University of Virginia Library

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.