University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

—Interior of the Church of St. Sophia.— Thuriferi swinging censers on each side of the altar. A number of Priests holding tapers and performing from time to time the ritual deosculations of the images. A congregation of old men and women. The Patriarch is descending the steps of the altar.
Patriarch.
As many goats as sheep.—No more of this—
Ye do but bring each runaway and skulk
Hither to seek a shelter. Quench those lights.

Enter Theodora.
Theodora.
What doth this people here? What, know they not
The battle rages to the very walls
And none to man them?

An old Man.
Princess, we are old.

Theodora.
Old! and how is it then ye know no better
Than thus to cupboard up your vapid dregs
Like something precious?

Patriarch.
Said I not? Lo, there!
The very women cry out shame. Away!

Enter a Soldier.
Patriarch.
Whence comest thou?

Soldier.
From Phenar in much haste.
The Emperor is sore beset, and saith
Unless some aid be brought that all is lost.

Patriarch.
Who feareth loss that fighteth for the Lord?
Why arms he not the citizens and the slaves?

Soldier.
They will not arm; I saw them in the streets;
Prostrate before the images they lay,
Stricken with fear; the ways were filled with monks
Passing in long processions to the shrines.

Patriarch.
Oh, God! raise up thy people. Lo! I take
A blessed relic from Sophia's shrine!
This sword contains a scraping of the steel
Of that spear's head which pierced the side of Christ;
What host shall stand against the Lord of Hosts?
Arm ye, my children, arm ye for the fight!
St. Theodore, St. Maurice, and St. George
Shall strike with them that strike with this dread sword.
Cast down your lights; find weapons where ye may—
What host shall stand against this sacred sword?