polyuecte-第6章
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PAUL。
The Christians rise？
STRAT。
Oh； would that this were all！
Thy dream； Pauline； is true； Polyeucte is
PAUL。
Dead？
STRAT。
Ah； no； he livesyet every hope is fled；
That courage once so high； that noble name
Sunk in the mire of everlasting shame！
He lives；who once was lovely in thy sight
As monster foulhis every breath a blight；
The foe of Heaven； of Jove； of all our race；
His kisses poison； and his lovedisgrace！
Wretch； coward； miscreant； steeped in infamy；
O worse than every name！a Christian he！
PAUL。
Nay； that one word's enough！ There needed not abuse。
STRAT。
My words fit well their guilt；with evil make no truce。
PAUL。
If /he/ be /Nazarene/he must an outcast be！
But insult to my lord is insult unto me！
STRAT。
Think only that he hails the Cross； the badge of shame。
PAUL。
My plighted faith； my troth； my duty still the same！
STRAT。
When twined about thy breast； the hideous serpent slay！
Who mocks the Gods on high will his own wife betray！
PAUL。
If he be false； yet I will still be true；
The ties that bind me I will ne'er undo：
Let fateSeveruspassionall combine
Against him！I am his； and he is mine。
Yes； mine to guide； lead； win； forgive； and save！
I seek his honour tho' he court the grave。
Let Polyeucte be Christ's slave！For woe； for weal；
He is my lord； the bond I owe I seal；
I fear my father；all his vengeance； dread。
STRAT。
Fierce burns his rage o'er that devoted head；
Yet embers of old love still faintly glow；
And through his wrath some weak compassion show；
'Gainst Polyeucte biting words alone he speaks
But on Nearchus fullest vengeance wreaks！
PAUL。
Nearchus lured him on？
STRAT。
The tempter he；
Such friendship leads to death； or infamy。
Oh； cursed friend； who； in dear love's despite；
Has torn him from thine armshis neophyte！
He dragged him to the front；baptized； annealed
He fights for Christ！The secret is revealed。
PAUL。
Which I would knowand straightway had thy blame！
STRAT。
Ah！ I foresaw not thistheir deed of shame！
PAUL。
Ere dull despair o'ermaster all my fears；
Oh； let me gauge the worth of woman's tears！
For； if the daughter lose； the wife may gain；
Or Felix may relent； if Polyeucte mock my pain；
If both are adamant unto my prayer；
Thenthen alonetake counsel from despair！
How passed the temple sacrifice？ Hide naught； my friend； tell all！
STRAT。
The horror and the sacrilege must I； perforce； recall？
To say the words； to think the thoughts； seems blasphemy and shame；
Yet will I tell their infamy；their deed without a name。
To silence hushed； the people knelt； and turned them to the East；
Then impious Polyeucte and his friend mock sacrifice and priest。
They every holy name invoked jeer with unbridled tongue；
To laughter vile the incense rose'tis thus our hymn was sung；
Both loud and deep the murmurs rang； and Felix' face grew pale；
Then Polyeucte mad defiance hurls； while all the people quail。
'Vain are your gods of wood and stone！' his voice was stern and high
'Vain every rite； prayer； sacrifice' so ran his blasphemy。
'Your Jupiter is parricide； adulterer； demon； knave；
'He cannot listen to your cry； not his to bless or save。
'One GodJehovahrules alone； supreme o'er earth and heaven；
'And ye are Hisyes； only Histo Him your prayers be given！
'He is our source； our life； our end；no other god adore；
'To Him alone all prayer is due； then serve Him evermore！
'Who kneels before a meaner shrine； by devil's power enticed；
'Denies his Maker and his King； denies the Saviour Christ。
'He is our source； our guide； our end； our prophet； priest and king；
'Twas He that nerved Severus' arm；His praise let Decius sing。
'Jehovah rules the battle…field ye call the field of Mars；
'He only grants a glorious peace； 'tis He guides all our wars。
'He casts the mighty from his seat； He doth the proud abase；
'They only peace and blessing know who love and seek His face。
'His sword alone is strong to strike； His shield our only guard。
'He will His bleeding saints avenge； He is their sure reward。
'In vain to Jove and feeble Mars your full libations pour
'Oh； kneel before the might ye spurn； the God ye mockadore！'
Then Polyeucte the shrine o'erthrows； the holy vessels breaks；
Nor wrath of Jove； nor Felix' ire； his fatal purpose shakes。
Foredoomed by Fate； the Furies' preythey rush； they rend； they tear；
The vessels all to fragments flyall prone the offerings fair；
And on the front of awful Jove they set their impious feet；
And order fair to chaos turn； and thus their work complete。
Our hallowed mysteries disturbed； our temple dear profaned；
Mad flight and tumult dire let loose； proclaim a God disdained。
Thus pallid fear broods over all； presaging wrath to come；
While Felixbut I mark his step！'tis he shall speak the doom。
PAUL。
How threatening； how dark his mien！ How lightning…fraught his eye！
Where wrath and grief； revenge and pain； do strive for mastery！
（Enter Felix。）
FELIX。
O insolence undreamed！Before my very eyes！
Before the people's gaze！ It is too much！he dies！
PAUL。
O father！on my knees！
（Kneels。）
Unsay that word！
FELIX。
Nearchus' doom I speak；not his； thy lord。
Though all unworthy he to be my son；
Yet still he bears the name that he hath won；
Nor crime of his nor wrath of mine shall ever move
Thy father's heart to hate the man thou crown'st with love！
PAUL。
Ne'er vainly have I sued for pity from my sire！
FELIX。
And yet meet food were he for righteous ire！
To recount an act so fell my feeble words too weak；
But thou has heard the tale my lips refuse to speak
From her； thy maiden； she hath told thee all。
PAUL。
Nearchus goadedplannedand he shall fall！
FELIX。
So taught by torture of his vilest friend；
Shall Polyeucte mark of guilt the certain end；
When of the frenzied race he sees the goal；
The dread of torture shall subdue his soul！
Who mocked the thought of death； when death he views；
Will choose an easier mateand rightly choose。
That shadowy guest； that doth his soul entice；
Once master； glues all ardour into ice；
And that proud heart； which never meekness knew；
When face to face with Deathwill learn to sue！
PAUL。
What！ Thinkest thou his soul can ever blench？
FELIX。
Death's mighty flood must every furnace quench！
PAUL。
It might！ It may！I know such things can be！
A Polyeucte changeddebasedforsworn I see！
O； changeful Fortune！ changeless Polyeucte move；
And grant a boon denied by father's love！
FELIX。
My love too plainmyself too weakly kind；
Let him repent and he shall pardon find；
Nearchus' sin is his；and yet the grace
He shall not win； thy Polyeucte may embrace！
My dutyto a father's love betrayed
Hath of thy sire a fond accomplice made；
A healing balm I bring for all thy fears；
I look for thanks； and lothou giv'st me tears！
PAUL。
I give no thanksno cause for thanks I find；
I know the Christian temperknow their mind；
They can blaspheme； but ah； they cannot lie！
They know not how to yieldbut they can die！
FELIX。
As bird in hand； he holds his pardon still。
PAUL。
The bird escapes； when 'tis the owner's will。
FELIX。
He death escapesif so he do elect。
PAUL。
He death embracesas doth all his sect。
Is't thus a father pleads for his own son？
FELIX。
Who wills his death is by himself undone。
PAUL。
He cannot see！
FELIX。
Because he chooses night。
Who loves the darkness hateth still the light。
PAUL。
O； by the Gods
FELIX。
Nay； daughter； save thy breath；
Spurnedoutraged'tis the Gods demand his death。
PAUL。
They hear our prayers
FELIX。
Nay； then let Polyeucte pray！
PAUL。
Since Decius gives thee power；that word unsay！
FELIX。
He gives me power； Pauline； to do his will
Against his foes'gainst all who work him ill。
