Paul.
Alas! the rents in armour
donned and proved
Too well my fight proclaim;
yes, I have loved;
The traitor sigh, the
tear unbid, attest
The combat fierce—the
warrior sore distrest.
Say, who can stanch
these wounds, that armour mend?
Thou who hast pierced,
thou, thou alone defend!
Ah, if thou honourest
my victory
Depart, that thou may’st
still defender be!
So dry the tears that,
to my shame, still flow—
So quench the fire would
work my overthrow!
Yes, go, my only friend,
with me combine
To end my torture, for
thy pain is mine!
SEV.
This last poor drop
of comfort may not be?
Paul.
The cup is poisoned
both for me and thee!
SEV.
The flower is gone—I
cherish but the root!
Paul.
Untimely blossom bears
a fated fruit!
SEV.
My grief be mine!
Let memory remain!
Paul.
That grief might hope
beget, so leave a stain!
SEV.
Not mine to stain what
Heaven hath made so pure!
For me one offering
left: ’tis this: Endure!
Thy glory shall be mine,
my load I bear,
So, spotless, thou thy
peerless crown shalt wear!
Farewell, my love, farewell;
I go to prove my faith,
To bless, to save thy
life, so will I mate with death!
If prostrate from the
blow, there yet remains of life
Enough to summon death,
and end the piteous strife!
Paul.
My grief, too deep for
voice, shall silent be,
There, in my chamber,
will I pray for thee!
When thou art gone,
great Heaven shall hear my cry;
Grief’s fruit
for thee be hope—death—immortality!
SEV.
Now with my loss alone
let Fate contented be.
May Heaven shower bliss
and peace on Polyeucte and thee!
Paul.
Stern Fate obeyed, end,
Death, his agony,
And Jove receive my
hero—to the sky!
SEV.
Thou wast my
heaven!
Paul.
My father I obeyed—
SEV.
O victim pure, obedient,
undismayed!
Pauline—too
fair—too dear—I can no more!
Paul.
So must I say—depart—where
I adore!
(Exit Severus.)
STRAT.
Yes, it is hard—most
sad—behold my tears!
But now, at least, there
is no cause for fears:
Thy dream is but a dream—is
naught, is vain;
Severus pardons.
Gone that cause for pain!
Paul.
Oh, if from pity start
thy easy tear,
Add not that other woe—forgotten
fear!
Ah! let me breathe,
some respite give from trouble,
Those fears, half-dead,
thou dost revive, redouble!