University of Virginia Library

Scena Tertia.

Felix, Paulina, Stratonica.
Felix.
Durst such an insolence
appear! in publick too, and in my sight?
He shall die for't, the Traytor.

Paul.
Suffer me
T'embrace your knees.

Fel.
I speak not of your Husband,
But of Nearchus, Polyeuctes hath
Too near relation to me, though his crime
Deserves no favour, to be banished
My love for ever.

Paul.
I could not expect
Less from a Fathers goodness.

Fel.
I could sacrifice him
To my just anger, for you are not ignorant
To what a height of horror the blind fury
Of his impiety hath boldly mounted,
You might have understood it from Stratonica.

Paul.
I know tis fit he see Nearchus punish'd.

Felix.
Hereafter he shall better be instructed
In taking Counsell, when he shall behold
Him punish'd that seduc'd him to this evill;
The bloudy spectacle of a friend, whom he
Must follow, will so work upon his soul
That he'l repent his wickedness, and renounce
His new faith, an example more prevails
Then Threatning; this mad heat will suddenly
Turn into ice, cheer up your drooping spirits.

Paul.
You hope then that his courage will come down?

Felix.
He should be wise, sure, at Nearchus cost.

Paul.
He should be so, but alas! I do fear
There must be time to work it, may I hope
T'obtain this favour from your goodness, Sir?

Felix.
I do him too much favour in consenting
That he shall lie upon a quick repentance:
Like punishment is due to like offences,
Yet I have put a difference between
These two equally guilty, and thereby
Betrayed Justice to paternall love,
I've made my self a Criminall for him,
And did expect from you more thanks then plaints.

Paul.
First give me, then I'le thank you; I know well
The honour, and the spirit of a Christian;
He doth continue obstinate to the end,
He'l dye before he will repent.

Felix.
His pardon
Is in his hand, let him consider on't.

Paul.
Give it him fully.

Felix.
He may finish it.

Paul.
Give him not over to the furies of
His sect.

Felix.
I'le give him up unto the Laws,
Which I ought to respect.

Paul.
Is this all the support a Son-in-Law
May hope for from the Father of his Wife?

Felix.
Let him do for himself as much as I
Have done for him.

Paul.
Alas! Sir, he is blind.

Felix.
It pleaseth him to be so, he that cherisheth
His errour never will acknowledge it.

Paul.
In the name of the gods.—

Felix.
Invoke them not.
The interest of the gods requires his death.

Paul.
They hear our prayers.

Felix.
Well then, Petition them.

Paul.
In the name of the Emperour whose place
You hold.

Felix.
'Tis true, his power is in my hand,
But if he hath committed it unto me
'Tis to display it 'gainst his enemies.

Paul.
Is Polyeuctes so?

Felix.
All Christians are
Rebels.

Paul.
Hear not these cruel maximes for him.
In marrying Paulina he's become
Part of your bloud.

Felix.
I look upon his fault,
Not on his quality, where a crime against
The State, is mingled with black sacriledge,
Nor amity nor blood have any priviledge.

Paul.
Excess of rigour!

Felix.
Less then his offence.

Paul.
Oh effect too true of my fearfull dream!
Know, that with him, Sir, you destroy your daughter.

Felix.
My Family is not so dear to me
As the gods and the Emperour, are honour'd.

Paul.
Cannot the ruine of us both arrest you?

Felix.
I fear the gods add Decius both together;
But we need doubt no sad thing yet; think you
He will persist in his blind error? if
He seemed to us to run to his misfortune,
It was but the first heat of a new Christian.

Paul.
If yet you love him, have not that opinion
That he will change belief twice in a day:
The Christians are more constant, you expect,
I doubt too much Legerity from him;
'Tis not an errour suck'd in with the milk,
That his soul hath imbrac'd without examining:
No, Polyeuctes is a Christian,
Because he would be so, and brought with him
Unto the Temple a resolved spirit.
You may presume of him as of the rest,
Death's neither fatal to them, nor dishonorable.
They seek for glory in despising of
The gods, for earth blind, they aspire to heaven;
And thinking that death opens them the gate,
Torment, dismember, murther them, they care not;
Tortures and racks are the same unto them
That pleasures are to us, and bring them to
The Butt where their desires and wishes tend;
They call the cruel'st and most infamous death
Sweet Martyrdome.

Felix.
Well, Polyeuctes then
Shall have what he desires, no more of him.

Paul.
My Father.