I arise. 
     (To Pauline.)
     Raised by his death from out the grave of sin,
     Thou tread’st the path thy father shall begin;
     By me his martyr-crown, as all my bliss
     By him.  His Christ is mine, and I am his;
     O, blessed Christian vengeance!  All my loss
     Is turned to gain by the redeeming Cross! 
     Now, Pauline, am I thine, a Christian I,
     That Death gives life by which alike we die! 
     (To Severus.)
     Then slay us both!  Behold a willing prey!

     PAUL. 
     (To Felix.)
     Yes, mine for ever now!  Hail, glorious day,
     That sees earth’s loss transformed to endless gain!

     FELIX. 
     The gain, the glory, Christ’s!  By Him we reign.

     SEV. 
     Now am I dumb, some miracle is here;
     Their courage and their faith must I revere;
     We slay them; yet, like Cadmus’ seed, new-born
     They sprout afresh, and laugh our scythe to scorn. 
     We give them cord and flame, they torture hail;
     Friends fail them, but themselves they never fail. 
     We mow them down, fresh nurslings to unbare,
     What moves the seed lies hid, but it is there. 
     They bless the world, though by the world accurst,
     Their shield am I—­let Decius do his worst. 
     I yet may own their power, though now my will
     That each to his own gods be faithful still,
     Let each still search for truth, and truth adore. 
     (To Felix). 
     A Christian thou?  Then fear my wrath no more,
     Thy sect I cherish; this their awful cult
     Severus will protect, but ne’er insult. 
     Keep thou thy power from Roman sword secure,
     So long as loyalty with faith endure;
     I swear it:  ay, the Emperor shall learn
     The guiltless from the traitor to discern;
     His persecution baseless as his fear.

     FELIX. 
     Severus—­thou who hast the hearing ear,—­
     Freeman of Rome—­God’s Spirit grant thee grace
     To be Christ’s Freeman, and behold His face: 
     To these—­Christ’s martyrs—­earth’s last rites be given,
     Earth, guard their ashes as a trust for Heaven! 
     Earth hides their dust.  When envious time is o’er,
     That dust shall wake to life for evermore!