swear! So I a Christian crown perchance may wear; I will protect the flock!
POLY. Nay, rather be A goad, a scourge, for their felicity! Let suffering purify each Christian soul, Cross, rack, and flame but lead them to their goal; What here they lose--in Heaven an hundredfold they find. Be cruel,--persecute!--and so alone be kind! My words thou canst not read; thine eyes are blinded here, Wait the unveiling /There/! Then understand and fear!
FELIX. Nay, nay, in truth I would a Christian be!
POLY. In thy hard heart alone a bar I see.
FELIX (whispering). This Roman knight----
POLY (aloud). Severus, thou wouldst say.
FELIX. Once let him sail, I will no more delay, For this I anger feign;--let him depart!
POLY. 'Tis thus thou wouldst reveal a Christian heart? To idols dumb--to Pagans blind, thy sugared poison bear, Christ's servants quaff another cup, sure refuge from despair.
FELIX. What is this deadly draught that thou wouldst drain? I'll drink thy wine.--Till then, from death refrain!
POLY. To swine no more my holy pearls I cast, Faith,--/faith/--not reason, shall see light at last; Soon--when I see my God--yes, face to face, I will implore that Felix may find grace.
FELIX. O dearest son, thy loss were death to me!
POLY. This loss can be repaired--the remedy Find in Severus; he will take my place; By Decius honoured he will not disgrace Thy house: my death will an advantage win For thee, for her, for me.--The work begin!
FELIX. Such my reward! Yes, insult is the child Of injury. The grace I grant, reviled, Shall turn to swift revenge. The gods defied May do their will and speed the suicide!
POLY. I thought the gods were dead, but they revive With human passion; Felix, do not strive Against thy nature; lay aside thy ruth; Who loves a lie can never follow truth.
FELIX. I humoured madness, but the mood is o'er, I am myself again; I did implore,-- 'Twas vain; the dark abyss that yawns for thee May hold thee now, tomb to thy constancy. The hope I cherished--fondled--now is flown Severus will be king, and I o'erthrown;-- Shall I the gods by incense pacify? Or by thy death? for thou, at last, must die!
POLY. Incense might but incense; I cannot tell:
(Enter Pauline)
Pauline!
PAUL. That word broke from thee like a knell; Who seeks my doom to-day? Thou--or my sire? Who fires the brand? Who lights the funeral pyre? My father should, by nature, be my friend, And lover's heart to love an ear should lend. Who here is mine ally, and who my foe? Who has a heart to feel?--this would I know.
FELIX. Nay, to thy lord appeal.
(Pauline turns to Polyeucte)
POLY. Severus wed!
PAUL. Ah, this is outrage! Rather strike me dead!
POLY. Oh, dearer than myself to me thy weal! My love would never wound, it seeks to heal. I see thee wrestle with thy deep distress Alone--unless Severus bring redress; His merit, that once gained thy maiden heart, Hath still that worth when I from thee must part, Once loved--and loving still--his honour grows.
PAUL. Thy wife's true heart another treatment owes: O base reproach! For this I crushed for thee My former love: that I disdained might be? This my reward for dearest victory won,-- I did that love undo--to be myself undone! Resolve, faith, abnegation, all were vain, For thy return is outrage heaped on pain. Oh, sunk in tomb of shame, most vile, most mean, Come back to life--to honour--to Pauline! (Holds out her arms.) To learn from her that loyalty and faith Religion are:--and all beside but death! Once more Alcestis wrestles with the tomb, Arise, arise from thy enthralling doom! And if my invocation feeble be, Regard the tears--the sighs,--shed--breathed for thee! Love is too weak a word--I thee adore!
POLY. Once have I said--yet now I say once more-- 'Live with Severus, or--with
POLY. Nay, laugh not, Felix! He thy Judge will be, No refuge there for impious blasphemy! Nor kings nor clowns can 'scape His righteous ire, His slaughtered Saints of thee will He require!
FELIX. I'll slay no more;--by Hercules I swear! So I a Christian crown perchance may wear; I will protect the flock!
POLY. Nay, rather be A goad, a scourge, for their felicity! Let suffering purify each Christian soul, Cross, rack, and flame but lead them to their goal; What here they lose--in Heaven an hundredfold they find. Be cruel,--persecute!--and so alone be kind! My words thou canst not read; thine eyes are blinded here, Wait the unveiling /There/! Then understand and fear!
FELIX. Nay, nay, in truth I would a Christian be!
POLY. In thy hard heart alone a bar I see.
FELIX (whispering). This Roman knight----
POLY (aloud). Severus, thou wouldst say.
FELIX. Once let him sail, I will no more delay, For this I anger feign;--let him depart!
POLY. 'Tis thus thou wouldst reveal a Christian heart? To idols dumb--to Pagans blind, thy sugared poison bear, Christ's servants quaff another cup, sure refuge from despair.
FELIX. What is this deadly draught that thou wouldst drain? I'll drink thy wine.--Till then, from death refrain!
POLY. To swine no more my holy pearls I cast, Faith,--/faith/--not reason, shall see light at last; Soon--when I see my God--yes, face to face, I will implore that Felix may find grace.
FELIX. O dearest son, thy loss were death to me!
POLY. This loss can be repaired--the remedy Find in Severus; he will take my place; By Decius honoured he will not disgrace Thy house: my death will an advantage win For thee, for her, for me.--The work begin!
FELIX. Such my reward! Yes, insult is the child Of injury. The grace I grant, reviled, Shall turn to swift revenge. The gods defied May do their will and speed the suicide!
POLY. I thought the gods were dead, but they revive With human passion; Felix, do not strive Against thy nature; lay aside thy ruth; Who loves a lie can never follow truth.
FELIX. I humoured madness, but the mood is o'er, I am myself again; I did implore,-- 'Twas vain; the dark abyss that yawns for thee May hold thee now, tomb to thy constancy. The hope I cherished--fondled--now is flown Severus will be king, and I o'erthrown;-- Shall I the gods by incense pacify? Or by thy death? for thou, at last, must die!
POLY. Incense might but incense; I cannot tell:
(Enter Pauline)
Pauline!
PAUL. That word broke from thee like a knell; Who seeks my doom to-day? Thou--or my sire? Who fires the brand? Who lights the funeral pyre? My father should, by nature, be my friend, And lover's heart to love an ear should lend. Who here is mine ally, and who my foe? Who has a heart to feel?--this would I know.
FELIX. Nay, to thy lord appeal.
(Pauline turns to Polyeucte)
POLY. Severus wed!
PAUL. Ah, this is outrage! Rather strike me dead!
POLY. Oh, dearer than myself to me thy weal! My love would never wound, it seeks to heal. I see thee wrestle with thy deep distress Alone--unless Severus bring redress; His merit, that once gained thy maiden heart, Hath still that worth when I from thee must part, Once loved--and loving still--his honour grows.
PAUL. Thy wife's true heart another treatment owes: O base reproach! For this I crushed for thee My former love: that I disdained might be? This my reward for dearest victory won,-- I did that love undo--to be myself undone! Resolve, faith, abnegation, all were vain, For thy return is outrage heaped on pain. Oh, sunk in tomb of shame, most vile, most mean, Come back to life--to honour--to Pauline! (Holds out her arms.) To learn from her that loyalty and faith Religion are:--and all beside but death! Once more Alcestis wrestles with the tomb, Arise, arise from thy enthralling doom! And if my invocation feeble be, Regard the tears--the sighs,--shed--breathed for thee! Love is too weak a word--I thee adore!
POLY. Once have I said--yet now I say once more-- 'Live with Severus, or--with