University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

An apartment in a private house.
Enter two Christian Women by opposite sides.
1st woman.
Hast thou heard any thing?

2d woman.
Nought, save the murmur of the multitude,
Sinking at times to deep and awful silence,
From which again a sudden burst will rise
Like mingled exclamations, as of horror
Or admiration. In these neighbouring streets
I have not met a single citizen,
The town appearing uninhabited.
But wherefore art thou here? Thou shouldst have stay'd
With the unhappy mother of poor Cælus.

1st woman.
She sent me hither in her agony
Of fear and fearful hope.

2d woman.
Ha! does she hope deliverance from death?

1st woman.
O no! thou wrongst her, friend; it is not that:
Deliverance is her fear, and death her hope.
A second time she bears a mother's throes
For her young stripling, whose exalted birth
To endless life is at this fearful crisis,
Or earn'd or lost. May heaven forefend the last!
He is a timid youth, and soft of nature:
God grant him strength to bear that fearful proof!

2d woman.
Here comes our reverend father.
Enter a Christian Father.
What tidings dost thou bring? are they in bliss?

Father.
Yes, daughter, as I trust, they are ere this
In high immortal bliss. Cælus alone—

1st woman.
He hath apostatised! O woe is me!
O woe is me for his most wretched mother!

Father
Apostatised! No; stripling as he is,
His fortitude, where all were braced and brave,
Shone paramount.
For his soft downy cheek and slender form
Made them conceive they might subdue his firmness:
Therefore he was reserved till noble Varus
And his compeers had in the flames expired
Then did they court and tempt him with fair promise
Of all that earthly pleasure or ambition
Can offer, to deny his holy faith.
But he, who seem'd before so meek and timid,
Now suddenly imbued with holy grace,
Like the transition of some watery cloud
In passing o'er the moon's refulgent disc,
Glow'd with new life; and from his fervid tongue
Words of most firm indignant constancy
Pour'd eloquently forth; then to the pile
Sprang he as lightly as a dauntless warrior
Scaling the breach of honour; or, alas!
As I have seen him 'midst his boyish mates,
Vaulting aloft for very love of motion.

1st woman.
High heaven be praised for this!—
thine eyes beheld it?

Father.
I saw it not: the friend who witness'd it,
Left him yet living 'midst devouring flame;
Therefore I spoke of Cælus doubtfully,
If he as yet belong'd to earth or heaven.

[They cover their faces, and remain silent.
Enter a Christian Brother.
Brother.
Lift up your heads, my sisters! let your voices
In grateful thanks be raised! Those ye lament,
Have earthly pangs for heavenly joy exchanged.
The manly Varus, and the youthful Cælus,
The lion and the dove, yoke-fellows link'd,
Have equal bliss and equal honour gain'd.

st woman.
And praised be God, who makes the weakest strong!
I'll to his mother with the blessed tidings.

[Exit.
Father.
Let us retire and pray. How soon our lives
May have like ending, God alone doth know!
O! may like grace support us in our need!

[Exeunt.