Thy heart was fond, but duty love betrayed. 
     How surely thy revolt had safety won! 
     ’Tis thine obedience leaves us all undone. 
     In thee, in thee alone, one hope remains,
     Love held him fast, relax not thou love’s chains. 
     O Love, my sometime foe, forgive, be mine ally,
     And let the dart that slew now bring the remedy!

Paul.  Forbid it, Heaven!  One good yet mine,—­my will, The dart that wounded has the power to kill.  One lesson woman learns—­her feebleness; Shame is the only grief without redress.  The traitor heart shall still a prisoner be; For freedom were disgrace to thee and me! I will not see him!

     Felix. 
     But one word!  Be kind!

Paul.  I will not, for I love!—­and love is blind.  Before his kingly eye my soul to unveil Were shame and failure:  and I will not fail:  I will not see him!

     Felix. 
     One word more—­’Obey!’
     Wouldst thou thy father and his weal betray?

     Paul. 
     I yield!  Come woe!—­come shame!—­come every ill! 
     My father thou!—­and I thy daughter still!

     Felix. 
     I know thee pure.

     Paul. 
     And pure I will remain,
     But, crushed and bruised, the flower no guilt shall stain. 
     I fear the combat that I may not fly,
     Hard-won the fight, and dear the victory. 
     Here, love, my curse!  Here, dearest friend, my foe! 
     Yet will I arm me!  Father, I would go
     To steel my heart—­all weapons to embrace!

     Felix. 
     I too will go, the conqueror’s march to grace! 
     Restore thy strength, ere yet it be too late,
     And know that in thy hands thou hold’st our fate!

     Paul. 
     Go, broken heart, to probe thy wound; cut deep and do not spare! 
     Herself—­the crowning sacrifice—­the victim shall prepare!

ACT II—­SEVERUS.  FABIAN

     SEV. 
     Let Felix bow to Jove and incense pour,
     I seek a dearer shrine, for I adore
     Nor Jove, nor Mars, nor Fortune—­but Pauline. 
     This fruit now ripening late my hand would glean: 
     You know, my friend, the god who wings my way,
     You know the only goddess I obey: 
     What reck the gods on high our sacrifice and prayer? 
     An earthly worship mine, sole refuge from despair!

     Fabian. 
     Ah!  You may see her——­

     SEV. 
     Blessed be thy tongue! 
     O magic word, that turns my grief to song! 
     Yet, if she now forget each fair, fond vow? 
     She loved me once,—­but does she love me now? 
     On that sweet face shall I but trouble see
     Who hope for love undimmed, for ecstasy? 
     Great Decius gives her hand, but if her heart
     Be mine no more—­than let vain hope depart! 
     This mandate binds her father only; she
     Shall give no captive hand—­her heart is free: 
     No promise wrung, no king’s command be mine to claim,
     Her love the boon I crave; all else an empty name!