 | Polyeuctes, or the Martyr |  |
Scena Quinta.
Felix, Paulina, Albin.Paulina.
Barbarous Father, finish thy black work,
This second sacrifice is worth thy rage,
Joyn thy sad Daughter to thy Son-in-Law,
Why tarry'st thou? thou seest here the same crime,
Or the same vertue; thy barbarity
In her hath the same matter; my dear Husband
Left me his lights in dying, his just blood,
With which his Executioners are comming
To cover me, hath opened mine eyes:
I see, I know, I do believe, and am
Free of mine error, I am undeceiv'd,
Thou seest me baptis'd with that blest blood;
Lastly, I am a Christian, have I not
Spoken enough? keep in destroying me,
Thy rank and credit, fear the Emperour.
And doubt Severus, if thou wilt not perish,
My death is necessary, Polyeuctes cals me
Unto his happy death, I see Nearchus
And he both stretching forth their hands unto me:
Bring me to see thy gods which I detest,
They broke but one, I will break all the rest,
There you shall see me brave all that you fear,
Those silly Thunder-bolts which you depaint
Within their hands, and holily rebellious
Unto the Laws of birth, thou once shalt see me
Fail in obedience to thee; it is not
My grief that I do make appear therein,
Tis grace within me speaks, and not despar.
May I say it again? Felix, I am
A Christian, settle by my death thy fortune
And mine, the stroke to both on's will be precious,
Since it assureth the one earth, and lifts me
Unto the Heavens.
| Polyeuctes, or the Martyr | |