PAUL.
(To Felix.)
Yes, mine for ever now! Hail, glorious day,
That sees earth's loss transformed to endless gain!

FELIX.
The gain, the glory, Christ's! By Him we reign.

SEV.
Now am I dumb, some miracle is here;
Their courage and their faith must I revere;
We slay them; yet, like Cadmus' seed, new-born
They sprout afresh, and laugh our scythe to scorn.
We give them cord and flame, they torture hail;
Friends fail them, but themselves they never fail.
We mow them down, fresh nurslings to unbare,
What moves the seed lies hid, but _it is there_.
They bless the world, though by the world accurst,
Their shield am I--let Decius do his worst.
I yet may own their power, though now my will
That each to his own gods be faithful still,
Let each still search for truth, and truth adore.
(To Felix).
A Christian thou? Then fear my wrath no more,
Thy sect I cherish; this their awful cult
Severus will protect, but ne'er insult.
Keep thou thy power from Roman sword secure,
So long as loyalty with faith endure;
I swear it: ay, the Emperor shall learn
The guiltless from the traitor to discern;
His persecution baseless as his fear.

FELIX.
Severus--thou who hast the hearing ear,--
Freeman of Rome--God's Spirit grant thee grace
To be Christ's Freeman, and behold His face:
To these--Christ's martyrs--earth's last rites be given,
Earth, guard their ashes as a trust for Heaven!
Earth hides their dust. When envious time is o'er,
That dust shall wake to life for evermore!

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