University of Virginia Library

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE I.

In the house of Hilarianus.
HILARIANUS.
To rise so scant of rest, with ugly dreams
That halve with truth in waking! I was weak
To let the signet go. Say, wine is strong,
And I submiss to an all-potent master;
Nay, call him weak who sharpens up the ears
But to devour a mouldy tale, to him
How profitless, how troublesome to me!
Now will the trash o' the suburbs come in swarms,
All buzzing of these twilight owls—thus wise,
They strive to keep their hooting to themselves.—
Who's the intruder? Keep all out, I say!
How, Camus, what's amiss? Last night, what was't?
Something I said,—beshrew this tongue of mine,—
Beshrew my memory, sulking at its back.
Pardon me, gods, whatever!

Enter Camus.
CAMUS.
Up betimes!

HILARIANUS.
No sleep for dreaming of my signet's loss;
All's safe, I see.

CAMUS.
Not so; the work not done.
We have secur'd some baser of the brood;
But in dividing, as they left their haunt,
The wealthier have 'scaped us.

HILARIANUS.
Said I not?
Ne'er frown; I know not what—already gone.
My recollection barely serves with this,—
A hairy face, a pair of greedy eyes;
I e'en forgot my signet was allow'd
To hands of trust.

CAMUS.
Or you or it must serve
To arrest Perpetua.

HILARIANUS.
How! on that sordid babble
Go with an armed force, and, all unwarn'd,
Drag forth a noble lady from her home?
The præfect dares not do it, and the man
Stands up against such outrage!

CAMUS.
Scrupulous?
You have good reasons, doubtless. Will you see
The messenger from Rome? He waits without.

HILARIANUS.
Ay, good; ho, Varro!—good; 'twill change the theme.
Enter Varro.
That Roman budget!

VARRO.
Ay, my lord.

[Exit.
CAMUS.
You dream'd
The signet lost, you say? Almighty Jove!

Enter Messenger.
HILARIANUS.
Your news!

MESSENGER.
'Tis here.

HILARIANUS.
Enough of it to serve
For twenty changes upon twenty themes!
Wait not, but quick convert your wants to pleasures.

CAMUS.
What moves you?

[Exit Messenger.
HILARIANUS.
Look you here; some meddling pest
Hath stirr'd the emperor 'bout these wretched Christians.

CAMUS.
Lo! how the gods attest their minister.
Lo! how their voices visit us in dreams.
How clearly seen the hand of Jove in this,
Pointing your duty ere it be too late;
Ere, for your slackness in their sacred cause,
The emperor doth depose you from your rule!

HILARIANUS.
Depose!

CAMUS.
By timely zeal you may escape.
The gods this signet trust with me, to hold
As surety for thine office,—by fit use
To steady up this slipping confidence.

HILARIANUS.
What should I do? My thoughts can't ope their eyes;
My wits are all a-yawn for want of sleep.

CAMUS.
Go, settle them, and dream your signet safe.
The scroll—

HILARIANUS.
There's more to read;—what is it?—see;
There! I commit the whole into your hands.

[Exit Hilarianus.
CAMUS.
What, ho! the lictors!

SCENE II.

Vivius seated. Citizens in waiting.
VIVIUS.
The next?

THIRD CITIZEN.
The turn is mine.

SECOND CITIZEN.
I say, 'tis mine.

VIVIUS.
You come to settle quarrels, not to breed them.
Speak you, the elder—you have fewer days.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Our quarrel's made; his telling first his story
Will give it him his way.

VIVIUS.
I bade you speak.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Please you, I have an orchard stands hard by
His dwelling; 'twixt us stood a swerving wall
That left three goodly trees upon my lot,
Three of the goodliest there. 'Tis said the wind
(A keen one) shook the wall about the curve;
And straight this man builds up again in line,
And takes these trees, my right, away from me.

VIVIUS.
How answer you?

SECOND CITIZEN.
That I'm a mason, sir;
My character's concern'd. Would you employ
A mason who did build a crooked wall?
And where's his conscience? Let him pay my wall
Before I pay his trees. Sure, if their fruit
Have caught it of his face, they're no great bargain.

VIVIUS.
A goodly fruit, 'tis like a goodly deed,
That hath so sound a germ, repute of ill
Cannot corrupt it;—deeds, they are the fruits—

Enter Statius.
STATIUS.
There's news!

VIVIUS.
And stirring too; your eyes the vouchers.

STATIUS.
From Rome.

VIVIUS.
A moment!

[Rises and comes forward.
STATIUS.
Plautianus killed!

VIVIUS.
Jove!—is there tumult?

STATIUS.
Nay, it was the knife,
And not the sword, that slew him.

VIVIUS.
At whose instance?

STATIUS.
Scarce known,—or Bassianus, or Severus;
Certain the emperor takes his death in peace.

VIVIUS.
Ha! carrion-bird, would'st tamper with the eagle?

STATIUS.
They say the messenger hath brought advices
Touching the Christians.

VIVIUS.
So—so is it? You see
My warning was not lost. Let me despatch;
There have been “silver crowns” entwin'd with wreaths!

[Returns to his place.
STATIUS
(aside).
What are the chances? If Hilarianus—

VIVIUS.
Well, of these goodly trees?—this worthy wall?
'Tis pity two brave neighbour-citizens
Should have an ill division standing 'twixt them.
Time wears,—my steward must, with weightier help,
Make light your difference—for your loss find gain;
For you,—you are content with character?

SECOND CITIZEN.
(Aside)
And with the trees!—A trifle for my labour.

VIVIUS.
Well, he shall fit it with you; so depart,
And see that amity remain with you:
Discord is no safe hand to trust with apples.—
The next? Why, what a ruddy face is here!
As honest, I'll be sworn; and goodly limbs
To match brave service with as brave a deed.
Enter a Slave (in haste).
What is thy tale?—out with it! Art thou dumb?

SLAVE.
I saw—

VIVIUS.
Go on! Is't fire?—is't death? What is it?

SLAVE.
The Lady Vivia—

VIVIUS.
Ha! what of her? Speak!

SLAVE.
But now the præfect's guards have borne her off.

VIVIUS.
The præfect's guards!

SLAVE.
They say she is a Christian.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Vivius!—The gods have struck him!

STATIUS.
So—that Jew—

VIVIUS.
The Jew—I see it all!—plain as a scroll;
He and the præfect! Outrage upon her!
O vengeance! this shall fill full to its scope
Thy widest grasp,—gods! Where have they taken her?

SLAVE.
To prison.

VIVIUS.
That's relief; any where rather
Than to his stew. And yet, 'mong felon slaves,—
The loathsome scum of the city,—cag'd in darkness,—
Citizens! have you blood within your hearts?
Wives, daughters, in your homes? Rouse all! and know
A governor doth rule within your city
Can drag them forth, and hale them through your streets
All draperied in lies, black as the lust
He seeks to appease.

STATIUS.
Hold! hold! you go too far:
It may be lust for gold; or say revenge.

VIVIUS.
Or say revenge? Revenge that I have ta'en
The parts of those—your parts, whom he hath left
Neglected, scorn'd, to lead his shameless life
In most unmeasur'd riot, reckless waste—

CITIZENS.
Shame, shame!—so he has. Shame!

STATIUS.
(Aside)
Go on; that works.

VIVIUS.
What works? My outrag'd blood is up in arms,
And drums within mine ears; I scarce can hear.

STATIUS.
(Aside)
Tell them he wants the gold that should be theirs.

VIVIUS.
And for I have some wealth that he doth covet,
He seeks to threat it from me by—(the thought—
The very thought doth choke me, ere the word)—
Branding the daughter of my house as—Christian!
Seizing her at the altar of her home,
Impiously braving all those deities
Who guard its sacred precincts—

STATIUS.
(Aside)
To the gold!—
Say, 'tis the people's gold that he would have.

VIVIUS.
Think—'tis the people's gold that he would clutch;
Then answer, who shall have it, he or you?

Enter Camus and Barac.
CAMUS.
Nor he nor you; 'tis for the gods to claim—
[The citizens fall back. Exit Statius.
The gods she hath defied! They bow in mercy,
Beyond her vain deservings, to accept
The ransom thou canst give for her offence.

VIVIUS.
Oh, plot most vile! And these are thy accusers,—
A ravening priest, a misbegotten Jew,
Back'd by a base-born minion of—of who?
Of what?—a corpse! His power—where is it now?
I do defy him. You! Deal out your wrath—
Your wrath—not Jove's! On his Olympian throne,
With brow begirt in majesty of ire,
He's frowning now upon thee, while he grasps
Tight for the hurl th' avenging thunderbolt,
Destin'd for thee, thou desecrating priest!
Away, and with my scorn! Friends, follow me,—
Ye who have wives and daughters, for their sake;
And all for Jove's!

CAMUS.
They fear the power of him,
Whom now, in me, thy impious tongue blasphemes.

VIVIUS.
Nay, let them fear while breath of thine infects
The city, lest it reach our mighty Dead,
To fan their ashes to a shame so hot,
Shall crack their urns asunder; bid them rush
Up to the heav'ns, in fiery appeal,
For leave to purify their place of rest;
And, earning confirmation of the gods,
Dash down in show'rs of vengeance on us all!
'Tis him that ye should fear! Lo! while I speak,
Look at him, withering beneath the curse:
Shrunken his form, as yon hot bolt of Jove
Were on the way to smite him into dust.
Beware the doom'd! lest that his doom be yours.
Citizens! follow me; the gods are with us.

[The crowd draw off with Vivius.
BARAC.
What will he do?

CAMUS.
I know he can do nothing.

BARAC.
And my reward?

CAMUS.
Like his,—will come with time.
Now, should the daughter make her recantation,
The father's trapp'd. This stirring of the mob
Hath made him mine. He thinks he knows me!—No,
Not yet to the full. You seek his gold to hoard,
I take his heart to torture.

BARAC.
Share alike.

CAMUS.
Away!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

House of Statius.
Statius and Nola.
STATIUS.
No more entreaties: that I do deny thee
Sight of her now, thou'lt thank me for hereafter.
I know the world—have paid well for my knowledge;
Thou know'st it not, wouldst hurry towards an ambush,
And when too late, may'st find thyself hemm'd in.

NOLA.
Father, quite sure am I, were these same Christians
As wicked as they say, Vivia had never
Been seen amongst them.

STATIUS.
That I cannot tell;
I know but little of their lives and doings:
While they reject the worship of our gods,
And trample down the necessary barriers
That guarantee to us just preservation
Of all those wise and nice distinctions, made
For the better ordering of society,—
There is enough for me! Were all the good
They may account their own, possess'd by them,
An evil is it to defy old custom,
Outweighing all their good. Your hasty leapers,
Your steppers wide from all the good old ways,
Mar the discreet sobrieties of life;
Be thou well sure that nothing e'er was gain'd
By opposition to establish'd forms.
The wisdom of our fathers found our gods
And laws sufficient—why should we seek others?

NOLA.
Dear father, let me go; I know 'tis false:—
Vivia is not a Christian!

STATIUS.
That's no matter:
Enough for me they say that she is one.
Behoves us heedfully to watch our steps
The where they tend, lest we be led 'mongst those
Who have been breath'd upon by ill report,
No matter true or false. In time of plague,
Many are kept apart, and held infect,
Who yet are sound; so must it be with Vivia.
Thus much I know of her,—that she hath stepp'd
Out of the province that befits a woman,
Whose duty is, to keep within the house;
If maiden, subject to her father's will;
If wife, obedient to her husband's rule;
If mother, careful only for her children;—
She hath forgot herself,—you must forget her.

NOLA.
But you have let Cæcilius go!

STATIUS.
Not so;
He goes against my wish. And thus we see
The evil fruits that even now are shewing
Upon this tree, corrupt already, though
Of such latter spring: her disobedience
Unto her parent's will, his unto mine;
Though not my child, he owes obedience still
Unto my guardianship. But this remember,—
For him there's less to fear: I hedge him not
As I would thee. The fortunes of a man
Are of less tender growth than those of woman.
Besides, the harm his foolishness may gender
Would rather fall on her than light on him.
“He is young,” “misled,” “a victim to her art.”
The world will make easy excuse for him;
Not so for thee.

NOLA.
I would I were a man!

STATIUS.
Thou'rt indiscreet, and steppest o'er the bounds
Prescrib'd a maiden's tongue. Go to thy chamber;
Stay there; nor have thou speech nor sight of any
Until I lead thee forth in public shew
To offer sacrifice unto our gods.

[Exeunt severally.

SCENE IV.

A cell.
Vivia alone.
VIVIA.
If I could only breathe, or have but one
Of all those myriad idle water-drops
Playing in light around my garden-fountains!
Patience!—I know it, and I would be patient;
Only this whirling round and round within
Strangles those thoughts should bring me strength and peace.
These faces, looking at me through my hands,—
These voices, moaning in my ears like winds,—
If they would go! Now, now, how loud they are!
All fancy—fancy; reason says 'tis fancy.
The sense is all that's mad. A dreadful story!
So mad 'twill get the better. Air!—To the door.
[She rises.
All things are dizzy; and the slimy wall
Goes sliding down beneath my hands. That flash
Across the eyes,—how real! how like the lightning!
How could the lightning see to find its way?
I know not which is real, and which is mad.
Hark, there's a crash! Sure that was from without.
Silence again. No; a faint cry,—“My child,—”
My child,—he wants me, cries for me. Help! open!
The iron burns; my heart on fire, dries up
The fount should slake the flame consuming him.
Open the door!

VIVIUS
(without).
My child!—open the door!
Quick!—quick!

VIVIA.
My father! Help, Almighty God!

[She sinks.
Enter Vivius.
VIVIUS.
Thou call'st on Jupiter! I knew 'twas false.
(Keep ope that door,—in mercy, shut it not.)
Vivia, my girl! look up—look up; thou'rt safe!
Thou'rt in thy father's arms. There—courage, courage!
Come, kiss me; wind thine arms about his neck,
Who never knew he lov'd thee until now.
Thou call'st on Jupiter; and he will hear thee!
He, the Great Thunderer, on their heads shall wreak
A tenfold vengeance. Shrink not! us will he spare,
When he beholds how child and father love,—
Never till now knew I how well, nor thou.
Thou canst not tell what I will be to thee!
Thou call'st on Jupiter! My hope, my Vivia,
That one appeal unto our ancient god
Summons a thousand deities around
To light thy prison-gloom with radiant promise.
A few short hours, and all our cares are o'er.
Oh! I will lead thee forth, like to a Grace
(As thou wert ever!) deck'd with rosy wreaths,
A chaplet in thy hand, which thou shalt lay
Upon the altar of almighty Jove;
While thousands rend the air with shouts of joy,
To hail alike thy beauty and my triumph!

VIVIA.
Oh, speak not thus!

VIVIUS.
The tone doth startle thee.
How thou dost quiver! Gentle!—I will be gentle
To thee—to those who thus have shatter'd thee—

VIVIA.
My boy—my Thascius!

VIVIUS.
Why, what a burst is this?
He shall come to thee. Peace! Nay, nay, thou'rt weak;
Lean on me. Cling, cling! I will bear thee yonder.
Gods! and is this thy couch? Stay, let my robe,—
There—rest!—Thy father's breast will serve for pillow.

VIVIA.
No resting-place for me;—alas, alas!

VIVIUS.
Rock not thy body thus. What should I do?
Jove! what a reck'ning will I have for this!
But listen! There stays one without, who came
Earnest to see thee: 'tis a faithful youth;
For when denied, he laid him down beside
The prison-gate, and ne'er hath stirr'd him since.
See, I will send my tablets by Cæcilius,
To bid them bring the child to thee with speed.

VIVIA.
Away, my father, thou!

VIVIUS.
Go for him? well,
Aught for thy peace. And now be well prepar'd:
One trial more—but one; it is the last.
To-morrow they will lead thee to the Forum.
Fear not; I will be there.

VIVIA.
Oh, no, no, no!

VIVIUS.
What, canst thou doubt it? 'tis thy weakness speaks,
And not thyself. Courage, my Vivia, courage!
The boy shall bring thee ease, and ease bring sleep.
All will go well. I dare not tell thee now
What hopes, what plans:—why, the bare words have thrill'd thee.
I do thee harm; I'll send, not come again:
Though I would be the gentlest nurse, my blood
Leaps to redeem our wrongs. Forgive—farewell!

VIVIA.
Forgive! farewell!—oh, those are words for me.
Once more thine arms about me, O my father!

VIVIUS.
I will not quit thee thus.

VIVIA.
You must, you must!
Have I not lov'd thee?

VIVIUS.
Well.

VIVIA.
And love thee still?

VIVIUS.
Who doubts thy love?

VIVIA.
It may be thee, full soon!
But never when home-hours were at their sweetest,
When thou unto thy child didst shew the fondest,
And she most loving, gentle to thy will,—
Oh, never did she love thee thus, nor pray
As now she prays to heav'n for thee. O God
Our Father, save and bless him!

VIVIUS.
And bless thee.—
Hush, do not speak again—thou art bewilder'd.
Soon, very soon, thy comfort comes; and then
All will be well. These tears again!—no more:
Remember, hope and triumph are the words.
A kiss! Hush!—quiet, quiet! Now, farewell.

SCENE V.

Morning. A court of the prison.
Enter Pudens.
PUDENS.
That story of the captive and the angel,
Who came to make the night as bright as day,—
I heard it long ago, and scarce believ'd it.
Well, I know not; this gracious lady seems
To make the darkness shine: these pris'ners all
Have something in them not like other men.
Such a dream came last night; I have not had
One near so happy since I was a boy.
I'll ne'er believe much harm can be in those
Who help us to good dreams.—Who knocks?

VOICE
(without).
The deacons.

Enter Tertius and Pomponius.
TERTIUS.
How fare the brethren?

PUDENS.
All of them the better
For better quarters.

POMPONIUS.
And Perpetua?

PUDENS.
Oh, she is brave since she has seen her child,
And says our prison is a palace for her.

POMPONIUS.
The father—where is he?

PUDENS.
Was here last night.

TERTIUS.
Ay, and what happen'd?

POMPONIUS.
Said he aught to thee?

PUDENS.
Oh, he's a proud one—he but bade me keep
The door awide, to give the lady air.

POMPONIUS.
He frighten'd her?

TERTIUS.
And does she keep the faith?

PUDENS.
Nay, I know not: she wept and wept the while,
Till I did nothing hear only her sobs,
And nothing see for tears that came to help her.
She's quiet now as any lamb;—I would
They'd let her bide so.

TERTIUS.
Shall we pass within?

PUDENS.
I'll take you to them all. To look at her,
So white, so young, and yet so mother-like
She gazes on her boy,—'tis a sweet sight!
Scarce seen, ere done: within an hour 'tis like
They're in the Forum.

TERTIUS.
Christ be with them there!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Street leading to the Forum.
Citizens passing; others enter.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Stay you—a word: what think you of this business?

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Think? I don't stay to think: with Vivius' coin,
A pouch of it, all safe here in my tunic.

FIRST CITIZEN.
He's but a fool who thinks to buy the people,
Unless he knows the trick to stunt our growth:
A growing good must feed a growing man.
You with your coin;—if in this mutiny,
A Roman sword should chance to find it out,
What comes of you, and your coin after you?—
Both spent. A soldier's not particular;
He'll spill your blood, all in the way of business.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Mutiny? where's the mutiny?—to shout,
And bear a woman home in triumph? Well,
If that's your mutiny—

SECOND CITIZEN.
What! are your eyes
Not strong enough to run the length o' your nose?
This triumph, as he calls it, is one step,
The first, in his rebellion.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Where's the harm?
For when he takes the second, we can leave him.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Not I—I'll see the end on't on his side;
He's stood by me, and I will stand by him.
'Tis not for want of pains, if he should fail:
He has been late the night, early the morning,
Stirring amongst the people.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
See who come,
The servants of the governor: let's on.

FIRST CITIZEN.
The drones that waste our honey—idle thieves!

[Exeunt Citizens.
Enter Varro and Servants.
FIRST SERVANT.
There go more scowlers: such an eye, ye gods!
You say our master's safe—he need be wary.

VARRO.
Oh, trust the priest, he knows what he's about;
He's always in the marrow of the matter.

SECOND SERVANT.
The money too!—But if we lose the show?

VARRO.
No fear—they are all staunch. The lady writ
Her faith this very morn unto her father:
Her messenger was stopp'd—the priest knows why.

THIRD SERVANT.
How many are there?

VARRO.
Three men and one woman;
Black morsels, two of them. I wonder how
The lady likes her company.

SECOND SERVANT.
Bah! for me.

VARRO.
One Saturus escap'd—the worst, they say,
For he it was who tempted all the rest.

FIRST SERVANT.
To what a feed! What beasts are in the city?

VARRO.
Oh, none of any count; wild cows, bears, leopards,—
None royal.

SECOND SERVANT.
Sure a man might match a leopard:
We shall see rare sport belike.

[A shout.
VARRO.
Quick, forward!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

The Forum.
Hilarianus seated: behind him stand Servilius, Lentulus, Naso, Statius, and others. In the centre, Vivia Perpetua, Felicitas, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Revocatus. On the right a statue of Severus. An altar at its foot, at which stands Camus; Barac near him. Tribunes, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens; some with clubs, staves, &c.
LICTOR.
Silence for the præfect!

HILARIANUS.
Here in the name
Of the emperor we sit, his pow'r to us
Entrusted, for the law's full vindication.
For ye who have offended yet remains
Free pardon, so ye offer sacrifice
To yonder image: but withholding this,
Note well the penalty,—a dreadful death
On the morrow in the amphitheatre.
Ye citizens, bear witness all, that mercy
Runs evenly with justice. These prov'd guilty,
[A murmur.
Shall yet have pardon, and be suffer'd free,
So they perform the needful sacrifice.

SERVILIUS.
Excellent, excellent!

HILARIANUS.
Pray speak not thou;
'Tis earnest now—no jest; I like it not.—
I wait your answer.

SATURNINUS.
Whose?

HILARIANUS.
Yours, and those near you.

SATURNINUS.
For me, I do defy your emperor.
Sacrifice unto him! Yon marble arm—
See, stretching forth, as though he would command it,—
What doth it stand for?—flesh and blood like this.—
To Jove a like defiance! On his altar,
And on that sensual priest, his minister,
I turn my back in scorn.

REVOCATUS.
So I. Hearken, ye people—

CAMUS.
Silence, slave!
We like not these long speeches.

HILARIANUS.
Answer, you
Who were his fellow-slave.

FELICITAS.
Ay, it is true;
I was a slave: now I am one no more.
Ask Saturnin—he will expound for me.
The flesh and blood like mine is not my master!

HILARIANUS.
And thou?

SECOND SERVANT.
It looks half dead with him already;
He'll not be worth the sport.

SECUNDULUS.
Accept me, Christ;
I offer unto thee my soul, my strength:
Would it were more, to do thee worthier service!

HILARIANUS.
And these are all?

SATURUS
(coming forward).
One more.

A CITIZEN.
That is the man!

HILARIANUS.
Hast heard the penalty? Let none here say
We are not just to all.

SATURUS.
Long since I knew it.
The penalty was on me when I render'd
The sacrifice that now ye ask. The death
Ye count as such, for us is life eternal.

HILARIANUS.
Thou wilt not sacrifice to the emperor's health?

SATURUS.
I will invoke the one Almighty Power
To grant him health, and that alone success
A monarch may rejoice in: grant him, God,
A faithful senate and an upright people;
Crown all his acts with love; and be his reign
One universal peace throughout the land!
And so for thee; and these, who are with both
Equal in right of brotherhood as men,
Peace and good-will!—and (oh, best gift!) to know
The love of Him—of Christ,—who liv'd and died
To sanctify all earth by their possession.
Upon that earth, made by his blest abode
A holy altar evermore to God,
I stand; and for oblation here I offer
The incense of a loving, praising soul
To Christ our Lord,—to God our heavenly Father!

HILARIANUS.
Let us depart.

CAMUS.
Not yet; remains there one.

SECOND CITIZEN.
See, see, he is afraid of her—'tis true!
Vivius is in the right. What should we do?

THIRD CITIZEN.
Why comes he not?

HILARIANUS.
Vivia Perpetua!

LENTULUS
(aside to NASO).
She's very beautiful.

NASO.
So Camus thinks.

LENTULUS.
Somewhat too slight.

NASO.
No hope for either of you.
Whoe'er saw calmness like to that give way?

HILARIANUS.
Vivia Perpetua!

FIRST CITIZEN.
Look, look, there's her father!
There, by that pillar—he was hid behind it.

HILARIANUS.
Lady, although suspect (and therefore justice
Must have account of thee), yet be assur'd,
Proving thine innocence, thou wilt appear
More fair, more virtuous.

VIVIUS.
(Aside)
Basest hypocrite!

HILARIANUS.
How little asks it of thee!—what the effort?
One wave of that white hand towards yon flame
Shall sign thee faithful to our gods and laws.
Fear not; all are your friends. I wait your answer.

VIVIA.
I am a Christian.

[Tumult. The crowd shrinks back.
VIVIUS
(coming forward).
How! who spake those words?
Not she—'twas not her voice; believe it not.
Citizens, up! A trick—there is a trick!
Ye have heard of marbles made oracular;
Of stones that had a voice; of trees that utter'd:
Ye know not if yon priest's deceptious art—
Look where she stands, bound up as in a spell,
Pale, motionless, unconscious as a statue!—
Let her step forth from off that treacherous platform,
And, standing face to face, repeat those words.
You will not hear them—no, she will not say them!

VIVIA
(advances a few steps).
I am a Christian.

VIVIUS.
Still there is some juggle.
Four words—four words in parrot repetition,
What are they? what to prove? What is—a Christian?

VIVIA.
Truth above all,—it is the Christian's word;
Love over all,—it is the Christian's soul;
Life beyond all,—it is the Christian's hope:
To lay down mortal life for Christ who liv'd
For Truth and Love, and died for Life Immortal,—
This is to be a Christian.—I am ready.

VIVIUS.
Is't dream? madness?—who am I? where am I?
I wring this hand,—'tis mine, I feel it mine;
I tear this hair,—still do I feel it mine:
No dream, no madness. Oh, for a sword, to cut,
To pierce me to the heart!—to feel as truly
It is my blood that's pouring on these stones.
Out, out with it! I will not have within
The fount that gave the life to—oh, my child—
Thou art my child—behold me at thy feet,—
Those feet to tread the necks of emperors,
And why not mine? Unsay, if thou didst say,
Those terrible words; have pity on thy father!

HILARIANUS.
Poor man, I pity thee.

VIVIUS
(starting up).
Pity!—pity from thee!
Hear, mighty gods! send down your lightning—quick!
Scorch up his pity—wither him who gave it!
Oh, that we dwelt beside that mount of hell,
Whence leapt destruction on the buried city,
That now it might shower forth its fiercest fires,
Making all Carthage one huge heap of ashes,—
A hecatomb unto this mighty woe!

HILARIANUS.
They strangely move a man, grief and grey hairs—
And yet they touch not thee, who art his child!

VIVIUS.
Reproach unto my age? See there—behold!
I throw it back on thee,—with curses on thee.
Speak not again to her—I do forbid thee.
I, Vivius, her father, who to thee
Do owe no fealty save in loyal hate;
I that am king o'er her, demand my own,
And thus I claim it!

[He attempts to seize Vivia, and is stricken by a lictor. He falls.
VIVIA.
Help—Felicitas!

CAMUS.
Bear him away—his reck'ning comes hereafter.

HILARIANUS.
Let him go free, if he return to life.—
The gods be prais'd, 'tis over! Let us go.

CAMUS.
The sentence!—you have forgot the sentence.

HILARIANUS.
True.
To-morrow, being the festival of Geta,
We shall repair to the amphitheatre,
Where you, who are so stout in your resistance,
Must meet the punishment unto your crime.

[A shout.
CAMUS.
Citizens, quietly unto your homes.