Atto

 1 Per|   senator, Governor of Armenia. ~POLYEUCTE, an Armenian noble, son-in-law
 2 Per|        Armenian noble, friend to Polyeucte. ~PAULINE, daughter to Felix,
 3 Per|       daughter to Felix, wife to Polyeucte. ~STRATONICE, companion
 4 1  |                          Act I~ ~POLYEUCTE. NEARCHUS~Nearchus.~SHALL
 5 1  |      only safety-flight! [Exeunt POLYEUCTE and NEARCHUS.~ ~ PAUL. Yes,
 6 1  |       poor face, from which must Polyeucte fly;~ ~Severus was his name:—
 7 1  |          the rest:—you know that Polyeucte’s eye~ ~Was caught,—his
 8 1  |         complete~ ~My doom, hurl Polyeucte beneath his feet!~ ~I cried, ‘
 9 2  |   another’s wife?~ ~ FABIAN.Yes, Polyeucte is her lord.~55~He came,
10 2  |        shower bliss and peace on Polyeucte and thee!~ 205~ PAUL. Stern
11 2  |          his heart!~ ~ PAUL. Ah, Polyeucte bathed in blood! Depart!
12 2  |    Depart! depart!~ ~ STRAT. For Polyeucte’s welfare did Severus pray!~ ~
13 2  |          he came to woo.~ ~Enter POLYEUCTE and NEARCHUS~~ POLY. The
14 3  |          with jealousy,—~ ~While Polyeucte, who has won what he has
15 3  |         Not even here—at home—is Polyeucte safe,~35~The eagle wings
16 3  |            A quarrel?~50~ STRAT. Polyeucte—Nearchus—go—~ ~The Christians——~ ~
17 3  |         dream, Pauline, is true; Polyeucte is——~ ~ PAUL. Dead?~60~
18 3  |        he court the grave.~ ~Let Polyeucte be Christ’s slave!—For woe,
19 3  |       compassion show;~ ~’Gainst Polyeucte biting words alone he speaks—~ ~
20 3  |          Or Felix may relent, if Polyeucte mock my pain;~ ~If both
21 3  |       the East;~110~Then impious Polyeucte and his friend mock sacrifice
22 3  |           face grew pale,~ ~Then Polyeucte mad defiance hurls, while
23 3  |         ye mock—adore!’~135~Then Polyeucte the shrine o’erthrows, the
24 3  |       his vilest friend,~ ~Shall Polyeucte mark of guilt the certain
25 3  |          such things can be!~ ~A Polyeucte changed—debased—forsworn
26 3  |    changeful Fortune! changeless Polyeucte move,~ ~And grant a boon
27 3  |        180~He shall not win, thy Polyeucte may embrace!~ ~My duty—to
28 3  |              FELIX.Nay, then let Polyeucte pray!~ ~ PAUL. Since Decius
29 3  |        work him ill.~ ~ PAUL. Is Polyeucte his foe?~ ~ FELIX.All Christians
30 3  |      dear blood be spilt?~ ~With Polyeucte, I too—thy child—shall fall!~ ~
31 3  |      this—his blindness—make thy Polyeucte mad?~ ~Fresh Christian zeal
32 3  |         martyrs do and dare—that Polyeucte dares;~ 230~He saw the lure
33 3  |     FELIX. And with what eye saw Polyeucte the sight?~ ~ ALBIN. With
34 3  |      give~ ~I take not back; oh, Polyeucte must live!~ 260~For his
35 3  |      father, this one prayer—Let Polyeucte live!~ ~By thy stern power,
36 3  |      loving father’s ear,~ ~From Polyeucte’s self win what thou hold’
37 3  |       mourn his death,—yet, if I Polyeucte save,~ ~I see of all my
38 3  |           He loves Pauline, thus Polyeucte is his foe:~ ~All weapons
39 3  |      adore thee, while I hate!~ ~Polyeucte was once my guard, my pride,
40 3  |     treachery?~ ~ FELIX. I go to Polyeucte’s cell,—though my poor breath~ ~
41 4  |                         Act IV~ ~POLYEUCTE. CLEON. Three Other GUARDS~
42 4  |         I know not what—~ ~Where Polyeucte is blest, but where Pauline
43 4  |             But words are vain! [POLYEUCTE signs to GUARDS to conduct
44 4  |       him back to prison. Exeunt POLYEUCTE and GUARDS.]~ ~ SEV.Most
45 4  |            I hear the knell bids Polyeucte depart.~ ~He dies,—the victim
46 4  |           The mate for me~ ~When Polyeucte leaves my side—is Constancy!~ ~
47 4  |          He fears thee: more, if Polyeucte’s life he take,~ ~For thee
48 5  |      Pauline smile once more—let Polyeucte live!’~ ~ FELIX. His soul
49 5  |     daughter he disdains!~ ~What Polyeucte won he sought: his suit
50 5  |         prayers, his threats for Polyeucte plead,~ ~His tongue says, ‘
51 5  |        gifts, alike I fear!~ ~If Polyeucte still to reason close his
52 5  |         try:~ ~(To GUARDS) Bring Polyeucte and if he still defy,~ ~
53 5  |          mob~ ~(Whose hearts for Polyeucte ne’er cease to throb),~50~
54 5  |          a sword to pierce;~ ~If Polyeucte hold their heart, the people
55 5  |       Here comes the man~ ~Enter POLYEUCTE and SOLDIERS~~I still must
56 5  |          If not—the grave!~ ~(To POLYEUCTE) Is life still hateful?
57 5  |        appeal. [PAULINE turns to POLYEUCTE~ ~ POLY.Severus wed!~ ~
58 5  |       Live with Severus, or—with Polyeucte die!’~ ~Thy tears are mine,
59 5  |        redress! [Exeunt PAULINE, POLYEUCTE and GUARDS.~ ~Enter ALBIN~~
60 5  |          dost remind me she with Polyeucte went—~ ~I know not with
61 5  |          310~Some shrines spared Polyeucte, I will break the rest!~ ~
62 5  | themselves alone enslave.~ ~Yes, Polyeucte is slain, and slain by thee,—~ ~
63 5  |         Light!~ 345~I slew thee, Polyeucte, but thy pardoning hand~ ~