en, of Jove, of all our race,
His kisses poison, and his love--disgrace!
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 fate--Severus--passion--all 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 arms--his neophyte!
He dragged him to the front;--baptized, annealed--
He fights for Christ!--The secret is revealed.

PAUL.
Which I would know--and straightway had thy blame!

STRAT.
Ah! I foresaw not this--their 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,
Then--then alone--take 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