Polyeucte | Page 6

now unknown;?In part this dream is true, and for the rest----
PAUL.?By what new fear, say, is thy heart opprest?
FELIX.?Severus lives!
PAUL.?Ah! this no cause for fear!
FELIX.?At Decius' court, he, held in honour dear,?Risked life to save his Emperor from his foes,?'Tis to his saviour Decius honour shows!
PAUL.?Thus fickle Fortune bows her head to fate,?And pays the honour due, though all too late!
FELIX.?He comes! Is near----
PAUL.?The gods----
FELIX.?Do all things well.
PAUL.?My dream fulfilled! But how? O father, tell!
FELIX.?Let Albin speak, who saw him face to face?With tribe of courtiers; all to him give place;?Unscathed in battle, all extol his fame,?Unstained, undimmed, his glory, life and name!
ALBIN.?You know the issue of that glorious fight:?The crowning glory his--who, in despite?Of danger sore to life and liberty,?Became a slave to set his Emperor free:?Rome gave her honours to Severus' shade,?Whilst he, her ransomer, in a dungeon stayed.?His death they mourned above ten thousand slain,?While Persia held him--yes, their tears were vain,?But not in vain his noble sacrifice!?The king released him: Rome grudged not the price;?No Persian bribe could tempt him from his home.?When Decius cried--'Fight once again for Rome!'?Again he fights--he leads--all others hope resign;?But from despair's deep breast he plucks a star benign,?This--hope's fair fruit, contentment, plenty, ease,?Brings joy from grief, to crown a lasting peace.?The Emperor holds him as his dearest friend,?And doth Severus to Armenia send--?To offer up to Mars, and mighty Jove,?'Mid feast and sacrifice, his thanks and love.
FELIX.?Ah, Fortune, turn thy wheel, else I misfortune meet!
ALBIN.?This news I learn'd from one of great Severus' suite:?Thence, swiftly here, the tale to tell I sped.
FELIX.?He who once vainly wooed, hopes now to wed.?The sacrifice, the offering, all are feigned,?All but the suit, which lightly I disdained.
PAUL.?Yes, this may be, for ah! he loved me well!
FELIX.?What room for hope? Such wrath is child of hell.?Before his righteous ire I shrink, I cower;?Revenge I dread--and vengeance linked with power?Unnerves me quite.
PAUL.?Fear not, his soul is great.
FELIX.?Thy comfort, oh my daughter, comes too late.?The thought to crush me down, to turn my heart to stone,?This, that I prized not worth for worth's dear sake alone!?Too well, Pauline, thou hast thy sire obeyed;?Thy heart was fond, but duty love betrayed.?How surely thy revolt had safety won!?'Tis thine obedience leaves us all undone.?In thee, in thee alone, one hope remains,?Love held him fast, relax not thou love's chains.?O Love, my sometime foe, forgive, be mine ally,?And let the dart that slew now bring the remedy!
PAUL.?Forbid it, Heaven! One good yet mine,--/my will/,?The dart that wounded has the power to kill.?One lesson woman learns--her feebleness;?Shame is the only grief without redress.?The traitor heart shall still a prisoner be;?For freedom were disgrace to thee and me!?/I will not/ see him!
FELIX.?But one word! Be kind!
PAUL.?I will not, for I love!--and love is blind.?Before his kingly eye my soul to unveil?Were shame and failure: and I will not fail:?/I will not/ see him!
FELIX.?One word more--'Obey!'?Wouldst thou thy father and his weal betray?
PAUL.?I yield! Come woe!--come shame!--come every ill!?My father thou!--and I thy daughter still!
FELIX.?I know thee pure.
PAUL.?And pure I will remain,?But, crushed and bruised, the flower no guilt shall stain.?I fear the combat that I may not fly,?Hard-won the fight, and dear the victory.?Here, love, my curse! Here, dearest friend, my foe!?Yet will I arm me! Father, I would go?To steel my heart--all weapons to embrace!
FELIX.?I too will go, the conqueror's march to grace!?Restore thy strength, ere yet it be too late,?And know that in thy hands thou hold'st our fate!
PAUL.?Go, broken heart, to probe thy wound; cut deep and do not spare! Herself--the crowning sacrifice--the victim shall prepare!
ACT II?SEVERUS. FABIAN
SEV.?Let Felix bow to Jove and incense pour,?I seek a dearer shrine, for I adore?Nor Jove, nor Mars, nor Fortune--but Pauline.?This fruit now ripening late my hand would glean:?You know, my friend, the god who wings my way,?You know the only goddess I obey:?What reck the gods on high our sacrifice and prayer??An earthly worship mine, sole refuge from despair!
FABIAN.?Ah! You may see her----
SEV.?Blessed be thy tongue!?O magic word, that turns my grief to song!?Yet, if she now forget each fair, fond vow??She loved me once,--but does she love me now??On that sweet face shall I but trouble see?Who hope for love undimmed, for ecstasy??Great Decius gives her hand, but if her heart?Be mine no more--than let vain hope depart!?This mandate binds her father only; she?Shall give no captive hand--her heart is free:?No promise wrung, no king's command be mine to claim,?Her love the boon I crave; all else an empty name!
FABIAN.?Yes,--you may--see her--/see/ her--this you may--
SEV.?Thy speech is halting--odious thy delay!?She loves no more? I grope! O give me light!
FABIAN.?O see her not, for painful were the sight!?In Rome each matron's kind! In Rome all maids are fair!?Let lips meet other lips--seek for caresses there!?No stately Claudia will refuse--no Julia proud