ch,--for I
Have lied and stormed to shake his constancy.
To give his hot young blood due time to cool
I played the coward--nay, I played the fool!
Why did he thus assail the gods and me
With insult, and with horrid blasphemy?
But interest helped me, and resentment too.
Else had I found my duty hard to do!

ALBIN.
Soon mayst thou this thy dear-bought victory rue,
For thou hast done what thou canst ne'er undo!
Unworthy deed for Roman knight! ah, me!
(Aside.)
I would that I could add, 'unworthy _thee_!'

FELIX.
Manlius and Brutus both a son have slain,
And neither did thereby his glory stain;
The part that is diseased--that part we bleed,
So is the State from knaves and caitiffs freed.

ALBIN.
Revenge and pressing peril thee unman,
Else--couldst thou bless a deed all men must ban?
When she, thy widowed daughter, comes--the air
Of heaven will echo to her deep despair!

FELIX.
Thou dost remind me she with Polyeucte went--
I know not with what mind, with what intent:
But her despair awakes my fond alarm,
Go, Albin, go, and guard my child from harm!
She might the execution of the law
Impede: I would not that his death she saw.
Try to console her--Go! what dost thou fear?

(Enter Pauline)

ALBIN.
I need not go, for ah--Pauline is here!

PAUL.
Tyrant, why leave thy butchery half done?
Come, slay thy daughter, thou hast slain thy son!
For, hear!--His villainy--or worth--is mine!
Why stay thy hand while I my neck incline?
Thy sword in me shall find a kindred food,
I too am new baptized, baptized in blood!
These drops that fell from off the murderous knife,
Have made the martyr's widow a true wife.
I see!--I feel!--I know! My darkest night
Is o'er--to break in purest heavenly light.
I too, at last, am Christ's: that word says all,
Those hands were pierced for me--I hear His call:
Death--lovely death--thy beckoning hand I hail!
Oh, help my passage, or thy schemes may fail!
Dread Decius! Fear Severus! Fear thy fall!
Oh, speed me to my lord--my love--my all!
My husband calls me to his happier land--
See!--there Nearchus at his side doth stand!
Lead me to these--the gods by thee confest,
Some shrines spared Polyeucte, I will break the rest!