Atto

  1 Per|                         Characters~FELIX, Roman senator, Governor
  2 Per|      Armenian noble, son-in-law to Felix. ~SEVERUS, a Roman Knight,
  3 Per|   Polyeucte. ~PAULINE, daughter to Felix, wife to Polyeucte. ~STRATONICE,
  4 Per|         Pauline. ~ALBIN, friend to Felix. ~FABIAN, servant to Severus. ~
  5 Per|         Severus. ~CLEON, friend to Felix. ~THREE GUARDS. ~ ~The Scene
  6 Per|       takes place in the Palace of Felix. ~ ~
  7 1  |        comes—oh, peace!~ 260~Enter FELIX and ALBIN~~FELIX.Nay, peace
  8 1  |         260~Enter FELIX and ALBIN~~FELIX.Nay, peace is flown!~ ~Thy
  9 1  |           is thy heart opprest?~ ~ FELIX. Severus lives!~ 265~ PAUL.
 10 1  |         this no cause for fear!~ ~ FELIX. At Decius’ court, he, held
 11 1  |            though all too late!~ ~ FELIX. He comes! Is near——~ ~
 12 1  |                 PAUL.The gods——~ ~ FELIX.Do all things well.~ ~ PAUL.
 13 1  |         how? O father, tell!~ 275~ FELIX. Let Albin speak, who saw
 14 1  |            his thanks and love.~ ~ FELIX. Ah, Fortune, turn thy wheel,
 15 1  |            tale to tell I sped.~ ~ FELIX. He who once vainly wooed,
 16 1  |           ah! he loved me well!~ ~ FELIX. What room for hope? Such
 17 1  |         not, his soul is great.~ ~ FELIX. Thy comfort, oh my daughter,
 18 1  |             I will not see him!~ ~ FELIX.But one word! Be kind!~
 19 1  |             I will not see him!~ ~ FELIX.One word more—‘Obey!’~ 335~
 20 1  |           I thy daughter still!~ ~ FELIX. I know thee pure.~ ~ PAUL.
 21 1  |         all weapons to embrace!~ ~ FELIX. I too will go, the conqueror’
 22 2  |          SEVERUS. FABIAN~ SEV. Let Felix bow to Jove and incense
 23 3  |           the wife may gain,—~ ~Or Felix may relent, if Polyeucte
 24 3  |         deep the murmurs rang, and Felix’ face grew pale,~ ~Then
 25 3  |             Nor wrath of Jove, nor Felix’ ire, his fatal purpose
 26 3  |   presaging wrath to come,~ ~While Felix—but I mark his step!—’tis
 27 3  |        strive for mastery!~ ~Enter FELIX~~ FELIX. O insolence undreamed!—
 28 3  |           mastery!~ ~Enter FELIX~~ FELIX. O insolence undreamed!—
 29 3  |              Unsay that word!~150~ FELIX. Nearchus’ doom I speak,—
 30 3  |          for pity from my sire!~ ~ FELIX. And yet meet food were
 31 3  |      planned—and he shall fall!~ ~ FELIX. So taught by torture of
 32 3  |           soul can ever blench?~ ~ FELIX. Death’s mighty flood must
 33 3  |        denied by father’s love!~ ~ FELIX. My love too plain—myself
 34 3  |         yield—but they can die!~ ~ FELIX. As bird in hand, he holds
 35 3  |           tis the owner’s will.~ ~ FELIX. He death escapes—if so
 36 3  |         pleads for his own son?~ ~ FELIX. Who wills his death is
 37 3  |            PAUL. He cannot see!~ ~ FELIX.Because he chooses night.~ ~
 38 3  |           PAUL. O, by the Gods—~ ~ FELIX.Nay, daughter, save thy
 39 3  |          They hear our prayers—~ ~ FELIX.Nay, then let Polyeucte
 40 3  |         power,—that word unsay!~ ~ FELIX. He gives me power, Pauline,
 41 3  |           Is Polyeucte his foe?~ ~ FELIX.All Christians rebels are.~ ~
 42 3  |      father, save thine own—~ 210~ FELIX. The son who is a traitor
 43 3  |           Too great thy rigour!~ ~ FELIX.Yet more great his guilt.~
 44 3  |           thy child—shall fall!~ ~ FELIX. The Gods—the Emperor—rule
 45 3  |        dying supplication—hear!~ ~ FELIX. Not Jove alone, but Decius
 46 3  |          heritage is—martyrdom!~ ~ FELIX. Let then this heir into
 47 3  |            father!~ ~Enter ALBIN~~ FELIX.Albin, is it done?~ ~ ALBIN.
 48 3  |            frantic race is run!~ ~ FELIX. And with what eye saw Polyeucte
 49 3  |          last prayer give heed!~ ~ FELIX. Too much thou lovest an
 50 3  |            s hand once more!~ 270~ FELIX. Importunate! Although my
 51 3  |           280~ PAUL. In pity!——~ ~ FELIX.Leave me, leave me here
 52 3  |            with upward gaze.~ 290~ FELIX. And he—his friend?~ ~ ALBIN.
 53 3  |            can still endure.~ 295~ FELIX. Oh, wretched that I am!~ ~
 54 3  |            ALBIN.All pity thee.~ ~ FELIX. With reason greater than
 55 3  |             he will not refuse!~ ~ FELIX. His edict is most clear:—‘
 56 3  |            thou canst not save.~ ~ FELIX. So would Severus work my
 57 3  |         just meed to treachery?~ ~ FELIX. I go to Polyeucte’s cell,—
 58 3  |          both he still defy?~ 360~ FELIX. O, press me not in agony
 59 4  |          that single word!~ ~Thee, Felix, I o’ercame within my cell,~ ~
 60 4  |             For aye endure!~60~Let Felix sacrifice me to thine ire,~ ~
 61 4  |               Think of the honours Felix on thee pours!~ ~Oh, I am
 62 5  |                              Act V~FELIX. ALBIN. CLEON.~ FELIX. Caught
 63 5  |            V~FELIX. ALBIN. CLEON.~ FELIX. Caught in Severus’ net
 64 5  |         Caught in Severus’ net thy Felix see!~ ~He hates and holds
 65 5  |            let Polyeucte live!’~ ~ FELIX. His soul thou canst not
 66 5  |         thee is this mistrust!~25~ FELIX. Nay, those at court must
 67 5  |         least thy grace obtain!~ ~ FELIX. If Decius grace withhold,
 68 5  |        ALBIN. Severus’ promise—~ ~ FELIX.He can never keep!~ ~For
 69 5  |       ALBIN. Ah, this is stern!~ ~ FELIX.’Tis stern, ’tis just—as
 70 5  |           courage from despair.~ ~ FELIX. Death settles all; they’
 71 5  |         trust your soul to God!~ ~ FELIX. Yes, trust to an abyss
 72 5  |       Cross! That Cross my own!~ ~ FELIX. The steep ascent, my son,
 73 5  |          85~ POLY. Nay, laugh not, Felix! He thy Judge will be,~ ~
 74 5  |           thee will He require!~ ~ FELIX. I’ll slay no more;—by Hercules
 75 5  |          understand and fear!~100~ FELIX. Nay, nay, in truth I would
 76 5  |        heart alone a bar I see.~ ~ FELIX. (whispering). This Roman
 77 5  |      Severus, thou wouldst say.~ ~ FELIX. Once let him sail, I will
 78 5  |            refuge from despair.~ ~ FELIX. What is this deadly draught
 79 5  |        face,~ ~I will implore that Felix may find grace.~115~ FELIX.
 80 5  |         Felix may find grace.~115~ FELIX. O dearest son, thy loss
 81 5  |         for me.—The work begin!~ ~ FELIX. Such my reward! Yes, insult
 82 5  |       revive~ ~With human passion; Felix, do not strive~ ~Against
 83 5  |         can never follow truth.~ ~ FELIX. I humoured madness, but
 84 5  |        feel?—this would I know.~ ~ FELIX. Nay, to thy lord appeal. [
 85 5  |               Pauline—no more! (To FELIX.) Thy slumbering wrath rewake!~ ~
 86 5  |          restore my love to me!~ ~ FELIX. Dear child, thy father
 87 5  |         knees as suppliant I sue! [FELIX kneels.~ ~The evil that
 88 5  |           nor hears.) [Pointing to FELIX.~ ~Pray then to these thy
 89 5  |       adored,—one Holiest Name!~ ~ FELIX. At last my bounties yield
 90 5  |             POLY.A Christian I!~ ~ FELIX.Thou must~ ~Adore the gods
 91 5  |         POLY. I am a Christian.~ ~ FELIX.This is thy reply?~ 250~
 92 5  |            PAUL. Where goes he?~ ~ FELIX.To his death!~ ~ POLY.Ah,
 93 5  |         thee—to heaven or hell!~ ~ FELIX. Begone! For all our ills
 94 5  |              unworthy thee!’~ 275~ FELIX. Manlius and Brutus both
 95 5  |            to her deep despair!~ ~ FELIX. Thou dost remind me she
 96 5  |          but I direct his hand.~ ~ FELIX. Why lags that hand? A willing
 97 5  |         willing prey!~ ~ PAUL. (To FELIX.) Yes, mine for ever now!
 98 5  | transformed to endless gain!~ 360~ FELIX. The gain, the glory, Christ’
 99 5  |             and truth adore.~ ~(To FELIX.) A Christian thou? Then
100 5  |           baseless as his fear.~ ~ FELIX. Severus—thou who hast the